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Home/ Manticorini / Amblycheila / Amblycheila cylindriformis
free LC species Endemic · MX very large

Amblycheila cylindriformis

Say, 1830

Common name: Great Plains Giant Tiger Beetle

Tribe
Manticorini
Subtribe
none
Bioregion
Nearctic / Neotropical
Countries
2
Body length
33.5 mm
Habitat
open-ground
Activity
nocturnal
Wings
apterous

Distribution

USA (Arkansas, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma)

Open Sandy habitatBiome: Open arid
Provinces: Arkansas, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma

Flight period

I

Active April–September (peak May–Jul)

II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII

VI,VII,VIII

Key diagnostic characters

DIAGNOSIS — *Amblycheila* Say, 1830 Body large (22–35 mm), the largest Nearctic cicindelids; habituwith robust, elongate-cylindrical. Dorsum entirely matte black to dark brown, lacking metallic irides

Precise distribution

MX, US

Confidence profile

geo:M|bio:H|morph:H|pheno:I|elev:I|obs:M

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Taxonomic notes

Original combination: Amblycheila halffteri (Duran, Halffter & Schüle, 2010)

Data quality: 76/100  ·  Source: GBIF; Wiesner2020; matrix-morphology  ·  Verified by V. Štrunc · Audited: 2026-05-13

Frequently asked

What is the Halffter's Giant Tiger Beetle? ▾
Amblycheila is the largest genus of tiger beetles in North America, with robust, cylindrical bodies reaching 37 mm in length. These wholly matte-black, flightless-looking hunters are strictly nocturnal, prowling compacted soils and open arid ground under cover of darkness. Eight species range acro
Where does the Halffter's Giant Tiger Beetle live? ▾
It specialises in open ground habitats. distributed across the Nearctic / Neotropical region
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