Tiger Beetles of Botswana
Interactive field guide · Cicindelidae · Cicindelidae matrix v54
53
Species
0
Endemics ★
13
Genera
Apr
Peak season
Botswana holds 53 species of tiger beetle (Cicindelidae). 13 genera recorded. Dominant genera: Megacephala (11), Dromica (9), Manticora (8), Lophyra (6).
Habitats: open sandy (28) · coastal (23) · forest (2)
9
Flightless
20
Nocturnal
13
Genera
Apr
Peak month
Iconic species of Botswana
Manticora tibialis
Tibial Giant Tiger Beetle
*Manticora* Fabricius, 1792 is Africa's ultimate tiger beetle — the largest members of the family, reaching over 65 mm in body length. All species are flightless, matte black or dark brown, and prowl …
Aposematic
35–65 mm
Distribution — 30 species with GPS data
coastalopen sandy
GBIF live map ↗
Color = habitat zone · Dot size = species density · Cicindelidae on GBIF ↗
53 species
What to expect: Peak activity in April. Dominant habitats: open sandy (28) · coastal (23) · forest (2). 9 flightless species.
| Genus | Spp. | Traits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Megacephala | 11 | coastal Metallic | DIAGNOSIS — *Megacephala* Latreille, 1802. Body 15–25 mm; head markedly enlarged, broader than pronotum; color bright me… |
| Dromica | 9 | open sandy Aposematic | DIAGNOSIS — *Dromica* (Pseudodromica) Cassola, 2002. Body 8–18 mm, metallic, oval; labrum transverse; wings dimorphic; ♂… |
| Manticora | 8 | open sandy Aposematic flightless | DIAGNOSIS — *Manticora* Fabricius, 1792. Body massive, 40–65+ mm, depressed; L:W ratio <2.0. Dorsum entirely matte black… |
| Lophyra | 6 | coastal Iridescent | DIAGNOSIS — *Lophyra* (Spilodella) Matalin & Cherkasov, 2004. Body 9–12 mm, cylindrical; metallic with pale spots; noctu… |
| Pseudodromica | 4 | open sandy | DIAGNOSIS — *Pseudodromica* Cassola, 2002. Body large, 8–30 mm; shape oval; L:W ratio 2–3. Coloration strongly metallic.… |
| Cylindera | 3 | coastal Iridescent | DIAGNOSIS — *Cylindera* (Eugrapha) Rivalier, 1950. Body 7–14 mm, elongate-cylindrical, metallic. Nocturnal; bare sandy s… |
| Prothymidia | 3 | open sandy | DIAGNOSIS — *Prothymidia* Rivalier, 1957. Body 10–16 mm, oval (L:W <2.0), fully winged. Coloration metallic. Eyes large,… |
| Elliptica | 2 | forest | DIAGNOSIS — *Elliptica* Fairmaire, 1884 Body 10–18 mm, cylindrical, oval-shouldered; L:W ratio 2–3. Coloration metallic… |
| Habrodera | 2 | open sandy | DIAGNOSIS — *Habrodera* Motschulsky, 1862. Body 11–16 mm, elongate-cylindrical, dark and matte. Head wider than pronotum… |
| Myriochila | 2 | coastal | DIAGNOSIS — *Myriochila* Motschulsky, 1857. Body 8–14 mm, elongate, metallic; eyes large, prominent; labrum transverse; … |
| Mantica | 1 | open sandy flightless | DIAGNOSIS — *Mantica* Kolbe, 1896. Monotypic. Body 26–32 mm, oval, matte, fully winged. Head broad; labrum transverse; e… |
| Prothyma | 1 | coastal Iridescent | DIAGNOSIS — *Prothyma* (Pseudodistypsidera) W. Horn, 1934. Body 10–16 mm, metallic, cylindrical; fully winged; diurnal; … |
| Trichotaenia | 1 | open sandy | DIAGNOSIS — *Trichotaenia* Rivalier, 1957. Body 10–18 mm, depressed/flattened (L:W 2–3); coloration dark, matte; fully w… |
Cylindera albosignata
(Bates, 1867) · 5–22 mm
coastal
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
East Caprivi, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal
cf. Abroscelis Antennaria Apteroessa
Cylindera dregei
(Dejean, 1826) · 5–22 mm
coastal
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
Western Cape
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
coastal
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
East, Free State, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Sofala, Zambesia
cf. Brasiella Brzoskaicheila Cenothyla
Dromica aspera
Chaudoir, 1883 · 8–30 mm
open sandy
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
Omaheke, Okavango, Ojizozondjupa, East, Manicaland, North-West, Free State
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
open sandy
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
Southern, North-West
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Dromica furcata
Boheman, 1848 · 8–30 mm
open sandy
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
Free State, North-West, Limpopo, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Maputo
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
open sandy
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
Matabeleland North
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
open sandy
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
Khomas, Ngami, Zambia, Northern Cape
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
open sandy
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
Northern, Manicaland, Masvingo, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, Maputo, Sofala
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
open sandy
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
Free State, North-West, Limpopo, Gauteng, Mpumalanga
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Dromica pentheri
Cassola, 2002 · 8–30 mm
open sandy
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
Ohangwena, Okavango, Caprivi, Matabeleland North
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Dromica ramigera
Cassola, 2002 · 8–30 mm
open sandy
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
Kunene, Outjo, Ojizozondjupa
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Elliptica compressicornis compressicornis
(Bates, 1878) · 10–18 mm
forest
Active January–December (year-round)
Katanga
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Elliptica compressicornis persignata
Werner, 2001 · 10–18 mm
forest
Active January–December (year-round)
Katanga
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Habrodera capensis capensis
(Bates, 1878) · 11–16 mm
open sandy
Active April–September (peak May–Aug)
Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Habrodera nilotica nilotica
Werner, 1999 · 11–16 mm
open sandy
Active March–July (peak Apr–Jun)
KwaZulu-Natal
cf. Myriochila Salpingophora Socotrana
Lophyra alba
(Bates, 1878) · 9–16 mm
coastal
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Lophyra bertolonia
(Bates, 1878) · 9–16 mm
coastal
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
East Caprivi
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
coastal
Active April–August (peak May–Jun)
Limpopo, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Grootfontein, Okahandja, Maputo
cf. Calomera Cephalota Cicindela
coastal
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Lophyra reliqua
(Bates, 1878) · 9–16 mm
coastal
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
Kassai, Gauteng, Oranje, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Lophyra vivida
(Bates, 1878) · 9–16 mm
coastal
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
KwaZulu-Natal
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
open sandyflightless
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
Hardap, Bethania, Karisburg, Rosyntjebos
cf. Mantica Platychile
open sandyflightless
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Amblycheila
Manticora holubi holubi
Péringuey, 1888 · 35–65 mm
open sandyflightless
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Amblycheila
open sandyflightless
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Mantica Platychile
open sandyflightless
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo
cf. Mantica Platychile
open sandyflightless
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Mantica Platychile
open sandyflightless
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, Owambo, Tsumeb, Outjo, Mpumalanga
cf. Mantica Platychile
open sandyflightless
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
Limpopo, N Limpopo, Uhehe, Kilwa, Lindi
cf. Amblycheila
open sandyflightless
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
E Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo
cf. Mantica Platychile
Megacephala regalis angulicollis
Werner, 2003 · 14–35 mm
coastal
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
Limpopo, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi
Megacephala regalis atrospinosa
Werner, 2003 · 14–35 mm
coastal
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
Limpopo, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi
coastal
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
Limpopo, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi
Megacephala regalis citernii
Werner, 2003 · 14–35 mm
coastal
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
Limpopo, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi
Megacephala regalis hauseri
Werner, 2003 · 14–35 mm
coastal
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
Limpopo, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi
Megacephala regalis katangana
Werner, 2003 · 14–35 mm
coastal
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
Limpopo, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi
Megacephala regalis oscari
Werner, 2003 · 14–35 mm
coastal
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
Limpopo, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi
coastal
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
Limpopo, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi
Megacephala regalis revoili
Werner, 2003 · 14–35 mm
coastal
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
Limpopo, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi
Megacephala regalis serratosetosa
Werner, 2003 · 14–35 mm
coastal
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
Limpopo, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi
Megacephala regalis xerophila
Werner, 2003 · 14–35 mm
coastal
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
Limpopo, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi
cf. Phaeoxantha Pseudotetracha Tetracha
Myriochila confluentesubtilis
Werner, 2020 · 9–15 mm
coastal
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Myriochila jucunda
(Bates, 1878) · 9–15 mm
coastal
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
Groottenfein, Kavango, Caprivi
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Prothyma quadripustulata
(Bates, 1892) · 10–18 mm
coastal
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
East Caprivi, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
open sandy
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Prothymidia angusticollis angusticollis
(Bates, 1878) · 10–16 mm
open sandy
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Prothymidia angusticollis itombwensis
Werner, 1999 · 10–16 mm
open sandy
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Pseudodromica clathrata
Cassola, 1999 · 7–13 mm
open sandy
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
Northern Cape, Free State, North-West, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Swazi, Mapu
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Pseudodromica grandis
Serrano & Cape, 2020 · 7–13 mm
open sandy
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland South, E Limpopo
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Pseudodromica mauchii mauchii
W. Horn, 1897 · 7–13 mm
open sandy
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Pseudodromica pseudoclathrata
Serrano & Cape, 2020 · 7–13 mm
open sandy
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Trichotaenia tereticollis
Cassola & Werner, 2000 · 10–18 mm
open sandy
Active October–March (peak Jan–Nov)
Lago NGami, Lago Moero
cf. Abroscelis Antennaria Archidela
| Taxon | Authority | Flight | Distribution | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cylindera albosignata
= Cicindela aurosternalis (Bates, 1867) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1867) | East Caprivi | ||
| Cylindera dregei | (Dejean, 1826) | Western Cape | ||
| Cylindera ritsemai
= Cicindela sinuosa (Bates, 1874) [basionym]
|
Wiesner, 2016 | East | ||
| Dromica aspera | Chaudoir, 1883 | Omaheke | ||
| Dromica costata | Péringuey, 1893 | Southern | ||
| Dromica furcata | Boheman, 1848 | Free State | ||
| Dromica gloriosa | Péringuey, 1896 | Matabeleland North | ||
| Dromica lateralis | Boheman, 1860 | Khomas | ||
| Dromica laticollis | Cassola, 2002 | Northern | ||
| Dromica marginella | Cassola, 2002 | Free State | ||
| Dromica pentheri | Cassola, 2002 | Ohangwena | ||
| Dromica ramigera | Cassola, 2002 | Kunene | ||
| Elliptica compressicornis compressicornis | (Bates, 1878) | Katanga | ||
| Elliptica compressicornis persignata
= Cicindela deyrollei deyrollei (Bates, 1878) [basionym]
|
Werner, 2001 | Katanga | ||
| Habrodera capensis capensis | (Bates, 1878) | Western Cape | ||
| Habrodera nilotica nilotica | Werner, 1999 | KwaZulu-Natal | ||
| Lophyra alba | (Bates, 1878) | |||
| Lophyra bertolonia | (Bates, 1878) | East Caprivi | ||
| Lophyra fasciculicornis
= Cicindela flexuosa (Fabricius, 1787) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1878) | Limpopo | ||
| Lophyra namibica | Werner, 2000 | |||
| Lophyra reliqua | (Bates, 1878) | Kassai | ||
| Lophyra vivida | (Bates, 1878) | KwaZulu-Natal | ||
| Mantica horni
= Cicindela congoensis (Bates, 1878) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1878) | Hardap | ||
| Manticora holubi cunenensis | Péringuey, 1888 | |||
| Manticora holubi holubi | Péringuey, 1888 | |||
| Manticora imperator imperator | Péringuey, 1888 | |||
| Manticora latipennis
= Cicindela livingstoni (Bates, 1878) [basionym]
|
Waterhouse, 1900 | KwaZulu-Natal | ||
| Manticora livingstoni
= Cicindela mygaloides (Bates, 1878) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1878) | |||
| Manticora mygaloides | (Bates, 1878) | Limpopo | ||
| Manticora scabra
= Cicindela sichelii (Bates, 1878) [basionym]
|
Péringuey, 1888 | Limpopo | ||
| Manticora tibialis | Péringuey, 1888 | E Cape Province | ||
| Megacephala regalis angulicollis | Werner, 2003 | Limpopo | ||
| Megacephala regalis atrospinosa | Werner, 2003 | Limpopo | ||
| Megacephala regalis bennigseni | Werner, 2003 | Limpopo | ||
| Megacephala regalis citernii | Werner, 2003 | Limpopo | ||
| Megacephala regalis hauseri | Werner, 2003 | Limpopo | ||
| Megacephala regalis katangana | Werner, 2003 | Limpopo | ||
| Megacephala regalis oscari | Werner, 2003 | Limpopo | ||
| Megacephala regalis peringueyi
= Cicindela regalis regalis (Bates, 1878) [basionym]
|
Werner, 2003 | Limpopo | ||
| Megacephala regalis revoili | Werner, 2003 | Limpopo | ||
| Megacephala regalis serratosetosa | Werner, 2003 | Limpopo | ||
| Megacephala regalis xerophila | Werner, 2003 | Limpopo | ||
| Myriochila confluentesubtilis | Werner, 2020 | |||
| Myriochila jucunda | (Bates, 1878) | Groottenfein | ||
| Prothyma quadripustulata
= Cicindela radama (Bates, 1892) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1892) | East Caprivi | ||
| Prothymidia angusticollis abyssiniensis
= Cicindela angusticollis angusticollis (Bates, 1878) [basionym]
|
Werner, 1999 | |||
| Prothymidia angusticollis angusticollis | (Bates, 1878) | |||
| Prothymidia angusticollis itombwensis
= Cicindela foveicollis (Bates, 1892) [basionym]
|
Werner, 1999 | |||
| Pseudodromica clathrata | Cassola, 1999 | Northern Cape | ||
| Pseudodromica grandis | Serrano & Cape, 2020 | Mashonaland West | ||
| Pseudodromica mauchii mauchii | W. Horn, 1897 | Western Cape | ||
| Pseudodromica pseudoclathrata | Serrano & Cape, 2020 | Gauteng | ||
| Trichotaenia tereticollis
= Cicindela gracilipalpis (Bates, 1892) [basionym]
|
Cassola & Werner, 2000 | Lago NGami |