Distribution range

Name of the genus Anophthalmus means »lacking eyes«, which is typical of subterranean beetles. The first species of the genus,Anophthalmus hirtus (haired eyeless ground beetle), was described in 1853, based on individuals from the Velika Pasica cave on Krim mountain in Slovenia. In Slovenia and neighbouring countries as many as 50 different species of the genus were discovered; diversity is even higher when all described subspecies are considered.

Beetles have two pairs of wings, the first pair is the hardened elytrae, while the other is a delicate membrane. In subterranean beetles, elytrae are grown together, while membrane wings are reduced – consequently, they are no longer able to fly. But despite that, they are often difficult to catch – as they can run fairly quickly.

When new species are described researchers get to choose their names. This rule enabled the naturalist and Nazi-sympathiser Scheibel in 1937 to name the newly discovered species of eyeless ground beetle after Adolf Hitler – Anophthalmus hitleri. Due only to its particular name, this species became a popular amateur collector’s item. The species also inspired an artistic installation at one of the biggest international fairs of visual contemporary art, the 2103 Venice Art Biennale.