Thailand and adjoining mainland Southeast Asia
Fine-art photographic collection
Cicindela (Cosmodela) juxtata
A Southeast Asian tiger beetle wearing bands of metallic green, red and cream while hunting at speed.
About this species
Cicindela (Cosmodela) juxtataAcciavatti & Pearson, 1989
Information reviewed15 July 2026
Cosmodela juxtata is a brilliantly patterned Southeast Asian tiger beetle. Adults combine structural colour with large eyes and toothed mandibles, creating a visually spectacular but highly functional pursuit predator.
Taxonomy
Animalia · Arthropoda · Insecta · Coleoptera · Carabidae · Cicindela
Accepted as Cicindela (Cosmodela) juxtata; Cosmodela aurulenta juxtata is treated as a synonym/older combination. · checked 2026-07-15
Thailand and adjoining mainland Southeast AsiaBroad documented range and selected reference localities — not a complete occurrence map.
Open sunny ground and paths in tropical landscapes.
Diurnal ground-running predator.
Predatory on small arthropods.
What makes this species remarkable?
The elytra can combine emerald-green metal, copper-red zones and pale markings, with each colour changing independently as the angle of light shifts.
Its sickle-shaped mandibles close across one another like serrated forceps, pinning prey that may still be struggling while the beetle runs.
The adult can abandon a chase by opening its wings and flying a short distance, then land and resume hunting almost immediately on another patch of ground.
Sources and scientific references
More photographs
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