ENY 3005 Family Identification
Coleoptera: Cicindelidae
Pronunciation: cis-sin-DEL-li-dee
Common name: tiger beetles
Identifying characteristics for the family Cicindelidae include:
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First abdominal sternite divided by hind coxae (suborder Adephaga).
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Prominent eyes such that head is as wide as or wider than pronotum.
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Pronotum narrower than elytra.
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Antennae filiform and inserted above base of mandibles.
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Often patterned on elytra, or blue or metallic green.
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Tarsi 5-5-5.
References:
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Pages 151-153 in D. J. Borror and R. E. White. 1970. A Field Guide to the
Insects. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.
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Pages 83-85 in R. E. White. 1983. A Field Guide to Beetles of North America.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. 368 p.
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Page 408 in D. J. Borror, C. A. Triplehorn, and N. F. Johnson. 1989. An
Introduction to the Study of Insects, 6th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders College
Publishing. 875 p.
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Page 188, as subfamily of Carabidae, in R. G. Bland and H. E. Jaques. 1978.
How to Know the Insects, 3rd ed. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Co. 409 p.
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Page 460 in H. V. Daly, J. T. Doyen, and A. H. Purcell III. 1998. Introduction
to Insect Biology and Diversity, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press. 680 p.
Links to other Coleoptera taxa: Cicindelidae,
Carabidae, Dytiscidae,
Gyrinidae, Hydrophilidae,
Silphidae, Staphylinidae,
Cantharidae, Lampyridae,
Elateridae, Buprestidae,
Coccinellidae, Meloidae,
Tenebrionidae, Passalidae,
Scarabaeidae, Cerambycidae,
Chrysomelidae, Curculionidae.
Links to other web sites
Return to ENY 3005 Index to Orders
Prepared by John L. Foltz,
University of Florida, Dept of Entomology & Nematology, 12 Oct 1998.
Modified 9 May 2002.
Images courtesy of Paul M.
Choate.