A rare cave beetle, *Leptodirus hochenwartii*, has been spotted for the first time in Golokratna Cave, located between Sežana and Orlek near Trieste, Italy. Members of the Società Adriatica di Speleologia (SAS) made the discovery. This beetle is significant as the first cave beetle ever described, identified in 1831 in Postojna Cave by Luka Čeč.
The *Leptodirus hochenwartii*, named for its neck-like thorax, is a unique species within its genus. The SAS speleologists highlighted the discovery's importance, noting previous sightings in the Kras region, including Pečina in Rubije. Speleologist Massimiliano Werk initially spotted and photographed the small, eyeless, pigment-free beetle on a cave wall. Alessandra Ressa, another speleologist, later confirmed the identification.
The SAS club has been exploring Golokratna Cave for over a year in collaboration with the Trieste Natural History Museum. The 175-meter-deep cave features a massive 65-meter-wide entrance and 450 meters of passages, largely explored by Claudio Bratos and Stojan Sancin. As a protected area, the cave presents a unique opportunity for scientists to further study this rare beetle.