Cicindelidae › Cicindelini › Cicindelina › Ellipsoptera › Ellipsoptera sperata sperata
Ellipsoptera sperata sperata
(LeConte, 1862) · Subspecies
Alkali Tiger Beetle
Description
Alkali Tiger Beetle, 11mm, coastal sandy specialist, diurnal, Nearctic — tiger beetle data, photos & distribution.
Key characters
Head wider than pronotum; eyewith large, protuberant; [inherited from species]
Diagnosis
DIAGNOSIS — *Ellipsoptera* Dokhtouroff, 1882 Body medium (9–15 mm), elongate-cursorial habitus. Head wider than pronotum; eyewith large, protuberant. [inherited from species]
Facts
- Tribe
- Cicindelini
- Subtribe
- Cicindelina
- Body length
- 11 mm
- Size class
- medium
- Habitat
- coastal-sandy
- Activity
- diurnal
- Wings
- macropterous
- Bioregion
- Nearctic
- Distribution
- Cuba
- Countries
- Cuba
- Conservation
- LC
- Described by
- LeConte, 1862
Phenology
Active May–September (peak Jun–Jul)
Etymology
From Greek *élleipsis* (omission, deficiency) + *pterón* (wing) — referring to specific wing modifications; coined Dokhtouroff 1882.
FAQ
What is the Alkali Tiger Beetle?
Among the tiger beetles of North America, *Ellipsoptera* stands apart as a specialist of bare sandy shores — riverbanks, lakeshores, and coastal margins where few competitors venture. The roughly 14 species of this Nearctic genus are largely nocturnal hunters, their metallic bodies flashing under mo
Where does the Alkali Tiger Beetle live?
It specialises in coastal sandy habitats. distributed across the Neotropical region. with records from Cuba.
External resources
Data quality score: 58 · tier C_gbif_only