Tiger Beetles
What are they?
Tiger Beetles form a part of the ground beetle family and are formidable hunters, adults patrolling actively over the ground in sandy, open areas or in woodland. They are widespread and common as a group, with some of the more common species often becoming very common in the summer months and hunting conspicuously in the open. Many species take flight readily when approached and repeatedly move a few yards ahead of a walker. Larvae live in vertical burrows on sandy tracks, reaching out to grab prey that comes within range.
Identification
Tiger Beetles can be told by their long legs, large, conspicuous jaws and prominent eyes. In our area, most species can be identified relatively easily by the patterning on the wing cases, though there is a fair amount of variation in some species.
Bronzed Tiger Beetle Cicindela repanda
Common in sunny, sandy places. A dark, bronze-colored species with well-marked, broad, cream lines on the wing cases.
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Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle Cicindela tranquebarica
Less common than Bronzed Tiger Beetle, but fairly widespread in sunny, sandy places. Best told by the narrow, oblique lines toward the front of the wing cases.
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Festive Tiger Beetle Cicindela scutellaris rugifrons
A jet black species with a small number of creamy markings on the wing cases. Legs are well covered with contrastingly white hairs.
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Dotted Tiger Beetle Cicindela punctulata
A relatively slender, brown species with a loose pattern of small, pale dots on the wing cases. On close inspection, the wing cases can be seen to have a row of small, round indentations running their full length.
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Six-spotted Tiger Beetle Cicindela sexguttata
A very common species which may be found along sandy tracks in or close to woodland during the summer. Overall brilliant metallic green with six, small, creamy spots on the wing cases.
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One-spotted Tiger Beetle Cylindera unipunctata
A relatively large, woodland species with an intricate pattern of small dimples and spots on the wing cases but, from a distance looks rather plain brown with a single white spot near the outer edge of the wing cases.
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