Genus
Opilidia
13 species
*Opilidia* Rivalier, 1954 is a small Neotropical genus of tiger beetles adapted to life along tidal margins of lowland tropical coastlines. These metallic, spotted beetles are nocturnal hunters, active on intertidal and supratidal sand flats and mudflats where few cicindelids venture. With roughly four species distributed across Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil, *Opilidia* represents one of the more ecologically specialized lineages within the subtribe Cicindelina.
Diagnosis
DIAGNOSIS — *Opilidia* Rivalier, 1954. Body 10–14 mm, oval (L:W ratio 2–3); habitus metallic with pale spots. Head wider than pronotum; eyes large, strongly protuberant. Labrum subquadrate. Pronotum subquadrate. Elytra fully developed (macropterous); ground color pale bronze to coppery or greenish, with distinct pale maculations. Activity nocturnal. Habitat: lowland forest margins; substrate intertidal and supratidal sand or mudflat. No confusion genera recorded within Cicindelidae.
Etymology
Etymology unclear; possibly from Greek *opilion* (harvestman, daddy long-legs).
Species (13)
Distribution map — GBIF occurrences
GBIF · © OpenStreetMap · © CartoDB
Overview
*Opilidia* Rivalier, 1954 is a small Neotropical genus of tiger beetles adapted to life along tidal margins of lowland tropical coastlines. These metallic, spotted beetles are nocturnal hunters, active on intertidal and supratidal sand flats and mudflats where few cicindelids venture. With roughly four species distributed across Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil, *Opilidia* represents one of the more ecologically specialized lineages within the subtribe Cicindelina.
Type species: Opilidia tetramaculata (Wiedemann, 1823) [by original designation (Rivalier 1954)]
1. Wiesner, J. (2020) — checklist authority 2. Rivalier, E. (1954) — original genus description 3. Pearson, D.L. & Vogler, A.P. (2001) — Caribbean Cicindelidae context 4. 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] 5. 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] 6. 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] 7. Horn, W. (1908, 1910, 1915) — Coleoptera Adephaga, fam. Carabidae, subfam. Cicindelinae. In: Wytsman, P. (Ed.) Genera Insectorum, fascicles 82a, 82b, 82c. L. Desmet-Verteneuil, Bruxelles. BHL bibliography/45481 [foundational historical monograph of Cicindelidae, treating all genera known at the time] 8. Rodriguez /Joly (1994) — Bol. Entomolo .Venez., 9(1) (p.55-120) 1994, Los escarabajos Tigre de Venezuela, identification, dis 9. Cazier (1948) — American Museum Novitates, N°1382 (p.1-28) 23.IX.1948; The origine distri. classification of T.B. of +3 citations · full list in paid edition
Living Book · World Monograph 2026
Genera and Subgenera of Tiger Beetles
240 genera · 3,715 taxa · 194-character matrix · 12 months free updates