Tiger Beetles of Nigeria
Interactive field guide · Cicindelidae · Cicindelidae matrix v54
39
Species
0
Endemics ★
13
Genera
Oct
Peak season
Nigeria holds 39 species of tiger beetle (Cicindelidae). 13 genera recorded. Dominant genera: Lophyra (11), Ropaloteres (6), Megacephala (5), Myriochila (4).
Habitats: coastal (21) · open sandy (14) · riverine (3)
1
Arboreal
5
Nocturnal
13
Genera
Oct
Peak month
Iconic species of Nigeria
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
39 species
What to expect: Peak activity in October. Dominant habitats: coastal (21) · open sandy (14) · riverine (3). 1 arboreal species.
| Genus | Spp. | Traits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lophyra | 11 | coastal Iridescent | DIAGNOSIS — *Lophyra* (Spilodella) Matalin & Cherkasov, 2004. Body 9–12 mm, cylindrical; metallic with pale spots; noctu… |
| Ropaloteres | 6 | open sandy | DIAGNOSIS — *Ropaloteres* Guérin-Méneville, 1849. Body 10–18 mm, cylindrical, elongate-cursorial. Coloration metallic (b… |
| Megacephala | 5 | coastal Metallic | DIAGNOSIS — *Megacephala* Latreille, 1802. Body 15–25 mm; head markedly enlarged, broader than pronotum; color bright me… |
| Myriochila | 4 | coastal | DIAGNOSIS — *Myriochila* Motschulsky, 1857. Body 8–14 mm, elongate, metallic; eyes large, prominent; labrum transverse; … |
| Neochila | 3 | open sandy | DIAGNOSIS — *Neochila* Basilewsky, 1953. Length 7.1–13 mm. Elongate, parallel-sided, depressed; black to bluish-green or… |
| Habrodera | 2 | open sandy | DIAGNOSIS — *Habrodera* Motschulsky, 1862. Body 11–16 mm, elongate-cylindrical, dark and matte. Head wider than pronotum… |
| Chaetodera | 2 | riverine | DIAGNOSIS — *Chaetodera* Jeannel, 1946. Body 12–20 mm, metallic with pale spots, cylindrical (L:W ratio 2–3). Head inclu… |
| Calomera | 1 | coastal Iridescent | DIAGNOSIS — *Calomera* Motschulsky, 1862. 8–18 mm; genae densely long-setose; sterna setose; elytra with whitish/ivory t… |
| 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… |
| Oxygonia | 1 | other | DIAGNOSIS — *Oxygonia* Mannerheim, 1837. Body 9–14 mm, ovate; L:W ratio 2–3. Coloration metallic with pale elytral spots… |
| Prothymidia | 1 | open sandy | DIAGNOSIS — *Prothymidia* Rivalier, 1957. Body 10–16 mm, oval (L:W <2.0), fully winged. Coloration metallic. Eyes large,… |
coastal
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
S Pelopones, Gujarat
cf. Abroscelis Antennaria Apteroessa
Chaetodera regalis regalis
(Bates, 1892) · 12–20 mm
riverine
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
riverine
Active April–September (peak May–Aug)
cf. Abroscelis Antennaria Archidela
Cratohaerea chrysopyga
(Bates, 1878) · 10–16 mm
open sandy
Active January–December (year-round)
cf. Pogonostoma
Euryarthron saginatum
Werner, 2001 · 10–18 mm
open sandy
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
Garamba, Kibalituri
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Euzona albolineata
(Bates, 1892) · 8–16 mm
riverine
Active October–March (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Abroscelis Antennaria Archidela
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
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
Lophyra flavipennis
(Klug, 1832) · 9–16 mm
coastal
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Abroscelis Antennaria Apteroessa
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 October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Lophyra neglecta neglecta
Werner, 2000 · 9–16 mm
coastal
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
coastal
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Lophyra neglecta sublitoralis
Werner, 2000 · 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
Megacephala quadrisignata quadrisignata
(Bates, 1878) · 14–35 mm
coastal
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
Megacephala quadrisignata rivaliera
Werner, 2003 · 14–35 mm
coastal
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
Myriochila dorsata
(Bates, 1878) · 9–15 mm
coastal
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
coastal
Active April–September (peak May–Aug)
cf. Calochroa Calomera Cosmodela
Myriochila flavidens angusteampliata
Werner, 1999 · 9–15 mm
coastal
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
coastal
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Neochila grandis
Werner, 2001 · 8–12 mm
open sandy
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Neochila nigromarginilabris
Werner, 2001 · 8–12 mm
open sandy
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Abroscelis Antennaria Apteroessa
Neochila unicolorata
Werner, 2001 · 8–12 mm
open sandy
Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
other
Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)
cf. Brasiella Brzoskaicheila Cenothyla
Prothymidia vuilletorum
(Bates, 1892) · 10–16 mm
open sandy
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Collyris Derocrania Neocollyris
Ropaloteres feisthamelii
(Bates, 1878) · 10–18 mm
open sandy
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Ropaloteres flavosignatus cupreoreductulus
Cassola & Werner, 2000 · 10–18 mm
open sandy
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Ropaloteres flavosignatus flavoreductus
Cassola & Werner, 2000 · 10–18 mm
open sandy
Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)
cf. Ambalia Bennigsenium Calyptoglossa
Ropaloteres flavosignatus flavosignatus
(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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calomera aulica tschitscherini | (Bates, 1874) | S Pelopones | ||
| Chaetodera regalis regalis | (Bates, 1892) | |||
| Chaetodera regalis veneranda
= Cicindela vigintiguttata (Bates, 1892) [basionym]
|
Moravec, 2007 | |||
| Cratohaerea chrysopyga
= Cicindela bifasciatum (Klug, 1834) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1878) | |||
| Euryarthron saginatum | Werner, 2001 | Garamba | ||
| Euzona albolineata
= Cicindela aurita (Bates, 1892) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1892) | |||
| Habrodera nilotica nilotica | Werner, 1999 | KwaZulu-Natal | ||
| Habrodera nitidula nitidula | (Bates, 1878) | |||
| Lophyra capillata | (Bates, 1878) | |||
| Lophyra clathrata clathrata | Werner, 2000 | |||
| Lophyra flavipennis | (Klug, 1832) | |||
| Lophyra grossepunctata | (Bates, 1878) | |||
| Lophyra luxerii | (Bates, 1878) | |||
| Lophyra neglecta intermediola | Werner, 2000 | |||
| Lophyra neglecta neglecta | Werner, 2000 | |||
| Lophyra neglecta subalba | Werner, 2000 | |||
| Lophyra neglecta sublitoralis
= Cicindela nudorestricta (Bates, 1878) [basionym]
|
Werner, 2000 | |||
| Lophyra senegalensis | (Dejean, 1826) | Yalinga | ||
| Lophyra uncivittata | (Bates, 1878) | |||
| Megacephala bocandei bocandei | (Bates, 1878) | |||
| Megacephala bocandei clermonti | Werner, 2003 | |||
| Megacephala megacephala | (Fabricius, 1801) | |||
| Megacephala quadrisignata quadrisignata | (Bates, 1878) | |||
| Megacephala quadrisignata rivaliera | Werner, 2003 | |||
| Myriochila dorsata
= Cicindela dumolinii (Bates, 1878) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1878) | |||
| Myriochila dumolinii
= Cicindela fastidiosa (Bates, 1878) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1878) | |||
| Myriochila flavidens angusteampliata
= Cicindela flavidens flavidens (Bates, 1878) [basionym]
|
Werner, 1999 | |||
| Myriochila flavidens flavidens | (Bates, 1878) | |||
| Neochila grandis | Werner, 2001 | |||
| Neochila nigromarginilabris | Werner, 2001 | |||
| Neochila unicolorata | Werner, 2001 | |||
| Oxygonia vuillefroyi | (Bates, 1881) | |||
| Prothymidia vuilletorum
= Cicindela annamensis (Bates, 1892) [basionym]
|
(Bates, 1892) | |||
| Ropaloteres feisthamelii | (Bates, 1878) | |||
| Ropaloteres flavosignatus cupreoreductulus | Cassola & Werner, 2000 | |||
| Ropaloteres flavosignatus flavoreductus
= Cicindela flavosignatus flavosignatus (Bates, 1878) [basionym]
|
Cassola & Werner, 2000 | |||
| Ropaloteres flavosignatus flavosignatus | (Bates, 1878) | |||
| Ropaloteres nysa ethiopicus
= Cicindela nysa nysa (Bates, 1878) [basionym]
|
Cassola & Werner, 2000 | |||
| Ropaloteres nysa nysa | (Bates, 1878) |