Kretschmarr Cave mold beetle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kretschmarr Cave mold beetle
Kretchmarr Cave mold beetle
Conservation status
Endangered (ESA)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Family:	Staphylinidae
Genus:	Texamaurops
Species:	T. reddelli
Binomial name
Texamaurops reddelli Barr & Steeves, 1963
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The Kretschmarr Cave mold beetle (Texamaurops reddelli) is a tiny beetle that lives in caves. It's called a "mold beetle" because it's part of a group of beetles that often live in damp places where mold might grow. This special beetle is found only in a few caves in Travis County, Texas. It's an endangered species, meaning it's at risk of disappearing forever.

About the Kretschmarr Cave Mold Beetle

This little beetle is less than 1⁄8 inch long. Its body can be dark purple or light reddish-brown. It has tiny pits on its body, short wings, and long legs.

The Kretschmarr Cave mold beetle lives in total darkness underground. Because of this, it doesn't need eyes. Instead, it uses special feelers and strong nerve centers. These help it sense tiny changes in air pressure, temperature, sounds, and smells. This amazing equipment helps the beetle find its way, sense objects, and catch its food.

Scientists don't know much about the daily life of these beetles. They are very hard to find. When researchers do find them, it's usually only one or two at a time. It's also tricky to tell them apart from other beetles in the same family. Only by looking closely under a microscope can they be identified.

Life Cycle and Habitat

There is no special time of year when these beetles reproduce. They can have babies at any time if the cave conditions are stable. They live under rocks, logs, in sinkholes, rotting wood, and termite nests. Today, they are only known to live in four caves in the Edwards Plateau area of Travis County, Texas.

Many other cave creatures in Travis County and Williamson County are also endangered. These include the Texella reddelli (Bee Creek cave harvestman) and the Neoleptoneta myopica (Tooth Cave spider). All these animals are called troglobites.

Troglobites are special animals that live their entire lives underground. They have small or no eyes and long body parts. They are perfectly adapted to their dark, underground homes. Scientists believe these creatures moved into caves during past climate changes. The caves offered a stable environment. Over time, they evolved into the unique animals we see today.

Troglobites prefer the darkest parts of caves. Here, the air is very humid, and the temperature stays the same. High humidity and warm temperatures are important for most troglobites. There are about 7,700 known species of troglobites. However, many more are likely still undiscovered.

Even though they live underground, troglobites depend on the world above. Tree roots grow into the caves, providing food for insects. These insects then become food for the troglobites. Moisture and heat from above, plus natural springs, keep the caves humid. Because these animals share similar homes, they face many of the same dangers.

Why are they in danger?

The Kretschmarr Cave mold beetle was first listed as an endangered species in 1988. The main reasons it's in danger are:

• Loss of its home due to city growth.
• New species moving into its habitat.
• Mining activities.

City Growth and Habitat Loss

City growth, also called urban development, is the biggest threat. It harms the cave environment in many ways.

• Caves filled or collapsed: When roads and buildings are built, caves are often filled in or destroyed. This creates a solid base for construction. It's thought that 10% of all caves in Travis County are destroyed every ten years. Some ranchers also fill cave entrances to keep their livestock safe. This stops air movement in the cave, which can kill the beetles.
• Water changes: Large paved areas and drainage systems change how water flows. Karst environments, where caves are found, need water to seep in from above. If water is sent away, the cave can dry up. If too much water is sent in, it can flood the cave. Both can harm the beetles.
• Loss of plants: When plants and trees are removed for development, important nutrients no longer reach the caves. Without these nutrients, the beetles and other cave animals cannot survive.
• Pollution: Caves are easily polluted. When sewer and drainage systems are built, dirty water can enter the caves. Many caves in Travis County have been used for trash disposal, which has likely killed many organisms. Farming also causes pollution. Fertilizers and pesticides can seep into the ground and contaminate the cave's water.
• Human visits: When people build near caves, more visitors might come. Some animals get scared away by this. If one species leaves, it can affect the whole food chain. Some caves are even damaged by vandalism, changing the beetle's home.

Invasive Species

New species, especially the red fire ant, can harm the beetle's home. Shallow caves, where the beetles live, are easy for fire ants to enter. Fire ants can have many queens and build many mounds. They can crawl into caves through small cracks. They attack slow-moving adult beetles, young beetles, and eggs. More than half of the caves studied had fire ants. Even if fire ants don't eat the beetles, they can change the food chain.

Mining and Quarrying

Mining and quarrying also threaten cave animals. Karst areas have a lot of limestone, which is mined. Blasting limestone and using heavy machines destroys caves and the land around them. Roads built for mining can also destroy habitats for miles. This harms the Kretschmarr Cave mold beetle and other cave animals.

Helping the Beetles Survive

Because of these threats, a recovery plan was made for endangered cave invertebrates. The plan was started in 1994, six years after the beetle was listed as endangered. During those six years, scientists learned more about where the beetles live and what threatens them.

Surveys were done to understand the different types of cave animals and where they are found. For example, the Texas Department of Transportation studied the cave environment near Highway 45. Experts from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service also did many surveys. These helped map out where the cave invertebrates live.

Studies were also done to control fire ants. One study tried pouring hot water into ant mounds. Other studies used chemicals like Logic and Amdro. These chemicals can kill insects, which might also harm the endangered beetles. At first, these treatments worked, but the ants quickly came back.

With better knowledge, a recovery plan was created.

• Identify key areas: The first step was to find areas for recovery. If a cave had four specific endangered invertebrates (including the Kretschmarr Cave mold beetle), it was marked for long-term protection. Areas with many different rare animals were chosen.
• Choose large areas: The plan decided that large, connected cave landscapes were needed to help the invertebrates survive. Scientists looked at how groundwater moves, the shape of the land, and drainage patterns. All these things need to be just right for a successful recovery. They also considered how nearby land was used. If an area was too close to city growth, it might be too risky.
• Protect the land: The final step involved buying land, setting up conservation agreements, and working with landowners. This is very important. Without the right land, the recovery plan cannot work, and these endangered species could disappear forever.