Tiger Beetles of Ghana
Interactive field guide · Cicindelidae · Cicindelidae matrix v54
23
Species
0
Endemics ★
10
Genera
Oct
Peak season
Ghana holds 23 species of tiger beetle (Cicindelidae). 10 genera recorded. Dominant genera: Lophyra (6), Hipparidium (5), Ropaloteres (4), Megacephala (2).
Habitats: open sandy (14) · coastal (8) · riverine (1)
2
Nocturnal
10
Genera
Oct
Peak month
Iconic species of Ghana
Lophyra capillata
Capillata 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
23 species
What to expect: Peak activity in October. Dominant habitats: open sandy (14) · coastal (8) · riverine (1).
| Genus | Spp. | Traits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lophyra | 6 | coastal Iridescent | DIAGNOSIS — *Lophyra* (Spilodella) Matalin & Cherkasov, 2004. Body 9–12 mm, cylindrical; metallic with pale spots; noctu… |
| Hipparidium | 5 | open sandy | DIAGNOSIS — *Hipparidium* Jeannel, 1946. Body large, 12–20 mm, cylindrical (L:W ratio 2–3), dark/matte. Fully winged. Ey… |
| Ropaloteres | 4 | open sandy | DIAGNOSIS — *Ropaloteres* Guérin-Méneville, 1849. Body 10–18 mm, cylindrical, elongate-cursorial. Coloration metallic (b… |
| Megacephala | 2 | coastal Metallic | DIAGNOSIS — *Megacephala* Latreille, 1802. Body 15–25 mm; head markedly enlarged, broader than pronotum; color bright me… |
| Cratohaerea | 1 | open sandy | DIAGNOSIS — *Cratohaerea* Chaudoir, 1850. Body small, 10–16 mm, elongate-cylindrical; length-to-width ratio 2–3. Colorat… |
| Euryarthron | 1 | open sandy | DIAGNOSIS — *Euryarthron* Guérin-Méneville, 1849. Body 10–18 mm, elongate-cylindrical; L:W ratio 2–3. Coloration metalli… |
| Euzona | 1 | riverine | DIAGNOSIS — *Euzona* Rivalier, 1963. Body medium (8–16 mm), cylindrical, elongate; fully winged. Coloration metallic. La… |
| Habrodera | 1 | open sandy | DIAGNOSIS — *Habrodera* Motschulsky, 1862. Body 11–16 mm, elongate-cylindrical, dark and matte. Head wider than pronotum… |
| Neochila | 1 | open sandy | DIAGNOSIS — *Neochila* Basilewsky, 1953. Length 7.1–13 mm. Elongate, parallel-sided, depressed; black to bluish-green or… |
| Prothymidia | 1 | open sandy | DIAGNOSIS — *Prothymidia* Rivalier, 1957. Body 10–16 mm, oval (L:W <2.0), fully winged. Coloration metallic. Eyes large,… |
Cratohaerea chrysopyga
(Bates, 1878) · 10–16 mm
open sandy
Active January–December (year-round)
cf. Pogonostoma
Euryarthron dromicarium
Werner, 2001 · 10–18 mm
open sandy
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Euzona albolineata
(Bates, 1892) · 8–16 mm
riverine
Active October–March (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Abroscelis Antennaria Archidela
Habrodera nitidula nitidula
(Bates, 1878) · 11–16 mm
open sandy
Active April–September (peak May–Aug)
cf. Calomera Cephalota Cicindela
Hipparidium caternaulti
Werner, 2001 · 12–20 mm
open sandy
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Hipparidium clavator
Werner, 2001 · 12–20 mm
open sandy
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Cylindera Chaetotaxis Lophyra
Hipparidium interruptum
(Bates, 1878) · 12–20 mm
open sandy
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Hipparidium macrochilum
Werner, 2001 · 12–20 mm
open sandy
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Cylindera Chaetotaxis Lophyra
Hipparidium nigritulum
Werner, 2001 · 12–20 mm
open sandy
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Cylindera Chaetotaxis Lophyra
coastal
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Lophyra clathrata clathrata
Werner, 2000 · 9–16 mm
coastal
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Hypaetha Myriochila Prothyma
coastal
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Hypaetha Myriochila Prothyma
Lophyra luxerii
(Bates, 1878) · 9–16 mm
coastal
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
coastal
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
Yalinga
cf. Abroscelis Antennaria Apteroessa
Lophyra uncivittata
(Bates, 1878) · 9–16 mm
coastal
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Neochila horii
Werner, 2020 · 8–12 mm
open sandy
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Prothymidia vuilletorum
(Bates, 1892) · 10–16 mm
open sandy
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Collyris Derocrania Neocollyris
Ropaloteres cinctus
(Bates, 1878) · 10–18 mm
open sandy
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Ropaloteres feisthamelii
(Bates, 1878) · 10–18 mm
open sandy
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
open sandy
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Ropaloteres nysa nysa
(Bates, 1878) · 10–18 mm
open sandy
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
| Taxon | Authority | Flight | Distribution | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cratohaerea chrysopyga
= Cicindela bifasciatum (Klug, 1834) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1878) | |||
| Euryarthron dromicarium
= Cicindela festivum (Bates, 1878) [basionym]
|
Werner, 2001 | |||
| Euzona albolineata
= Cicindela aurita (Bates, 1892) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1892) | |||
| Habrodera nitidula nitidula | (Bates, 1878) | |||
| Hipparidium caternaulti | Werner, 2001 | |||
| Hipparidium clavator | Werner, 2001 | |||
| Hipparidium interruptum | (Bates, 1878) | |||
| Hipparidium macrochilum
= Cicindela micheli (Bates, 1878) [basionym]
|
Werner, 2001 | |||
| Hipparidium nigritulum | Werner, 2001 | |||
| Lophyra capillata | (Bates, 1878) | |||
| Lophyra clathrata clathrata | Werner, 2000 | |||
| Lophyra grossepunctata | (Bates, 1878) | |||
| Lophyra luxerii | (Bates, 1878) | |||
| Lophyra senegalensis | (Dejean, 1826) | Yalinga | ||
| Lophyra uncivittata | (Bates, 1878) | |||
| Megacephala bocandei bocandei | (Bates, 1878) | |||
| Megacephala bocandei clermonti | Werner, 2003 | |||
| Neochila horii | Werner, 2020 | |||
| Prothymidia vuilletorum
= Cicindela annamensis (Bates, 1892) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1892) | |||
| Ropaloteres cinctus
= Cicindela congoensis congoensis (Bates, 1878) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1878) | |||
| Ropaloteres feisthamelii | (Bates, 1878) | |||
| Ropaloteres nysa ethiopicus
= Cicindela nysa nysa (Bates, 1878) [basionym]
|
Cassola & Werner, 2000 | |||
| Ropaloteres nysa nysa | (Bates, 1878) |