Fast-runner
Guides
Cicindela tranquebarica inyo
Inyo Tiger Beetle, Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle (Inyo subspecies)
Cicindela tranquebarica inyo is a subspecies of tiger beetle in the family Carabidae (subfamily Cicindelinae). It belongs to the widespread Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle species complex, which occurs across North America in sandy and open habitats. This subspecies was described by Fall in 1917 and is associated with the Inyo region of eastern California. Tiger beetles in this group are fast-running, visually oriented predators that hunt small invertebrates. The subspecies status indicates geographic differentiation within the broader C. tranquebarica distribution, though like many tiger beetle subspecies, its taxonomic validity may require further study.
Cicindelini
tiger beetles, flashy tiger beetles
Cicindelini is a tribe of tiger beetles comprising approximately 80% of the family's genera and species diversity. The tribe contains over 90 genera and more than 2,000 described species, making it one of the most species-rich groups within the ground beetle assemblage. Members are characterized by their diurnal activity patterns, rapid running speed, and distinctive predatory behaviors. The tribe exhibits broad geographic distribution with highest diversity in tropical and subtropical regions, though species occur across all continents except Antarctica.
Liturgusa
Lichen Mantises, Bark Mantises
Liturgusa is a genus of Neotropical bark mantises comprising more than twenty species. Unlike typical mantises, Liturgusa species are exceptionally fast runners that actively pursue prey rather than ambush it. They inhabit tree trunks and branches, where their flattened bodies and cryptic coloration provide effective camouflage against bark, moss, and lichen. The genus was revised in 2014, revealing substantially greater diversity than previously recognized.
Liturgusa maya
Mayan Lichen Mantis
Liturgusa maya is a Neotropical bark mantis species first described in 1894. It inhabits tree trunks and branches in tropical forests, exhibiting exceptional speed and flattened body morphology adapted for crypsis among bark, moss, and lichen. The species has demonstrated notable geographic expansion through human-mediated introduction, with established non-native populations in Florida (USA) and the Galápagos Islands. In its native range, it has been documented as a frequent inhabitant of cacao agroecosystems in Peru. The species is parthenogenetic in at least some introduced populations.