Tiger Beetles of Costa Rica
Interactive field guide · Cicindelidae · Cicindelidae matrix v54
63
Species
0
Endemics ★
13
Genera
Sep
Peak season
Costa Rica holds 63 species of tiger beetle (Cicindelidae). 13 genera recorded. Dominant genera: Ctenostoma (11), Cicindelidia (10), Tetracha (9), Pronyssa (7).
Habitats: riverine (22) · open sandy (10) · coastal (6)
21
Arboreal
9
Nocturnal
13
Genera
Sep
Peak month
Iconic species of Costa Rica
Oxycheila chaudoiri
Chaudoiri Tiger Beetle
*Oxycheila* Dejean, 1825 is a robust, metallic Neotropical tiger beetle genus of approximately 52 species, haunting moist riparian banks and humid forest floors across South America. Nocturnal pursuit…
12–22 mm
63 species
What to expect: Peak activity in September. Dominant habitats: riverine (22) · open sandy (10) · coastal (6). 21 arboreal species.
| Genus | Spp. | Traits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ctenostoma | 11 | other | DIAGNOSIS — *Ctenostoma* (Neoprocephalus) Naviaux, 1998. Body ~14 mm, cylindrical (L:W >3.0), metallic. Nocturnal arbore… |
| Cicindelidia | 10 | riverine | DIAGNOSIS — *Cicindelidia* Rivalier, 1954. Body 8–15 mm, elongate, metallic, fully winged, nocturnal. Separated from *Ci… |
| Tetracha | 9 | open sandy | DIAGNOSIS — *Tetracha* Hope, 1838. Body 10–20 mm, robust, depressed, metallic. Nocturnal–crepuscular. Broad Megacephalin… |
| Pronyssa | 7 | other | DIAGNOSIS — *Pronyssa* Bates, 1874 Body medium, 9–16 mm; form elongate, notably depressed (flattened). Integument metal… |
| Brasiella | 6 | riverine Metallic | DIAGNOSIS — *Brasiella* Rivalier, 1954. Body 6–13 mm, elongate-oval; fully winged; nocturnal; sandy substrate. Separated… |
| Habroscelimorpha | 6 | coastal | DIAGNOSIS — *Habroscelimorpha* Dokhtouroff, 1883. Body 12–17 mm, cylindrical, elongate-cursorial; L:W ratio 2–3. Fully w… |
| Odontocheila | 6 | riverine Metallic | DIAGNOSIS — *Odontocheila* Laporte de Castelnau, 1834. Body 10–16 mm, robust. Toothed elytral/labral margins; labrum sex… |
| Oxycheila | 3 | forest | DIAGNOSIS — *Oxycheila* Dejean, 1825. Body 12–22 mm, robust, metallic, oval (L:W <2.0); labrum dagger-shaped; mandibles … |
| Iresia | 1 | other | DIAGNOSIS — *Iresia* (Iresia) Dejean, 1831 s.str. Body 9–14 mm, elongate-cylindrical (L:W 2–3); fully winged. Coloratio… |
| Mesochila | 1 | forest | DIAGNOSIS — *Mesochila* (Mesochila) Rivalier, 1969. Body 9–14 mm, elongate-cylindrical (L:W ratio 2–3). Coloration metal… |
| Oxygonia | 1 | other | DIAGNOSIS — *Oxygonia* Mannerheim, 1837. Body 9–14 mm, ovate; L:W ratio 2–3. Coloration metallic with pale elytral spots… |
| Pentacomia | 1 | other | DIAGNOSIS — *Pentacomia* Bates, 1872. Body 8–13 mm, elongate-cylindrical (L:W ratio 2–3), fully winged. Coloration metal… |
| Pseudoxycheila | 1 | open sandy | DIAGNOSIS — *Pseudoxycheila* Guérin-Méneville, 1839. Body 12–22 mm, robust, oval (L:W ratio <2.0). Head wider than prono… |
riverine
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
Chihuahua
cf. Cicindelidia Microthylax Odontocheila
Brasiella mendicula
(Bates, 1881) · 4–8 mm
riverine
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
cf. Brzoskaicheila Cenothyla Cicindela
Brasiella misella
(Bates, 1881) · 4–8 mm
riverine
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
Mato Grosso, Corrientes, Jujuy, Salta
cf. Brzoskaicheila Cenothyla Cicindela
riverine
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Brzoskaicheila Cenothyla Cicindela
Brasiella sphaerodera
(Bates, 1881) · 4–8 mm
riverine
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Brzoskaicheila Cenothyla Cicindela
riverine
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
cf. Cicindelidia Microthylax Odontocheila
Cicindelidia aeneicollis
(Bates, 1881) · 8–18 mm
riverine
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
Campeche, Chihuahua, Sonora, Sinaloa, Durango, Nayarit, Aguascalientes, Jalisco,
cf. Apterodela Cicindela Cylindera
Cicindelidia carthagena carthagena
(Dejean, 1831) · 8–18 mm
riverine
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
Campeche, Chihuahua, Guanajuato, Morelos, Sonora, Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Col
cf. Brasiella Microthylax Odontocheila
Cicindelidia favergeri
(Bates, 1881) · 8–18 mm
riverine
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
Saint Lucia
cf. Brasiella Brzoskaicheila Cenothyla
riverine
Active June–September (peak Jul–Aug)
Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Chihuahua, Sonora, Sinaloa, Zacatecas, San Luis Poto
cf. Brasiella Microthylax Odontocheila
riverine
Active June–September (peak Jul–Aug)
Texas, Chihuahua, Sonora, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, Zacatecas, Aguascalie
cf. Brasiella Microthylax Odontocheila
riverine
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
Texas, Chihuahua, Sonora, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, Zacatecas, Aguascalie
cf. Beckerium Brasiella Cicindela
Cicindelidia roseiventris linearis
(Bates, 1881) · 8–18 mm
riverine
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
cf. Brasiella Microthylax Odontocheila
Cicindelidia sedecimpunctata nigroconfluens
(Bates, 1881) · 8–18 mm
riverine
Active June–September (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Beckerium Brasiella Cicindela
riverine
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
Arizona, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland,
cf. Brasiella Microthylax Odontocheila
Cicindelidia walkeriana
(Bates, 1881) · 8–18 mm
riverine
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
cf. Apterodela Cicindela Cylindera
Ctenostoma angustoobliquatum
Wiesner, 2006 · 8–20 mm
other
Active January–December (year-round)
cf. Pogonostoma
Ctenostoma brendelli
Wiesner, 2006 · 8–20 mm
other
Active January–December (year-round)
cf. Pogonostoma
Ctenostoma davidsoni
Wiesner, 2006 · 8–20 mm
other
Active January–December (year-round)
cf. Pogonostoma
Ctenostoma ibidion
(Klug, 1834) · 8–20 mm
other
Active January–December (year-round)
cf. Pogonostoma
Ctenostoma ibidion ibidion
(Klug, 1834) · 8–20 mm
other
Active January–December (year-round)
cf. Pogonostoma
Ctenostoma ibidion jolyi
(Klug, 1834) · 8–20 mm
other
Active January–December (year-round)
cf. Pogonostoma
Ctenostoma longipalpe
(Bates, 1869) · 8–20 mm
other
Active January–December (year-round)
cf. Pogonostoma
Ctenostoma maculicorne
Wiesner, 2006 · 8–20 mm
other
Active January–December (year-round)
Oaxaca, Veracruz, Yucatan
cf. Pogonostoma
Ctenostoma simile
Wiesner, 2006 · 8–20 mm
other
Active January–December (year-round)
cf. Pogonostoma
Ctenostoma tumidum
(Bates, 1869) · 8–20 mm
other
Active January–December (year-round)
cf. Pogonostoma
coastal
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
Bonaire, Curacao
Habroscelimorpha auraria auraria
(Perty, 1830) · 12–17 mm
coastal
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
Bonaire, Curacao
coastal
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
Bonaire, Curacao
Habroscelimorpha auraria euryscopa
(Perty, 1830) · 12–17 mm
coastal
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
Bonaire, Curacao
cf. Brasiella Brzoskaicheila Cenothyla
Habroscelimorpha schwarzi
(LeConte, 1898) · 12–17 mm
coastal
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
cf. Brasiella Brzoskaicheila Cenothyla
Habroscelimorpha striga
(LeConte, 1856) · 12–17 mm
coastal
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas
cf. Beckerium Brasiella Cicindela
other
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
Oaxaca, Chiapas, Veracruz
cf. Brasiella Brzoskaicheila Cenothyla
forest
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
Cartago
cf. Aniara Phaeoxantha Tetracha
riverine
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
Limon
cf. Brasiella Brzoskaicheila Cenothyla
riverine
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Brasiella Brzoskaicheila Cenothyla
riverine
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Brasiella Brzoskaicheila Cenothyla
Odontocheila iodopleura
(Bates, 1869) · 8–15 mm
riverine
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Brasiella Brzoskaicheila Cenothyla
riverine
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
cf. Brasiella Brzoskaicheila Cenothyla
riverine
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
cf. Brasiella Brzoskaicheila Cenothyla
forest
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
cf. Cheiloxya Pseudoxycheila
Oxycheila costaricana
(Bates, 1881) · 12–22 mm
forest
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
cf. Cheiloxya Pseudoxycheila
Oxycheila polita
Moravec, 2020 · 12–22 mm
forest
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
cf. Cheiloxya Pseudoxycheila
Oxygonia boucardi
(Bates, 1881) · 9–14 mm
other
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
cf. Brasiella Brzoskaicheila Cenothyla
Pentacomia cupriventris
(Bates, 1869) · 8–13 mm
other
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
cf. Brasiella Brzoskaicheila Cenothyla
Pronyssa andrsi
Wiesner, 2008 · 9–16 mm
other
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
cf. Beckerium Brasiella Cicindela
Pronyssa assamensis
(Bates, 1892) · 9–16 mm
other
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
cf. Beckerium Brasiella Cicindela
Pronyssa ingridae
Wiesner, 2004 · 9–16 mm
other
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
cf. Beckerium Brasiella Cicindela
Pronyssa kraatzi
(Bates, 1892) · 9–16 mm
other
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
cf. Beckerium Brasiella Cicindela
other
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
cf. Beckerium Brasiella Cicindela
other
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
cf. Beckerium Brasiella Cicindela
other
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Apterodela Calochroa Calomera
open sandy
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
cf. Cheiloxya Oxycheila
open sandy
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
Chihuahua, Coahuila, Veracruz, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Colima, San Luis, Poto
cf. Megacephala Phaeoxantha Pseudotetracha
open sandy
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
Aruba, Baja California Sur, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz
Tetracha sobrina antiguana
(Bates, 1869) · 11–30 mm
open sandy
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
Aruba, Baja California Sur, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz
Tetracha sobrina caicosensis
(Bates, 1869) · 11–30 mm
open sandy
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
Aruba, Baja California Sur, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz
Tetracha sobrina freyi
(Bates, 1869) · 11–30 mm
open sandy
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
Aruba, Baja California Sur, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz
Tetracha sobrina guyanensis
(Bates, 1869) · 11–30 mm
open sandy
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
Aruba, Baja California Sur, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz
Tetracha sobrina infuscata
(Bates, 1869) · 11–30 mm
open sandy
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
Aruba, Baja California Sur, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz
open sandy
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
Aruba, Baja California Sur, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz
open sandy
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
Aruba, Baja California Sur, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz
cf. Aniara Metriocheila Phaeoxantha
| Taxon | Authority | Flight | Distribution | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brasiella hemichrysea fuscostrigata
= Cicindela hemichrysea hemichrysea (Bates, 1881) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1881) | Chihuahua | ||
| Brasiella mendicula
= Cicindela minarum (Bates, 1881) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1881) | |||
| Brasiella misella | (Bates, 1881) | Mato Grosso | ||
| Brasiella nebulosa
= Cicindela obscurella (Bates, 1881) [basionym]
|
Wiesner, 2003 | |||
| Brasiella sphaerodera | (Bates, 1881) | |||
| Brasiella venustula
= Cicindela viridicollis (Bates, 1881) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1881) | |||
| Cicindelidia aeneicollis
= Cicindela amargosae amargosae (Schaupp, 1884) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1881) | Campeche | ||
| Cicindelidia carthagena carthagena
= Cicindela carthagena colossea (Bates, 1881) [basionym]
|
(Dejean, 1831) | Campeche | ||
| Cicindelidia favergeri
= Cicindela favergeri parvipunctulata (Bates, 1881) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1881) | Saint Lucia | ||
| Cicindelidia ocellata
= Cicindela ocellata ocellata (Klug, 1834) [basionym]
|
(Klug, 1834) | Arizona | ||
| Cicindelidia ocellata ocellata
= Cicindela ocellata rectilatera (Klug, 1834) [basionym]
|
(Klug, 1834) | Texas | ||
| Cicindelidia ocellata rectilatera
= Cicindela papillosa (LeConte, 1851) [basionym]
|
(Klug, 1834) | Texas | ||
| Cicindelidia roseiventris linearis
= Cicindela roseiventris mexicana (Bates, 1881) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1881) | |||
| Cicindelidia sedecimpunctata nigroconfluens
= Cicindela sedecimpunctata rubriventris (Bates, 1881) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1881) | |||
| Cicindelidia trifasciata ascendens
= Cicindela trifasciata australis (Fabricius, 1781) [basionym]
|
(Fabricius, 1781) | Arizona | ||
| Cicindelidia walkeriana
= Cicindela willistoni echo (LeConte, 1875) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1881) | |||
| Ctenostoma aeneum | (Klug, 1834) | |||
| Ctenostoma angustoobliquatum | Wiesner, 2006 | |||
| Ctenostoma brendelli
= Cicindela brunneum (Bates, 1869) [basionym]
|
Wiesner, 2006 | |||
| Ctenostoma davidsoni | Wiesner, 2006 | |||
| Ctenostoma ibidion
= Cicindela ibidion ibidion (Klug, 1834) [basionym]
|
(Klug, 1834) | |||
| Ctenostoma ibidion ibidion
= Cicindela ibidion jolyi (Klug, 1834) [basionym]
|
(Klug, 1834) | |||
| Ctenostoma ibidion jolyi | (Klug, 1834) | |||
| Ctenostoma longipalpe
= Cicindela maculosum (Bates, 1869) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1869) | |||
| Ctenostoma maculicorne
= Cicindela nitidum (Bates, 1869) [basionym]
|
Wiesner, 2006 | Oaxaca | ||
| Ctenostoma simile | Wiesner, 2006 | |||
| Ctenostoma tumidum | (Bates, 1869) | |||
| Habroscelimorpha auraria
= Cicindela auraria auraria (Perty, 1830) [basionym]
|
(Perty, 1830) | Bonaire | ||
| Habroscelimorpha auraria auraria
= Cicindela auraria bechyneiorum (Perty, 1830) [basionym]
|
(Perty, 1830) | Bonaire | ||
| Habroscelimorpha auraria bechyneiorum
= Cicindela auraria euryscopa (Perty, 1830) [basionym]
|
(Perty, 1830) | Bonaire | ||
| Habroscelimorpha auraria euryscopa
= Cicindela boops (LeConte, 1856) [basionym]
|
(Perty, 1830) | Bonaire | ||
| Habroscelimorpha schwarzi
= Cicindela striga (LeConte, 1856) [basionym]
|
(LeConte, 1898) | |||
| Habroscelimorpha striga | (LeConte, 1856) | Guerrero | ||
| Iresia boucardii
= Cicindela lacordairei (Bates, 1881) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1881) | Oaxaca | ||
| Mesochila tayutica
= Cicindela nigricollis (Bates, 1892) [basionym]
|
Moravec, 2018 | Cartago | ||
| Odontocheila angelsolisi | Moravec, 2020 | Limon | ||
| Odontocheila chiriquina
= Cicindela chrysis (Bates, 1869) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1869) | |||
| Odontocheila exilis | (Bates, 1869) | |||
| Odontocheila iodopleura | (Bates, 1869) | |||
| Odontocheila iodopleuroides | Moravec, 2020 | |||
| Odontocheila nicaraguensis
= Cicindela nigrotarsalis (Bates, 1869) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1869) | |||
| Oxycheila chaudoiri
= Cicindela chestertonii (Bates, 1881) [basionym]
|
Moravec, 2020 | |||
| Oxycheila costaricana
= Cicindela distigma (Bates, 1881) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1881) | |||
| Oxycheila polita | Moravec, 2020 | |||
| Oxygonia boucardi
= Cicindela buckleyi (Bates, 1881) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1881) | |||
| Pentacomia cupriventris | (Bates, 1869) | |||
| Pronyssa andrsi
= Cicindela assamensis (Bates, 1892) [basionym]
|
Wiesner, 2008 | |||
| Pronyssa assamensis | (Bates, 1892) | |||
| Pronyssa ingridae
= Cicindela kraatzi (Bates, 1892) [basionym]
|
Wiesner, 2004 | |||
| Pronyssa kraatzi | (Bates, 1892) | |||
| Pronyssa manaslucola
= Cicindela montanea (Bates, 1892) [basionym]
|
Wiesner, 2004 | |||
| Pronyssa montanea
= Cicindela nodicollis (Bates, 1892) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1892) | |||
| Pronyssa nodicollis
= Cicindela excoffieri (Bates, 1892) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1892) | |||
| Pseudoxycheila tarsalis
= Cicindela tucumana (Bates, 1881) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1881) | |||
| Tetracha angustata
= Cicindela angusticollis (Bates, 1869) [basionym]
|
(Dejean, 1826) | Chihuahua | ||
| Tetracha sobrina
= Cicindela sobrina antiguana (Bates, 1869) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1869) | Aruba | ||
| Tetracha sobrina antiguana
= Cicindela sobrina caicosensis (Bates, 1869) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1869) | Aruba | ||
| Tetracha sobrina caicosensis
= Cicindela sobrina freyi (Bates, 1869) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1869) | Aruba | ||
| Tetracha sobrina freyi
= Cicindela sobrina guyanensis (Bates, 1869) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1869) | Aruba | ||
| Tetracha sobrina guyanensis
= Cicindela sobrina infuscata (Bates, 1869) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1869) | Aruba | ||
| Tetracha sobrina infuscata
= Cicindela sobrina punctata (Bates, 1869) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1869) | Aruba | ||
| Tetracha sobrina punctata
= Cicindela sobrina sobrina (Bates, 1869) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1869) | Aruba | ||
| Tetracha sobrina sobrina
= Cicindela sommeri (Chaudoir, 1850) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1869) | Aruba |