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.
Cicindela campestris, commonly called the green tiger beetle, is a widespread Eurasian species of tiger beetle. It is the type species of the large genus Cicindela.
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.
Euzona is a genus of beetles in the family Cicindelidae. It was formed from the breakup of the Cicindela genus, and just like Cylindera, is in a state of dispute. Scientists do not agree whether the genus should be considered as a subgenus of Cicindela or kept in its current taxonomic rank. The genus contains the following species:
Cicindela aurulenta, common name blue-spotted or golden-spotted tiger beetle, is a beetle of the family Cicindelidae.
Cylindera germanica is an extant species of tiger beetle in the genus Cylindera. Cylindera germanica is spread across most of Europe, ranging from Scandinavia to Central Europe to the Balkans. Four subspecies are recognized: Cylindera germanica germanica, Cylindera germanica michaelensis, Cylindera germanica muelleri, and Cylindera germanica sobrina.
Cylindera dromicoides is a species of tiger beetle of the family Cicindelidae. It is flightless and has been found mainly along the Himalayas from India through Nepal and Bhutan and in the Chinese province of Yunnan.
Cicindelini is a tribe of tiger beetles in the family Cicindelidae, containing the overwhelming majority of genera and species in the family. There are more than 90 genera and 2,000 described species in Cicindelini.
Ellipsoptera cuprascens, the coppery tiger beetle, is a species of flashy tiger beetle in the family Cicindelidae. It is found in North America.
Neocicindela garnerae, the South island tiger beetle (native) (NZ), is a species of tiger beetle in the family Cicindelidae.
Megacephalini is a tribe of big-headed tiger beetles in the family Cicindelidae.
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.
Jansenia dasiodes is a species of tiger beetle endemic to peninsular India. They measure 9.6–10.5 mm (0.38–0.41 in) in body length.
Cylindera umbropolita is a species of tiger beetle found in India. It was originally described as a subspecies of Cicindela belli.
Fabio Cassola was an Italian lawyer and amateur entomologist who specialized in the tiger beetles.
Cicindela goryi is a species of tiger beetle from southern India. It was earlier treated as a subspecies of the closely related Cicindela aurofasciata.
Jansenia rugosiceps is a species of tiger beetle found in southern India. They are found mainly on rocks and boulders on hills in scrub forest. They measure 11–12 mm (0.43–0.47 in) in length. An examination of pygidial gland chemical defenses found that the species does not produce significant benzaldehyde unlike many other tiger beetle species.
