> >
partial NE subspecies Endemic · BR large ★ 5.1 Metallic

Phaeoxantha cruciata pilosula

(Bates, 1869)

Common name: Cruciata Tiger Beetle

Subtribe
Megacephalina
Bioregion
Neotropical
Countries
1
Body length
20 mm
Habitat
open-ground
Activity
nocturnal
Wings
macropterous

Distribution

Brazil (Bahia, Ceara, Rio Grande do Norte)

Open Sandy habitatBiome: Open arid
Provinces: Bahia, Ceara, Rio Grande do Norte

Flight period

I

Active June–October (peak Jul–Aug)

Similar to: Resembles Megacephala, Pseudotetracha, Tetracha
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII

IX-III (rainfall-triggered, Neotropical wet season)

Full data available to subscribers

Diagnostic characters, precise distribution, confidence profile, and subspecies data.

Living Book · World Monograph 2026

Genera and Subgenera of Tiger Beetles

240 genera · 3,715 taxa · 194-character matrix · 12 months free updates

Pre-order €79 →

Taxonomic notes

Original combination: [orig. comb.] epipleuralis (Bates, 1869) (Bates, 1869)

Originally described as epipleuralis (Bates, 1869); transferred to Phaeoxantha

Synonym: Cicindela epipleuralis (Bates, 1869) [basionym]

Data quality: 72/100  ·  Source: GBIF; Wiesner2020; matrix-morphology  ·  Verified by V. Štrunc · Audited: 2026-05-13

Frequently asked

What is the Epipleuralis Tiger Beetle?
Under the canopy of Amazonian forests, Phaeoxantha beetles emerge only after dark, their metallic bodies glinting as they hunt along sandy and clay-loam riverbanks. This Neotropical genus of eight species ranges across northern South America, from the Guiana Shield through the Amazon basin. Like o
Where does the Epipleuralis Tiger Beetle live?
It specialises in open ground habitats. distributed across the Pantropical region. with records from
📷 iNaturalist photo & occurrence data — available to registered users. Create free account →