Neocicindela latecincta

Neocicindela latecincta, commonly known as the wide-banded tiger beetle, is a species of tiger beetle found across New Zealand's South Island.

Species description

An adult's body length is 11-13.3 mm, which is unusually small for tiger beetles. The head and pronotum of the beetle are a dark brown. The elytra are mostly dark brown in the center with a light-yellow wavy patch on the outsides of the elytra. An oblique band doesn’t extend past the base of the apical lunule. There is a row of small or poorly developed green foveae on the elytra. There is a green metallic lustre on the dark areas of the elytra, pronotum and top of its head. The tarsal claws are about five times shorter than segment five. The tarsi and tibiae are mostly pale in colour.

Global range

The wide-banded tiger beetle is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand.

Habitat

The wide-banded tiger beetle has been found in areas near the Taieri River and Estuary, and potentially on clay banks in the Otago region.

Cultural uses

The larvae of Neocicindela sp. have been used as a popular bait for fishing by Māori.