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Home/ Cicindelini / Zecicindela / Zecicindela helmsi helmsi
partial NE subspecies Endemic · NZ medium

Zecicindela helmsi helmsi

(Horn, 1894)

Common name: Helmsi Tiger Beetle

Tribe
Cicindelini
Subtribe
Cicindelina
Bioregion
Australasian
Countries
1
Body length
11.5 mm
Habitat
coastal-sandy
Activity
diurnal
Wings
macropterous

Distribution

New Zealand (South)

Coastal habitatBiome: Coastal sandy
Provinces: South

Flight period

I

Active October–March (peak Jan–Nov)

Similar to: Resembles Abroscelis, Antennaria, Archidela
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII

X-III (rainfall-triggered, austral wet season)

Full data available to subscribers

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Taxonomic notes

Original combination: [orig. comb.] helmsi novaseelandica (Bates, 1892) (Bates, 1892)

Originally described as helmsi novaseelandica (Bates, 1892); transferred to Zecicindela · Verified in Wiesner 2020 checklist

Synonym: Cicindela helmsi novaseelandica (Bates, 1892) [basionym]

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

Frequently asked

What is the Helmsi Tiger Beetle? ▾
Zecicindela is a small but distinctive genus of tiger beetles endemic to New Zealand, comprising ten species adapted to forest environments and bare sandy or clay substrates. These medium-sized, metallic beetles are nocturnal hunters, a trait uncommon among cicindelines. Fully winged and robustly
Where does the Helmsi Tiger Beetle live? ▾
It specialises in coastal sandy habitats. distributed across the Australasian region. with records from New Zeal