Genus
Dromica
184 species
*Dromica* (Pseudodromica) is a subgenus of swift, brightly metallic African tiger beetles haunting compacted laterite and dry clay pans across sub-Saharan Africa. Active by day, these cursorial beetles are among the fastest runners in their tribe, their elongate bodies built for pursuit across open, sun-baked ground.
Diagnosis
DIAGNOSIS — *Dromica* (Pseudodromica) Cassola, 2002. Body 8–18 mm, metallic, oval; labrum transverse; wings dimorphic; ♂ labial palpomere 2 slender, non-inflated; larvae in compacted laterite/clay.
Etymology
From Greek *dromikós* (running, of running) — referring to characteristic fast running.
Species (184)
Distribution map — GBIF occurrences
GBIF · © OpenStreetMap · © CartoDB
Overview
*Dromica* (Pseudodromica) is a subgenus of swift, brightly metallic African tiger beetles haunting compacted laterite and dry clay pans across sub-Saharan Africa. Active by day, these cursorial beetles are among the fastest runners in their tribe, their elongate bodies built for pursuit across open, sun-baked ground.
Type species: Dromica coarctata Dejean, 1826 [by monotypy]
1. Wiesner, J. (2020) — checklist 2. Dejean, P.F.M.A. (1826) — original genus 3. Werner, K. (2000) — Tiger Beetles of Africa Vol. 2 4. Cassola, F. (multiple papers) — Dromica revisions 5. Werner, K. (1999/2000) — The Tiger Beetles of Africa (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae). Volumes I (1999, 191 pp) and II (2000, 207 pp). Taita Publishers, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. [Color picture-catalogue of 396 species in 34 genera; covers sub-Saharan Africa excluding Madagascar; 779 colour photographs in Vol II alone] 6. Serrano, A.R.M. & Capela, R.A. (2013) — The tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Cicindelinae) of Angola: a descriptive catalogue and designation of neotypes. Zootaxa 3731(4): 401-444. 7. Duran, D.P. & Gough, H.M. (2020) — Validation of tiger beetles as distinct family (Cicindelidae) and reclassification within Coleoptera. Systematic Entomology 45(4): 723-729. DOI: 10.1111/syen.12440 [validates Cicindelidae as separate family] 8. Gough, H.M., Duran, D.P., Kawahara, A.Y. & Toussaint, E.F.A. (2018) — A comprehensive molecular phylogeny of tiger beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Cicindelinae). Systematic Entomology 43(3): 567-586. DOI: 10.1111/syen.12324 [ML phylogeny of 328 taxa, 9 gene regions] 9. Wiesner, J. (2020) — Checklist of the Tiger Beetles of the World, 2nd edition (Verzeichnis der Sandlaufkäfer der Welt, 27. Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Cicindelidae). Winterwork, Borsdorf, 534 pp. [Authoritative current world checklist] +11 citations · full list in paid edition
Related articles
Living Book · World Monograph 2026
Genera and Subgenera of Tiger Beetles
240 genera · 3,715 taxa · 194-character matrix · 12 months free updates