Creatures Living in Lava Tubes

Hawaiian Cave Planthopper

This tiny, pale insect lives in the lava tubes of Hawaii, feeding on tree roots that grow through the cave ceilings.

Troglobitic Spiders

Eyeless spiders adapted to complete darkness live in lava tubes in places like the Canary Islands and Hawaii.

Lava Tube Amphipods

These shrimp-like crustaceans navigate total darkness in underground pools formed by ancient lava flows.

Cave Springtails

These soft-bodied, blind insects live in isolated lava tubes, surviving on fungal growth and decaying roots.

Cave-Dwelling Centipedes

Aggressive predators with long antennae, they thrive in lava tube ecosystems where few other predators exist.

Blind Cave Crickets

Common in volcanic regions, these crickets use antennae to navigate the dark and feed on detritus.

Subterranean Beetles

Highly adapted beetles found in lava tubes rely on heightened senses to hunt or scavenge in lightless conditions.