Russia and parts of Central Asia
Fine-art photographic collection
Cicindela (Cicindela) gemmata
A Central Asian tiger beetle whose gem-like spots sit on the body of a daylight pursuit predator.
About this species
Cicindela (Cicindela) gemmataFaldermann, 1835
Information reviewed15 July 2026
Cicindela gemmata is a tiger beetle of open Central Asian ground. Adults use large eyes and long legs for active pursuit, while larvae spend their development as anchored ambush predators in soil burrows.
Taxonomy
Animalia · Arthropoda · Insecta · Coleoptera · Carabidae · Cicindela
Accepted species; subgenus shown according to current catalogue placement. · checked 2026-07-15
Russia and parts of Central AsiaBroad documented range and selected reference localities — not a complete occurrence map.
Open ground in steppe and other sparsely vegetated habitats.
Diurnal ground-running predator.
Predatory on small arthropods.
What makes this species remarkable?
The pale elytral marks contrast with a metallic ground colour, producing the gemmed appearance reflected in the name gemmata.
The adult hunts in short acceleration bursts and repeatedly stops to restore a sharp visual image before launching the next chase.
Its larva braces hooked abdominal humps against a burrow wall, preventing struggling prey from pulling the predator out of its tunnel.