African Tiger Beetle vs Eight-spotted Jewel Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute African Tiger Beetle Eight-spotted Jewel Beetle
Scientific Name Manticora latipennis Castiarina octospilota
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Cicindelidae Buprestidae
Size 40-65 mm 8-13 mm
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Heathland
Diet Predators Wood Feeders
Regions Southern Africa (Namibia, South Africa, Botswana) Australia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

African Tiger Beetle

The world's largest tiger beetle, a fierce predator with massive jaws. It is flightless and hunts on the ground at night.

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Did You Know?

Despite being flightless, it can sprint across sand at speeds that would be equivalent to a human running over 300 km/h.

Eight-spotted Jewel Beetle

A compact jewel beetle with eight distinctive pale spots arranged on dark metallic elytra. It is an active flower visitor in spring and summer.

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Did You Know?

Despite its small size, each spot on its wing covers is perfectly symmetrical between left and right sides.