Tiger Beetles of Gabon
Interactive field guide · Cicindelidae · Cicindelidae matrix v54
21
Species
0
Endemics ★
9
Genera
Oct
Peak season
Gabon holds 21 species of tiger beetle (Cicindelidae). 9 genera recorded. Dominant genera: Ropaloteres (7), Habrodera (3), Bennigsenium (2), Elliptica (2).
Habitats: open sandy (17) · forest (2) · coastal (2)
9
Genera
Oct
Peak month
Iconic species of Gabon
Lophyra flavipennis
Yellow-winged Tiger Beetle
*Lophyra* (Spilodella) is a small Oriental subgenus of tiger beetles haunting open, wet sandy habitats under cover of darkness. These metallic, spot-patterned beetles measure 9–12 mm and are tied to b…
Iridescent
9–16 mm
21 species
What to expect: Peak activity in October. Dominant habitats: open sandy (17) · forest (2) · coastal (2).
| Genus | Spp. | Traits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ropaloteres | 7 | open sandy | DIAGNOSIS — *Ropaloteres* Guérin-Méneville, 1849. Body 10–18 mm, cylindrical, elongate-cursorial. Coloration metallic (b… |
| Habrodera | 3 | open sandy | DIAGNOSIS — *Habrodera* Motschulsky, 1862. Body 11–16 mm, elongate-cylindrical, dark and matte. Head wider than pronotum… |
| Bennigsenium | 2 | open sandy | DIAGNOSIS — *Bennigsenium* W.Horn, 1897 Body medium, 10–20 mm (key character ca. 15 mm), elongate, cylindrical; L:W rati… |
| Elliptica | 2 | forest | DIAGNOSIS — *Elliptica* Fairmaire, 1884 Body 10–18 mm, cylindrical, oval-shouldered; L:W ratio 2–3. Coloration metallic… |
| Lophyra | 2 | coastal Iridescent | DIAGNOSIS — *Lophyra* (Spilodella) Matalin & Cherkasov, 2004. Body 9–12 mm, cylindrical; metallic with pale spots; noctu… |
| Neochila | 2 | open sandy | DIAGNOSIS — *Neochila* Basilewsky, 1953. Length 7.1–13 mm. Elongate, parallel-sided, depressed; black to bluish-green or… |
| Hipparidium | 1 | open sandy | DIAGNOSIS — *Hipparidium* Jeannel, 1946. Body large, 12–20 mm, cylindrical (L:W ratio 2–3), dark/matte. Fully winged. Ey… |
| Ophryodera | 1 | open sandy | DIAGNOSIS — *Ophryodera* Chaudoir, 1860. Body medium, 15–22 mm, oval; L:W ratio 2–3. Coloration metallic with pale elytr… |
| Prothymidia | 1 | open sandy | DIAGNOSIS — *Prothymidia* Rivalier, 1957. Body 10–16 mm, oval (L:W <2.0), fully winged. Coloration metallic. Eyes large,… |
Bennigsenium bodongi
Werner, 2001 · 10–20 mm
open sandy
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Ambalia Calyptoglossa Cicindela
Bennigsenium discoscriptum
Werner, 2001 · 10–20 mm
open sandy
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Ambalia Calyptoglossa Cicindela
Elliptica muata muata
Werner, 2001 · 10–18 mm
forest
Active January–December (year-round)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Elliptica muata parallelestriata
Werner, 2001 · 10–18 mm
forest
Active January–December (year-round)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
open sandy
Active April–September (peak May–Aug)
cf. Hypaetha Lophyra Myriochila
Habrodera nilotica nilotica
Werner, 1999 · 11–16 mm
open sandy
Active March–July (peak Apr–Jun)
KwaZulu-Natal
cf. Myriochila Salpingophora Socotrana
Habrodera nitidula nitidula
(Bates, 1878) · 11–16 mm
open sandy
Active April–September (peak May–Aug)
cf. Calomera Cephalota Cicindela
Hipparidium gabonicum
Werner, 2001 · 12–20 mm
open sandy
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Lophyra flavipennis
(Klug, 1832) · 9–16 mm
coastal
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Abroscelis Antennaria Apteroessa
Lophyra uncivittata
(Bates, 1878) · 9–16 mm
coastal
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Neochila congoana
Werner, 2001 · 8–12 mm
open sandy
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Neochila unicolorata
Werner, 2001 · 8–12 mm
open sandy
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Ophryodera foliicornis foliicornis
(Bates, 1874) · 15–22 mm
open sandy
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Prothymidia putzeysi
(Bates, 1892) · 10–16 mm
open sandy
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Ropaloteres brazzai
Cassola & Werner, 2000 · 10–18 mm
open sandy
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Ropaloteres congoensis congoensis
(Bates, 1878) · 10–18 mm
open sandy
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Ropaloteres congoensis phyleticus
Cassola & Werner, 2000 · 10–18 mm
open sandy
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Calomera Cephalota Cicindela
Ropaloteres fatidicus fatidicus
(Bates, 1878) · 10–18 mm
open sandy
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Ropaloteres fatidicus inrostratus
Cassola & Werner, 2000 · 10–18 mm
open sandy
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Ropaloteres fatidicus shabensis
Cassola & Werner, 2000 · 10–18 mm
open sandy
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Hypaetha Lophyra Myriochila
Ropaloteres regina
Cassola & Werner, 2000 · 10–18 mm
open sandy
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
Kasai, Katanga
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
| Taxon | Authority | Flight | Distribution | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bennigsenium bodongi | Werner, 2001 | |||
| Bennigsenium discoscriptum | Werner, 2001 | |||
| Elliptica muata muata | Werner, 2001 | |||
| Elliptica muata parallelestriata | Werner, 2001 | |||
| Habrodera leucoptera cabinda
= Cicindela leucoptera leucoptera (Bates, 1878) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1878) | |||
| Habrodera nilotica nilotica | Werner, 1999 | KwaZulu-Natal | ||
| Habrodera nitidula nitidula | (Bates, 1878) | |||
| Hipparidium gabonicum | Werner, 2001 | |||
| Lophyra flavipennis | (Klug, 1832) | |||
| Lophyra uncivittata | (Bates, 1878) | |||
| Neochila congoana | Werner, 2001 | |||
| Neochila unicolorata | Werner, 2001 | |||
| Ophryodera foliicornis foliicornis
= Cicindela foliicornis trimaculata (Bates, 1874) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1874) | |||
| Prothymidia putzeysi
= Cicindela sibyllae (Bates, 1892) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1892) | |||
| Ropaloteres brazzai
= Cicindela cinctus (Bates, 1878) [basionym]
|
Cassola & Werner, 2000 | |||
| Ropaloteres congoensis congoensis | (Bates, 1878) | |||
| Ropaloteres congoensis phyleticus | Cassola & Werner, 2000 | |||
| Ropaloteres fatidicus fatidicus | (Bates, 1878) | |||
| Ropaloteres fatidicus inrostratus | Cassola & Werner, 2000 | |||
| Ropaloteres fatidicus shabensis
= Cicindela feisthamelii (Bates, 1878) [basionym]
|
Cassola & Werner, 2000 | |||
| Ropaloteres regina | Cassola & Werner, 2000 | Kasai |