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Home/ Manticorini / Omus / Omus californicus
free LC species Endemic · US large

Omus californicus

Eschscholtz, 1829

Common name: California Night-stalking Tiger Beetle

Tribe
Manticorini
Subtribe
?
Bioregion
Nearctic
Countries
1
Body length
17.5 mm
Habitat
open-ground
Activity
nocturnal
Wings
apterous

Distribution

USA (Oregon, California)

Open Sandy habitatBiome: Open arid
Provinces: Oregon, California

Flight period

I

Active March–May

Similar to: Resembles Amblycheila
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII

III,IV,V

Key diagnostic characters

DIAGNOSIS — *Omus* Eschscholtz, 1829 Body medium-sized (12–22 mm), robust, elongate-oval habitus. Dorsum entirely matte black to dark brown, lacking metallic iridescence (shared with sister Manticorin

Precise distribution

US

Confidence profile

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

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Genera and Subgenera of Tiger Beetles

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Taxonomic notes

Original combination: Omus californicus angustocylindricus (Eschscholtz, 1829)

Data quality: 75/100  ·  Source: GBIF; Wiesner2020; matrix-morphology  ·  Verified by V. Štrunc · Audited: 2026-05-13

Frequently asked

What is the California Night-stalking Tiger Beetle? ▾
Omus is a small genus of five robust, flightless tiger beetles prowling the forests and open grounds of the Pacific Northwest. Unlike most of their dazzling relatives, these beetles are matte black and strictly nocturnal, hunting by night across compacted soils, sand, and gravel. Their fused elytr
Where does the California Night-stalking Tiger Beetle live? ▾
It specialises in open ground habitats. distributed across the Nearctic re
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