Cicindela
Encyclopedia
Cicindela are generally brightly colored and metallic beetle
s, often with some sort of patterning of ivory or cream-colored markings. They are most abundant and diverse in habitats with sandy soil (though some prefer clay), and very often near bodies of water, even if seasonally transient; along river, sea and lake shores, on sand dunes, around playa lakebeds and on clay banks or woodland paths.
s, and they occur worldwide. The status of the genus is constantly in a state of flux, as various authorities on different continents have vastly different opinions about which (if any) of the dozens of subgenera
traditionally recognized within the genus are deserving of being accorded status as independent genera. Moreover, this is one of the few insect taxa in which the rank of subspecies
has traditionally been used repeatedly, and essentially no two classifications consistently treat the various members of the genus as to which are species and which are subspecies. Treated as a single genus, and even with a fairly conservative estimate of species, there are over 850 (or even up to 2,300) species in the group (thus being almost equal to the subtribe Cicindelina W.Horn, 1908), with several thousand published names applied, collectively. The genus is divided into the following subgenera:
For a list of species, see List of Cicindela species.
The subgenus Cicindela (Cicindela), or Cicindela sensu stricto contains the following species:
Beetle
Coleoptera is an order of insects commonly called beetles. The word "coleoptera" is from the Greek , koleos, "sheath"; and , pteron, "wing", thus "sheathed wing". Coleoptera contains more species than any other order, constituting almost 25% of all known life-forms...
s, often with some sort of patterning of ivory or cream-colored markings. They are most abundant and diverse in habitats with sandy soil (though some prefer clay), and very often near bodies of water, even if seasonally transient; along river, sea and lake shores, on sand dunes, around playa lakebeds and on clay banks or woodland paths.
Systematics
The genus Cicindela is (in its broadest historical sense) the largest genus of tiger beetleTiger beetle
The tiger beetles are a large group of beetles known for their aggressive predatory habits and running speed. The fastest species of tiger beetle can run at a speed of 9 km/h , which, relative to its body length, is about 22 times the speed of former Olympic sprinter Michael Johnson, the...
s, and they occur worldwide. The status of the genus is constantly in a state of flux, as various authorities on different continents have vastly different opinions about which (if any) of the dozens of subgenera
Subgenus
In biology, a subgenus is a taxonomic rank directly below genus.In zoology, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between the generic name and the specific epithet: e.g. the Tiger Cowry of the Indo-Pacific, Cypraea tigris Linnaeus, which...
traditionally recognized within the genus are deserving of being accorded status as independent genera. Moreover, this is one of the few insect taxa in which the rank of subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
has traditionally been used repeatedly, and essentially no two classifications consistently treat the various members of the genus as to which are species and which are subspecies. Treated as a single genus, and even with a fairly conservative estimate of species, there are over 850 (or even up to 2,300) species in the group (thus being almost equal to the subtribe Cicindelina W.Horn, 1908), with several thousand published names applied, collectively. The genus is divided into the following subgenera:
- Cicindela (Ancylia)
- Cicindela (Archidela)
- Cicindela (Austrocicindela)
- Cicindela (Brasiella)
- Cicindela (Calochroa)
- Cicindela (Cephalota)
- Cicindela (Chaetodera)
- Cicindela (Cicindela)
- Cicindela (Cicindelidia)
- Cicindela (Cylindera)
- Cicindela (Duponti)
- Cicindela (Euzona)
- Cicindela (Fulgoris)
- Cicindela (Habroscelimorpha)
- Cicindela (Hypaetha)
- Cicindela (Jansonia)
- Cicindela (Lophyridia)
- Cicindela (Macfarlandia)
- Cicindela (Micromentignatha)
- Cicindela (Myriochile)
- Cicindela (Neolaphyra)
- Cicindela (Opilidia)
- Cicindela (Pachydela)
- Cicindela (Pancallia)
- Cicindela (Rivacindela)
- Cicindela (Sophiodela)
- Cicindela (Tribonia)
For a list of species, see List of Cicindela species.
The subgenus Cicindela (Cicindela), or Cicindela sensu stricto contains the following species:
|
Cicindela limbalis Cicindela limbalis is a species of tiger beetle. The length of the beetle is . The beetle's back is reddish purple and sometimes may be dull green or brown. The species can commonly be found on steep, moist bare clay soil. The beetle can live for 3 years.... Cicindela oregona Cicindela oregona, also called the Western Tiger Beetle, is a species of ground beetles native to North America.... |
Cicindela repanda Cicindela repanda, commonly known as the Bronzed Tiger Beetle or Common Shore Tiger Beetle, is a tiger beetle that 10-13 millimeters long, lives in most of North America, and has three subspecies. The three subspecies are C. repanda repanda, C. repanda novascotiae, and C. repanda tanneri. Its... Cicindela sexguttata The Six-Spotted Tiger Beetle or Six-spotted Green Beetle is a common North American species of beetle in the Carabidae family.-Description:... Cicindela sylvatica Cicindela sylvatica is a beetle, commonly known as the wood tiger beetle. It is native to Europe, and can be found in Austria, Belarus, Belgium, the British Isles, the Czech Republic, mainland Denmark, Finland, mainland France, Germany, Hungary , Kaliningrad, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Republic of... Cicindela sylvicola Cicindela sylvicola is a species of ground beetle native to Europe, where it can be found in Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, mainland France, Germany, Hungary, mainland Italy, Luxembourg, the Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, southern... |