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Tetracha distinguenda

(Bates, 1869)

Common name: Distinguenda Tiger Beetle

Tribe
Megacephalini
Subtribe
Megacephalina
Bioregion
Neotropical
Countries
4
Body length
20.5 mm
Habitat
open-ground
Activity
nocturnal
Wings
macropterous

Distribution

Paraguay, Uruguay (Canelones), Bolivia (Santa Cruz), Argentina (Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Entre Rios, Corrientes, La Rioja, Misiones, Rio Negro, Salta, San Juan, San Fé, Tucumán)

Open Sandy habitatBiome: Open arid
Provinces: Canelones, Santa Cruz, Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Entre Rios, Corrientes +7 more

Flight period

I

Active September–March (peak Oct–Dec)

Similar to: Resembles Aniara, Metriocheila, Phaeoxantha
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII

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

Key diagnostic characters

DIAGNOSIS — Tetracha Hope, 1838 Body 10–20 mm, robust Megacephalini habitus. Nocturnal–crepuscular.

Confidence profile

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

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Taxonomic notes

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

Originally described as flammula (Bates, 1869); transferred to Tetracha · Verified in Wiesner 2020 checklist

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

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

Frequently asked

What is the Flammula Tiger Beetle? ▾
Tetracha Hope, 1838 is one of the largest genera in Megacephalini, with approximately 102 species prowling forest clearings and sandy or clay-loam substrates near water across the Americas. These robust, metallic beetles emerge after dark, hunting under moonlight on bare ground. Larvae develop in
Where does the Flammula Tiger Beetle live? ▾
It specialises in open ground habitats. distributed across the Neotropical region. with records from Ecuador