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Cicindela
Cicindela oregona
Carabidae overview
Key to genera
The genus Cicindela is part of the "tiger beetles," a group that used to be in their own family (Cicindellidae) but are now considered a part of the Carabidae. Tiger beetles are sharp-jawed insects, with distinct, sicklelike, toothed mandibles. The labrum is short. Long hairs are located near the inner edge of the eyes. The eyes are as wide or slightly wider than the pronotum. The antennae arise from the front of the head above the mandibles and are slender, with most segments much longer than wide. The antennae are filiform. The clypeus is produced laterally beyond the bases of the antennae. The elytra are punctate, with the edges sometimes faintly toothed. The legs are long. The metasternum has a transverse suture just in front of the hind coxae. The first visible abdominal segment is divided by the hind coxae. The hind trochanters are with large lobes. The tarsal structure is 5-5-5 (Borror, et al. 1989). In the males, 7 abdominal segments are visible, and 6 in the female (Comstock, 1920). The larvae are "S" shaped, with a hump bearing curved hooks on the 5th abdominal segment.
Members of the genus Cicindela are usually 12mm - 14mm long. The adults are often colorful and irridescent green or blue with white or dull yellow markings with a definite color pattern. The shape is characteristic of the genus.
Last updated Wednesday, July 19, 2006, by Administrator
