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.
Omus dejeani is a species of flightless tiger beetle (Cicindelidae) that is found from British Columbia almost to northern California in dense, coastal forests. It can be found quite commonly in suitable habitats in the spring. It is most often collected with pitfall traps, but can be found walking along trails at night and on cloudy days during the right time.
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 larval 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.
Lophyra is a genus of tiger beetles in the family Cicindelidae capable of flight. They are found in Africa, Asia, and Europe
Cicindela patruela, the northern barrens tiger beetle, is a species of tiger beetle found in eastern North America. Due to their specific habitat requirements as well as human involvement, populations of this species have declined significantly in several regions, including most of New England, Ontario, and Quebec.
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.
Cicindela tranquebarica, the Oblique-lined tiger beetle, is a species of flashy tiger beetle in the family Cicindelidae that is found in North America. It appears in various colors, but it is most commonly known for its compound eyes. The beetle can range from 11 mm to 16 mm, and females are often observed to be slightly longer than males. This beetle is sensitive to temperature changes and performs stilting to help with temperature regulation. They typically display a variety of social behaviors and are a strong flier.
Myriochila fastidiosa is a species of tiger beetle found across India and Sri Lanka. The head and pronotum are greenish or coppery and the elytra vary from greenish bronze to coppery. The markings are yellowish. The legs are pale coloured. They are found in open forest and grassland.
Lophyra lineifrons is a species of tiger beetle found in Asia mainly along the northern Gangetic plains of India and into Thailand, Yunnan, Laos and Vietnam. They can be confused with Lophyra striolata which also overlaps with the species in northern India. Other species can be told apart from characters of the labrum.
Jansenia venus is a species of tiger beetle endemic to the Western Ghats of India. It is found mainly in the summer from May to June inside forest cover. It forages on the ground inside forest but when disturbed it flies and perches on vegetation.
Myriochila distinguenda is a species of tiger beetle found in South Asia. It is found mainly on the muddy shoreline around freshwater. The genus Myriochila is characterized by hooked setae on the femora and four hairs on the pale or whitish labrum.
Calochroa hamiltoniana is a species of tiger beetle endemic to the southern Western Ghats of India. It is found only on the shaded floor of dense and moist forests. They are mostly active on the forest floor and fly to low vegetation when disturbed. It is 14 to 17 mm long and has the pronotum and elytra largely greenish or bronze with an orange stripe bordered by black on the inside running along the length of the elytra.
Hypaetha biramosa is a species of tiger beetle found on open sandy beaches in coastal areas across tropical Asia from India to Indonesia.
Calomera fowleri is a species of tiger beetle endemic to peninsular India. It is found foraging on wet sand and riverine areas in the edges of forests. It is somewhat similar to Calomera angulata but that species is found on open sandy beaches, has bolder markings and longer mandibles.
Cicindela goryi is a species of tiger beetle from southern India. It was earlier treated as a subspecies of the closely related Cicindela aurofasciata.
Chaetodera regalis, common name the royal tiger beetle, is a species of tiger beetle found in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially in the south-east. It is found in riverine habitats.
Cylindera collicia is a species of tiger beetle endemic to southern India. About 8 to 9.5 mm long, it is found in forested habitats in the Western Ghats. It is attracted to lights at night.
Cicindela calligramma is a tiger beetle endemic to peninsular India and Sri Lanka. They are 13 to 16 mm long with a green or coppery brown body and three prominent yellowish markings. The ground colour varies a lot. They are found on the ground inside thin forest. They can be confused with Cicindela guttata which has hairs only on the lower part of the cheeks.
