Tiger-beetles
Guides
Adephaga
Ground and Water Beetles, adephagans
Adephaga is the second-largest suborder of beetles, comprising over 40,000 species across 10 families. The suborder includes ground beetles (Carabidae), tiger beetles, predaceous diving beetles, and whirligig beetles. Members are characterized by specialized anatomical features including visible notopleural sutures and a first abdominal sternum separated by hind coxae. The vast majority of species belong to the family Carabidae.
Bombyliini
bee flies
Bombyliini is a tribe of bee flies within the family Bombyliidae, characterized by adults that are typically active in spring and exhibit bee-mimicking morphology. Members of this tribe are distinguished from the related tribe Systoechini primarily by wing venation, specifically the position of the r-m vein. The genus Bombylius is the best-known representative, with species such as B. mexicanus occurring in North America. Adults are nectar feeders, while larvae are parasitoids of various insects including tiger beetle larvae (Cicindelidae).
Carabidae
ground beetles
Carabidae is one of the largest families of beetles, comprising over 40,000 described species worldwide. Members are predominantly predatory, with elongated bodies, thread-like antennae, and prominent forward-directed mandibles. The family includes diverse forms from fast-running tiger beetles to flightless tyrant ground beetles, occupying nearly every terrestrial habitat. Many species serve as important biological control agents of agricultural pests.
Cicindela
common tiger beetles
Cicindela is a large genus of tiger beetles characterized by metallic, often brightly colored bodies with ivory or cream-colored markings. The genus occurs worldwide and contains over 850 species, though taxonomy remains unsettled with numerous subgenera debated as independent genera. Members are fast-running, visually oriented predators of small invertebrates. The name derives from Latin 'cicindela' meaning 'glowworm', referring to their metallic, sometimes flashing appearance.
Cicindelidia
Prairie Tiger Beetles, Limestone Tiger Beetles, Miami Tiger Beetle (for C. floridana), Highlands Tiger Beetle (for C. highlandensis), Scabrous Tiger Beetle (for C. scabrosa)
Cicindelidia is a genus of small to medium-sized tiger beetles primarily distributed in North America, with greatest diversity in the southern and western United States. The genus includes several notable species groups, most prominently the abdominalis species-group containing four sand-dwelling species (C. abdominalis, C. floridana, C. highlandensis, C. scabrosa) with red venters. Many species exhibit specialized habitat associations, including thermal springs (C. haemorrhagica), limestone outcrops (C. politula), pine rocklands (C. floridana), and sand scrub habitats (C. scabrosa, C. highlandensis). Several species are of conservation concern due to restricted ranges and habitat loss.
ColeopteraCicindelidaetiger-beetlesNorth-Americathermal-springsendemic-speciesconservationsand-habitatspine-rocklandlimestone-habitatspredatory-beetlesmetal-bioaccumulationabdomenalis-species-groupFlorida-endemicsYellowstone-National-Parkriparian-habitatscobblestone-habitatsprairie-habitatsxeric-habitatsfire-adapted-habitatsendangered-speciesrediscovered-specieslarval-burrowsthermoregulationphotography-subjectscollecting-interestCicindelinae
tiger beetles
Cicindelinae is a subfamily of predatory beetles commonly known as tiger beetles. Adults are characterized by large eyes, long slender legs, and powerful mandibles adapted for capturing fast-moving prey. They exhibit a distinctive run-stop-run hunting pattern necessitated by their visual processing limitations at high speeds. The subfamily contains approximately 2,822 species in 120 genera distributed worldwide, though they are most diverse in tropical and subtropical regions. Many species show strong habitat specificity, with some restricted to particular sand dune systems, riparian zones, or rock outcrops.
Ellipsoptera
Elliptical-winged Tiger Beetles
Ellipsoptera is a genus of tiger beetles (Cicindelidae) containing approximately 13 described species restricted to North America. The genus was elevated from subgeneric status within Cicindela in 2008 based on morphological and molecular evidence. Species in this genus are generally recognizable by their relatively large eyes, long legs, and ecological association with sandy and/or saline substrates that are nearly or completely devoid of vegetation. Several species are of conservation concern, including the federally endangered Salt Creek tiger beetle (E. nevadica lincolniana) and the federally threatened Puritan tiger beetle (E. puritana).
Eunota
Saline Tiger Beetles
Eunota is a genus of tiger beetles in the family Cicindelidae, commonly known as the saline tiger beetles. The genus was established by Émile Rivalier in 1954 and contains eleven recognized species distributed in the United States and Mexico. Members of this genus are specialized for life in saline habitats including salt flats, alkaline lakes, and tidal marshes. Several species exhibit pronounced white elytral markings, with subspecies showing varying degrees of white coloration.
Habroscelimorpha
Habro Tiger Beetles
Habroscelimorpha is a genus of tiger beetles in the family Cicindelidae, established by Dokhtouroff in 1883. The genus historically contained approximately seven species distributed across the Neotropical and Nearctic regions, though recent taxonomic revisions have transferred most Neotropical species to other genera. Species remaining in Habroscelimorpha are primarily associated with coastal and saline habitats, including salt marshes, mud flats, and sandy beaches. Several species exhibit strong attraction to ultraviolet light, a trait that distinguishes them from many other tiger beetle genera and facilitates nocturnal observation and collection.
Microthylax
Coral Beach Tiger Beetles
Microthylax is a genus of tiger beetles in the family Carabidae, subfamily Cicindelinae. It contains five described species distributed from the southern United States through Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. The genus was established by Rivalier in 1954. Species in this genus are associated with coastal and beach habitats, earning them the common name "Coral Beach Tiger Beetles."