Tiger beetles are a family of beetles, Cicindelidae, known for their aggressive predatory habits and running speed. The fastest known species of tiger beetle, Rivacindela hudsoni, can run at a speed of 9 km/h, or about 125 body lengths per second. As of 2005, about 2,600 species and subspecies were known, with the richest diversity in the Oriental (Indo-Malayan) region, followed by the Neotropics. While historically treated as a subfamily of ground beetles (Carabidae) under the name Cicindelinae, several studies since 2020 indicated that they should be treated as a family, the Cicindelidae, which are a sister group to Carabidae within the Adephaga.
Cicindela, commonly known as common tiger beetles are generally brightly colored and metallic beetles, often with some sort of patterning of ivory or cream-colored markings. They are most abundant and diverse in habitats very often near bodies of water with sandy or occasionally clay soils; they can be found along rivers, sea and lake shores, sand dunes, around dry lakebeds, on clay banks, or woodland paths.
Neocicindela tuberculata is a species of tiger beetle in the family Cicindelidae, endemic to New Zealand. Its common names include common tiger beetle, moeone, and papapa, and in its laval stage penny doctor, butcher boy, kapuku, kui, kurikuri, moeone, and muremure. Neocicindela tuberculata was the first carabid beetle described from New Zealand. The species can run as fast as 5 miles per hour and are considered to be the fastest running beetles. Adult species prefer clay banks in summer and are good predators when in comes to insects.
Cicindela hybrida, also known as the northern dune tiger beetle, has a wide distribution in the Palaearctic region. Cicindela hybrida hybrida is common in Central Europe, even in artificial habitats.
Cicindela aurofasciata is a species of tiger beetle endemic to India. It usually occurs in open grass dominated habitats and varies in size between 12 and 14 mm long. It is closely related to Cicindela goryi which was treated as a subspecies.
Cicindela hirticollis is a species of tiger beetle that is commonly found in sand bars and sandy beaches, is medium-sized, is about 2–14 mm (0.08–0.55 in) long, and is active in the summer. The dorsal surfaces of the head, prothorax, and elytra are dark brown. The elytral markings are very light-colored cream or white. The species' common names are hairy-necked tiger beetle and moustached tiger beetle. Its population is in decline.
Cylindera is a genus of tiger beetles native to the Palearctic, the Near East and northern Africa. It was a result of the breakup of the Cicindela genus, and the status of Cylindera as a genus or a subgenus of the genus Cicindela is in dispute.
Cicindela aurulenta, common name blue-spotted or golden-spotted tiger beetle, is a beetle of the family Carabidae.
Eunota togata, the white-cloaked tiger beetle, is a species of tiger beetle in the family Cicindelidae. It was formerly known as Cicindela togata.
Cicindela highlandensis, commonly known as the Highlands tiger beetle, is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is endemic to central Florida in the United States. It is rare and a candidate for federal protection.
Cicindela albissima, commonly called the Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle is a species of tiger beetle endemic to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in southern Utah, United States. It was originally described by Rumpp in 1962 as the subspecies Cicindela limbata albissima, but mitochondrial DNA, along with the species' morphological and geographical distinctiveness, have shown that it is a separate species. C. albissima can be distinguished from other Cicindela species by its restricted range and lack of pigmentation on its elytra.
Cylindera dromicoides is a species of ground beetle of the subfamily Cicindelinae. It is flightless and has been found mainly along the Himalayas from India through Nepal and Bhutan and in the Chinese province of Yunnan.
Cicindela arenicola is a species of tiger beetle in the genus Cicindela. It was first described in 1967. Its common names include St. Anthony Dune tiger beetle and Idaho Dunes tiger beetle.
Cicindelini is a tribe of tiger beetles in the family Cicindelidae, containing the overwhelming majority of genera (>110) and species in the family.
Habroscelimorpha dorsalis, commonly known as the eastern beach tiger beetle, is a species of flashy tiger beetle in the family Cicindelidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Cicindela dorsalis dorsalis, commonly known as the Northeastern beach tiger beetle, is the largest subspecies of Eastern beach tiger beetle. In 2012, Cicindela dorsalis dorsalis was reclassified under the name Habroscelimorpha dorsalis dorsalis, but the names are used synonymously in recently published literature. Fitting to its name, the Northeastern beach tiger beetle dwells along the U.S. northeast coast in small sand burrows. The beetle is diurnal and can be spotted by its light tan coloring with dark lines and green hues on its thorax and head.
Rivacindela hudsoni is an Australian species of the family Cicindelinae or "tiger beetle" and is the fastest-running known insect. The genus Rivacindela is contentiously treated as a subgenus of the broader Cicindela and are typically found in saline habitats such as dry salt lakes and salt streams and are flightless. The species was discovered in South Australia and described in 1997, with an adult form of approximately 20–21mm in length and a running speed of 2.49 m/s, or 120 body lengths per second.
Cicindela goryi is a species of tiger beetle from southern India. It was earlier treated as a subspecies of the closely related Cicindela aurofasciata.
Cicindela senilis, or the senile tiger beetle is a species of tiger beetle found in western California. It lives in tidal mud flats and both coastal and inland salt marshes.
Cicindela (Calomera) littoralis, commonly known as the littoral tiger beetle, is a species of Tiger Beetle found across the Palearctic realm, especially around the Mediterranean and Black seas. One of its subspecies, Calomera littoralis nemoralis, was the first member of the Cicindelidae family to exhibit vegetarian feeding behaviour, having been observed feeding on maize and cooked pasta in large numbers.
