Melissa's Tiger Beetle
Cicindelidia melissa
This record describes Cicindelidia melissa (species). Recorded family: Carabidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
can be distinguished from all other similar Cicindelidia by its dark green-violet abdominal venter with the two apical segments dull orange or orange-brown, a brassy-cupreous head and pronotum with metallic blue reflections in sulci, small shallow subsutural foveae present in most individuals, and microserrate elytral apices. It inhabits rocky upland soils in ponderosa pine forests above 2000 m (Fig. 1).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Adephaga
- Family
- Carabidae (Ground Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Cicindelinae
- Tribe
- Cicindelini
- Genus
- Cicindelidia (American Tiger Beetles)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
up land areas, rocky substrates derived from limestone and/or rhyolite, with forest cover generally dominated by Ponderosa pine.
Geographic Range
AZ and Mexico (Durango, Sonora, and Chihuahua)
Seasonal Activity
active following monsoon rains
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Cicindelidia melissa Duran & Roman 2014
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Cicindelidia melissa. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Melissa's Tiger Beetle (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by margarethe brummermann; Additional contributions by Peter Messer , v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Melissa's Tiger Beetle
What is Melissa's Tiger Beetle?
Melissa's Tiger Beetle (Cicindelidia melissa) is a species in the family Carabidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How do you identify Melissa's Tiger Beetle?
can be distinguished from all other similar Cicindelidia by its dark green-violet abdominal venter with the two apical segments dull orange or orange-brown, a brassy-cupreous head and pronotum with metallic blue reflections in sulci, small shallow subsutural foveae present in most individuals, and microserrate elytral apices. It inhabits rocky upland soils in ponderosa pine forests above 2000 m (Fig. 1).
Where is Melissa's Tiger Beetle found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | up land areas, rocky substrates derived from limestone and/or rhyolite, with forest cover generally dominated by Ponderosa pine. |
| Range | AZ and Mexico (Durango, Sonora, and Chihuahua) |
When is Melissa's Tiger Beetle active?
Melissa's Tiger Beetle: seasonal activity - active following monsoon rains.