Cicindela bellissima

Leng, 1902

Pacific Coast Tiger Beetle

Cicindela bellissima, known as the Pacific Coast Tiger , is a of flashy tiger beetle described by Leng in 1902. It belongs to the Cicindelinae within the ground beetle Carabidae. The species is found in North America, with three recognized : C. b. bellissima, C. b. columbica, and C. b. frechini.

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Pronunciation

How to pronounce Cicindela bellissima: //ˌkɪkɪnˈdɛlə bɛˈlɪsɪmə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguished from similar tiger beetles by its Pacific coastal distribution. The three differ in geographic range and subtle morphological characteristics. C. b. bellissima is the nominate subspecies; C. b. columbica occurs in the Columbia River region; C. b. frechini was described by Leffler in 1979. Specific diagnostic features for field identification are not documented in available sources.

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Habitat

Associated with sandy typical of tiger beetles in the Cicindela. Based on the and distribution, likely occurs in coastal and near-coastal sandy environments including beaches, dunes, and sand flats.

Distribution

North America, specifically the Pacific coastal region of the United States. The three have more restricted ranges: C. b. bellissima (nominate), C. b. columbica (Columbia River area), and C. b. frechini (described 1979, range not specified in sources).

Behavior

Has been observed to be wary and quick to fly when approached, similar to other Cicindela . One collector reported capturing an individual by clamping a vial over it on a sand dune in Oregon, noting the species as among those encountered in the Pacific Northwest.

Similar Taxa

Cicindela longilabrisOccurs in similar Pacific Northwest ; both have been collected by hand in the region
Other Cicindela speciesShare general tiger and sandy preferences; requires close examination for definitive identification

More Details

Subspecies

Three recognized: Cicindela bellissima bellissima Leng, 1902 (nominate); Cicindela bellissima columbica Hatch; and Cicindela bellissima frechini Leffler, 1979. The subspecies differ in geographic distribution and presumably in subtle morphological features, though specific distinguishing characteristics are not detailed in available sources.

Taxonomic Note

placement varies in sources: treated as in some references (including Wikipedia and iNaturalist) and as Cicindelinae within Carabidae in others (GBIF, NCBI). The latter classification is currently more widely accepted in modern .