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free LC species medium Metallic

Cephalota atrata

(Pallas, 1776)

Common name: Black Tiger Beetle

Tribe
Cicindelini
Subtribe
Cicindelina
Bioregion
Palearctic / Oriental
Countries
3
Body length
12.5 mm
Habitat
saline-flat
Activity
diurnal
Wings
macropterous

Distribution

Russia (C + S European Territory), Turkey, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, China (Xinjiang), Mongolia

Saline habitatBiome: Salt Flat
Provinces: C + S European Territory, Xinjiang

Flight period

I

Active April–July (peak May–Jun)

Similar to: Resembles Calomera, Cicindela, Cosmodela
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII

IV-IX (seasonally predictable, temperate zone)

Key diagnostic characters

DIAGNOSIS — *Cephalota* Dokhtouroff, 1882 Body medium (8–14 mm), elongate-cursorial habitus. **Head distinctly large, wider than pronotum and proportionally larger than in most Cicindelina** — diagnos

Precise distribution

CN, RU, TR

Confidence profile

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

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Taxonomic notes

Original combination: [orig. comb.] besseri (Krynicki, 1832) (Krynicki, 1832)

Originally described as besseri (Krynicki, 1832); transferred to Cephalota · Verified in Wiesner 2020 checklist

Synonym: Cicindela besseri (Krynicki, 1832) [basionym]

Data quality: 80/100  ·  Source: GBIF; Wiesner2020; matrix-morphology  ·  Verified by V. Štrunc · Audited: 2026-05-13

Frequently asked

What is the Besser's Tiger Beetle? ▾
Cephalota Dokhtouroff, 1883 is a small Palearctic genus of tiger beetles adapted to open, arid landscapes across Eurasia. These dark, matte-bodied beetles measure 10–16 mm and are immediately recognizable by their disproportionately large head — wider than the pronotum — a feature unique among rel
Where does the Besser's Tiger Beetle live? ▾
It specialises in saline flat habitats. distributed across the Palearctic region. with records from ?Romania
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