About
Tiger Beetles of Nebraska
Tiger beetles (Family Cicindelidae) are aptly-named voracious predators of the insect world. Their beauty, diversity, and wariness make them a favorite among collectors worldwide. Besides their appeal to collectors, researchers find tiger beetles excellent models to study community ecology, biology, morphology, thermoregulation, predator-prey interactions, biogeography, and physiology. All of these aspects make tiger beetles one of the best studied non-pest insects.
Tiger beetles are predacious insects that live in a variety of habitats including stream edges, forests, beaches, and deserts. Tiger beetles are highly active and are well-known for their quick running and agile flying abilities. Many species of tigers beetles are brilliantly colored. Others are camouflaged, blending well into their habitat. About three-fourths of the tiger beetles in North America belong to the genus Cicindela. Species are distinguished by differences in size, coloration, and markings on their wing covers.
Tiger beetles are important components of the ecosystem. They are an important part of the food chain and are also bio-indicators of the environment. The presence or absence of certain species can provide information on the quality of the habitat, successional stage of the habitat, and/or alterations to the habitat.
Biology, Life Cycle, and Behavior
Egg
Eggs are laid in the soil, usually singly, in a burrow made by the female's ovipositor (an egg-laying tube at the end of the female's abdomen). The female often covers the oviposition site with soil to discourage predators.
Larva
The newly-hatched larva enlarges the hole and burrows perpendicularly to the soil surface. This is accomplished by loosening the soil with its mandibles and using its head and thorax like a shovel to carry the soil. At the surface, the larva flips the soil backward off its head. There are three larval stages, and larvae enlarge and lengthen their burrow as they grow. The burrow may be 18 inches or more in depth, depending on the substrate. While in their burrows, larvae can survive without food for weeks and can also survive temporary flooding. They do not leave their burrow under normal circumstances but often wait at the burrow entrance to ambush small arthropods. When a suitable victim is near, the larva attacks with lightning speed. It throws its head (usually backward) to grab the prey with its sickle-shaped jaws. Then, it pulls the prey down into the burrow to devour it. Somewhat like a spider, larvae secrete digestive enzymes to help break down their food before ingestion. Tiger beetle larvae are unique in that they have hooks located on the back of their abdomen to anchor them to the side of the burrow while they subdue large prey. Tiger beetle larvae, in turn, are fed on by Hister beetles, birds, and ants, and are parasitized by bombyliids (bee flies) and several wasps. The larval period may last up to four years depending on the species.
Pupal
The third stage larva forms a pupal cell within the burrow a few inches from the soil surface. It plugs the burrow entrance with soil prior to pupation. The pupa does not feed, and is the transitional stage between larva and adult. Pupation lasts three or more weeks.
Adult
After emergence from the pupa, the adult must wait about three days before digging itself out of the burrow so that its exoskeleton will have time to harden. Even after emergence from the burrow, the adult is still soft and light colored and may be easy prey for predators.
Mating occurs soon after emergence, but repeated mating may occur throughout the lifespan of the adult. To prevent immediate re-mating, males exhibit a behavior known as mate-guarding or contact-guarding. The male uses his large mandibles to grab the female's thorax. Then he rides on top of the female for a prolonged period of time after mating to discourage other suitors.
Often subjected to high temperatures on the salt flats, adults regulate their temperature by altering their behavior. This includes seeking wetter areas, digging burrows, hiding in the shade, or using their long legs to stilt themselves as far above the soil surface as possible. Although tiger beetles are cold blooded, these behaviors give tiger beetles some control over their body temperature and help them avoid lethal temperatures on the very hot salt flats during the summer.
Adults feed on just about anything they can see and catch, including invertebrates that may be larger than themselves. Their vision seems acute, as any movement (even by a human at a distance) causes the beetle to turn and face the source of the motion. Beetles, flies, caterpillars, ants, grasshopper nymphs, and spiders are just a few of the invertebrates reported as tiger beetle prey. Although most tiger beetles are wary and not easily approached, they are also preyed upon. Predators of tiger beetles include dragonflies, robber flies, other tiger beetles, birds, and small vertebrates. Mites are also known to parasitize tiger beetles.
Species Introduction
Nebraska's Tiger Beetle Species
Nebraska, because of its great diversity of habitats, is well represented in tiger beetles. Twenty-nine species were originally documented in the state, compared with 18-32 species in neighboring states. The following list contains 32 species, including the previously unreported M. carolina.
Amblycheila cylindriformis Say
Great Plains Tiger Beetle
Description: Largest (30-36mm) tiger beetle in the United States. Dark reddish brown. Flightless, nocturnal.
Similar Species: None
Range: Central Plains
Nebraska Distribution: Scottsbluff, Keith
Habitat: Eroded gullies, dissected loess and clay hill banks
Seasonal Occurrence: Summer
Status: Uncommon to rare but may simply be overlooked because of its habits/habitat requirements
Cicindela cursitans LeConte
Ant-Like Tiger Beetle
Description: Tiny (7.5-8mm), dull olive green or brown. Marginal band is continuous with the apical lunule.
Similar Species: C. celeripes
Range: Scattered distribution in Northern Plains, south to Alabama
Nebraska Distribution: Buffalo, Cuming, Dakota, Douglas, Dundy, Furnas, Hall, Harlan, Hitchcock, Holt, Kearney, Morrill, Sarpy, Scottsbluff
Habitat: Wet ditches, sometimes on alkaline soil
Seasonal Occurrence: Summer
Status: Scarce; Carter (1989) reports it as locally moderately abundant
*Note: Carter (1989) had the symbols for C. cursitans and C. celeripes switched in his distribution maps
Cicindela circumpicta johnsonii Fitch
Johnson's Cream-Edged Tiger Beetle
Description: 13-15mm, dull red or purple with white margins
Similar Species: C. togata
Range: Southern Plains
Nebraska Distribution: Lancaster, Morrill, Nuckolls, Scottsbluff
Habitat: Saline or alkaline flats
Seasonal Occurrence: Summer
Status: Locally common
Cicindela duodecimguttata Dejean
Twelve-Spotted Tiger Beetle
Description: 12-14mm, brown with reduced white markings
Similar Species: C. repanda
Range: Mostly eastern United States
Nebraska Distribution: Buffalo, Burt, Butler, Dawes, Franklin, Gage, Hall, Jefferson, Knox, Lancaster, Nemaha, Saunders, Scottsbluff, Sioux, Washington, Wayne, York
Habitat: Creek banks, lake shores, mud or wet sand
Seasonal Occurrence: Spring/fall, but has been found from March to October
Status: Uncommon, but probably overlooked as C. repanda, with which it occurs
Cicindela hirticollis shelfordi Graves
Hairy-Necked Tiger Beetle
Description: 13.5-16mm, brown with distinct white markings
Similar Species: C. repanda
Range: Entire United States, except for Great Basin and Appalachian Mtns.
Nebraska Distribution: Adams, Buffalo, Box Butte, Cass, Chase, Cherry, Colfax, Cuming, Dawson, Dixon, Dundy, Furnas, Garfield, Hall, Hamilton, Harlan, Hitchcock, Howard, Jefferson, Keith, Knox, Lancaster, Loup, Merrick, Nance, Otoe, Platte, Richardson, Saunders, Sarpy, Thayer, Thomas, Wheeler
Habitat: Lake shores, creek banks, sand bars
Seasonal Occurrence: Summer, but records span from April to October
Status: Uncommon
Cicindela limbalis Klug
Common Claybank Tiger Beetle
Description: 13-15mm, reddish with coppery head and pronotum, white markings
Similar Species: C. splendida
Range: Central and northeastern United States
Nebraska Distribution: Boone, Buffalo, Burt, Butler, Cass, Cuming, Dodge, Douglas, Greeley, Hall, Hamilton, Howard, Lancaster, Merrick, Nance, Nemaha, Otoe, Pierce, Platte, Polk, Richardson, Saunders, Sarpy, Seward, Stanton, Washington
Habitat: Clay banks
Seasonal Occurrence: Spring/fall; collected as early as 28 January.
Status: Uncommon to moderately common
Cicindela macra LeConte
Sandy Stream Tiger Beetle
Description: 11.5-13mm, dull olive green with white markings
Similar Species: C. cuprascens, C. nevadica knausi
Range: Plains, Midwest
Nebraska Distribution: Adams, Boone, Brown, Buffalo, Cass, Cherry, Dakota, Dawson, Dixon, Douglas, Franklin, Hall, Hamilton, Howard, Holt, Keya Paha, Lancaster, Loup, Madison, Merrick, Nance, Otoe, Platte, Richardson, Saunders, Sarpy, Seward, Thomas
Habitat: Sandy areas along rivers
Seasonal Occurrence: Summer
Status: Uncommon to locally common
*Note: blacklighting usually produces larger numbers than daytime collecting
Cicindela pulchra Say
Beautiful Tiger Beetle
Description: Large (15-19mm), metallic hues of red, orange, and purple
Similar Species: C. scutellaris
Range: South-central, southwestern United States
Nebraska Distribution: Dundy, Lancaster
Habitat: Shortgrass prairie
Seasonal Occurrence: Spring/fall
Status: Rare, solitary; not collected since 1914
Cicindela repanda Dejean
Bronzed Tiger Beetle
Description: 10.5-13mm, brown with white markings
Similar Species: C. hirticollis, C. duodecimguttata
Range: All of United States except SW
Nebraska Distribution: Adams, Antelope, Bates, Bell, Boone, Box Butte, Buffalo, Burt, Butler, Cass, Cedar, Cherry, Cheyenne, Clay, Colfax, Cuming, Custer, Dakota, Dawson, Deuel, Dixon, Dodge, Douglas, Dundy, Fillmore, Franklin, Gage, Garden, Garfield, Gosper, Grant, Greeley, Hall, Hamilton, Harlan, Hayes, Hitchcock, Holt, Hooker, Howard, Jefferson, Johnson, Kearney, Keith, Keya Paha, Kimball, Knox, Lancaster, Lincoln, Madison, Merrick, Morrill, Nance, Nemaha, Nuckolls, Otoe, Pawnee, Perkins, Phelps, Pierce, Platte, Polk, Red Willow, Richardson, Rock, Saline, Sarpy, Saunders, Scotts Bluff, Seward, Sheridan, Sherman, Sioux, Stanton, Thayer, Thomas, Thurston, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wheeler
Habitat: Creek banks, lake shores, mud or wet sand
Seasonal Occurrence: Spring/fall, but found from April to October
Status: Very common
Cicindela sexguttata Fabr
Six-Spotted Tiger Beetle
Description: 13-15mm, metallic green (rarely metallic blue or purple)
Similar Species: None
Range: Eastern United States
Nebraska Distribution: Cheyenne, Cherry, Perkins, Lincoln, Brown, Furnas, Buffalo, Boyd, Greeley, Howard, Knox Madison, Nuckolls, Stanton, Colfax, Seward, Jefferson, Cuming, Dodge, Lancaster, Gage, Dixon, Dakota, Thurston, Washington, Douglas, Sarpy, Cass, Otoe, Nemaha, Pawnee, Richardson
Habitat: Sunlit paths in forests, occasionally along creeks
Seasonal Occurrence: Summer
Status: Locally common
*Note: the common name is a misnomer for Nebraska populations, which are almost never spotted
Cicindela tenuisignata Le Conte
Thin-Lined Tiger Beetle
Description: 11-12mm, brown with green edges and long, thin middle band
Similar Species: possibly C. repanda at first glance
Range: SW United States, northward into southern Great Plains
Nebraska Distribution: Scottsbluff
Habitat: Near water, along pond edges, etc.
Seasonal Occurrence: Summer
Status: Known from one specimen - a migrant collected on the edge of an alkaline pond in Kiowa SWMA in Scotts Bluff Co. 14 July, 2005 by M. Brust. This specimen represents the northernmost record of this species in the United States.
White-Cloaked Tiger Beetle
Description: 10-12mm, dull olive green with white borders
Similar Species: C. circumpicta
Range: Southern Plains and Gulf Coast
Nebraska Distribution: Dodge, Fillmore, Lancaster, Nuckolls, Saunders
Habitat: Saline or alkaline flats
Seasonal Occurrence: Summer
Status: Locally common
Megacephala (Tetracha) carolina (L.)
Pan-American Big-headed Tiger Beetle
Description: Large (17mm), metallic green with white markings
Similar Species: None
Range: Southern United States, from Virginia to California
Nebraska Distribution: Lancaster
Habitat: Forests, sometimes lakeshores. A nocturnal beetle that is found under rocks and logs during the day. Attracted to lights.
Seasonal Occurrence: Summer (July & August)
Status: Rare; reported by Bruner (1901) from Lincoln "and other points between this and the southeast corner of the state."
Cicindela cuprascens LeConte
Coppery Tiger Beetle
Description: 11.5-13mm, coppery green with white markings
Similar Species: C. macra
Range: Plains, Midwest
Nebraska Distribution: Adams, Antelope, Arthur, Banner, Blaine, Boone, Box Butte, Brown, Burt, Butler, Cedar, Chase, Cheyenne, Clay, Colfax, Cuming, Custer, Dawes, Dawson, Deuel, Dodge, Fillmore, Franklin, Frontier, Garden, Garfield, Gage, Gosper, Grant, Greeley, Hamilton, Harlan, Hayes, Hitchcock, Hooker, Jefferson, Johnson, Kearney, Keith, Kimball, Lancaster, Lincoln, Logan, Loup, Madison, Merrick, Morrill, Nemaha, Nuckolls, Pawnee, Perkins, Phelps, Pierce, Platte, Polk, Red Willow, Rock, Saline, Seward, Sheridan, Sioux, Stanton, Thayer, Thurston, Valley, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wheeler, York
Habitat: Sandy areas along rivers
Seasonal Occurrence: Summer
Status: Uncommon
Cicindela decemnotata Say
Badlands Tiger Beetle
Description: 11-14 mm, green or bluish green with distinct white markings
Similar Species: C. denverensis
Range: Northern Plains and mountain foothills in the United States and Western Canada
Nebraska Distribution: Sioux
Habitat: Exposed soil in dry shortgrass prairie
Seasonal Occurrence: Spring/fall
Status: Unknown; only one specimen known, collected 25 Sept. 2004 by S. M. Spomer
Cicindela formosa Say
Big Sand Tiger Beetle
Description: Large (15-18mm), red or purple with distinct white markings
Similar Species: C. lengi
Range: Mostly east of Rocky Mtns.; absent from SE states
Nebraska Distribution: Antelope, Arthur, Banner, Blaine, Boone, Box Butte, Boyd, Brown, Cherry, Colfax, Cuming, Custer, Dakota, Dawes, Dawson, Dixon, Dodge, Douglas, Dundy, Franklin, Frontier, Furnas, Garfield, Garden, Gosper, Grant, Hall, Holt, Hooker, Howard, Keith, Keya Paha, Knox, Lancaster, Lincoln, Logan, Loup, Madison, McPherson, Morrill, Otoe, Perkins, Pierce, Platte, Rock, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, Sherman, Sioux, Stanton, Thomas, Washington, Wayne, Wheeler
Habitat: Sandy areas- dunes, blowouts, stream banks
Seasonal Occurrence: Spring/fall, with records from April to September
Status: Usually very common, especially in western and central counties
Cicindela lengi Horn
Blowout Tiger Beetle
Description: 13.5-15mm, metallic red with white markings
Similar Species: C. formosa
Range: Western Plains
Nebraska Distribution: Antelope, Arthur, Blaine, Boone, Box Butte, Brown, Cheyenne, Cherry, Custer, Dawes, Deuel, Garfield, Greeley, Grant, Hall, Hamilton, Holt, Hooker, Howard, Keith, Keya Paha, Lincoln, Logan, Loup, McPherson, Morrill, Platte, Rock, Scottsbluff, Sheridan, Stanton, Thomas
Habitat: Sandy areas, blowouts, sandy creek bank, roadsides
Seasonal Occurrence: Spring/fall
Status: Uncommon
Cicindela limbata Say
Sandy Tiger Beetle
Description: 11-12.5mm, white with green, blue, or bronze markings
Similar Species: None
Range: Northern Plains, with an isolated population in southern Utah
Nebraska Distribution: Arthur, Blaine, Boone, Box Butte, Chase, Cherry, Custer, Dawes, Dundy, Garfield, Garden, Greeley, Grant, Hooker, Holt, Howard, Keith, Lincoln, Logan, Loup, McPherson, Morrill, Rock, Sheridan, Scottsbluff, Stanton, Thomas, Wheeler
Habitat: Sand dune, blowouts
Seasonal Occurrence: Spring/fall, with records from March to October
Status: Locally common at stabilized blowouts
Cicindela nebraskana Casey
Prairie Long-lipped Tiger Beetle
Description: 12-13mm, smooth, black
Similar Species: C. longilabris, C. punctulata
Range: Western United States (mainly northern states)
Nebraska Distribution: Scottsbluff, Sioux
Habitat: Bare ground in short grass prairie
Seasonal Occurrence: Spring/fall
Status: Apparently highly localized; however, little spring or fall collecting is done in the Pine Ridge/Wildcat Hills so it may be overlooked. Matt Brust doubled the number of previously collected specimens in May, 2004 by finding a population in Sioux County.
Cicindela punctulata Olivier
Punctured Tiger Beetle
Description: 12-13.5mm, dull black (rarely green or blue), faint or absent maculation
Similar Species: Somewhat like C. nebraskana
Range: Eastern United States, west to Nevada
Nebraska Distribution: All Nebraska counties except Cedar, Washington and Thurston
Habitat: Most habitats imaginable; even found on city sidewalks
Seasonal Occurrence: Summer, into fall
Status: Common
Cicindela scutellaris Say
Festive Tiger Beetle
Description: 11-13mm, metallic orange or red with no markings
Similar Species: C. pulchra, which is much larger
Range: Great Plains, generally east of the Rocky Mtns.
Nebraska Distribution: Adams, Antelope, Banner, Bates, Bell, Boone, Box Butte, Buffalo, Burt, Cherry, Cheyenne, Custer, Dawson, Deuel, Dodge, Douglas, Dundy, Franklin, Garden, Garfield, Gosper, Grant, Greeley, Hall, Hayes, Hitchcock, Holt, Hooker, Howard, Jefferson, Kearney, Keith, Keya Paha, Kimball, Lancaster, Lincoln, Madison, Morrill, Nemaha, Nuckolls, Platte, Red Willow, Rock, Saline, Scotts Bluff, Sherman, Sioux, Stanton, Thayer, Thomas, Valley, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wheeler
Habitat: Sandy open areas with sparse vegetation, such as blowouts, dry creek banks
Seasonal Occurrence: Spring/fall
Status: Locally common in the Sandhills
Cicindela splendida Hentz
Splendid Tiger Beetle
Description: 11.5-15.5mm, reddish or orange with green or blue head and pronotum, white markings
Similar Species: C. limbalis
Range: Central United States, with an extension to the East Coast
Nebraska Distribution: Banner, Boone, Box Butte, Brown, Buffalo, Butler, Cass, Cherry, Custer, Dawes, Dawson, Douglas, Dundy, Franklin, Frontier, Furnas, Gage, Garden, Garfield, Gosper, Greeley, Hall, Hamilton, Harlan, Hayes, Howard, Jefferson, Kearney, Keith, Keya Paha, Lancaster, Lincoln, Merrick, Morrill, Nance, Nemaha, Nuckolls, Otoe, Phelps, Polk, Red Willow, Richardson, Saline, Sarpy, Saunders, Scottsbluff, Seward, Sherman, Sioux, Thayer, Valley, Wayne, Webster, York
Habitat: Clay banks, road cuts, bluffs
Seasonal Occurrence: Spring/fall
Status: May be moderately common
Cicindela terricola Say
Ground-Hugging Tiger Beetle
Description: Dark brown or dull black with reduced markings
Similar Species: None
Range: Northern Plains
Nebraska Distribution: Dawes, Sheridan
Habitat: Alkaline ditches, flats (Carter 1989)
Seasonal Occurrence: Summer
Status: Uncommon, if present
*Note: Almost all of the specimens in the Univ. Nebr. State Museum are typical C. t. cinctipennis; two dark specimens from Dawes Co. are immaculate or nearly so and may be terricola. However, one specimen, labelled "S.D." is definitely black and immaculate (true terricola?) and looks quite different from the Dawes Co. specimens, so the Dawes Co. specimens may merely be unmarked cinctipennis. Clearly, extensive collecting needs to be done in the Pine Ridge area to address this confusing situation.
Megacephala (Tetracha) virginica (L.)
Virginia Big-headed Tiger Beetle
Description: Large (18-19mm), dark metallic green.
Similar Species: None
Range: Eastern United States (mainly southern states)
Nebraska Distribution: Buffalo, Cass, Dundy, Gage, Hall, Johnson, Lancaster, Pawnee, Richardson, Saline
Habitat: Open areas, bare spots. Seldom seen in daytime because it is crepuscular/ nocturnal. Adults hide under boards, rocks, etc. during the day. Attracted to light.
Seasonal Occurrence: Usually late summer, although records span from April to October
Status: Uncommon, but probably overlooked because of its habits
Cicindela celeripes LeConte
Swift Tiger Beetle
Description: Tiny (7.5-8mm), dull olive green or brown. Elytral maculation is broken into dots
Similar Species: C. cursitans
Range: Southern Plains, from Nebraska to Texas
Nebraska Distribution: Cass, Cuming, Dakota, Douglas, Fillmore, Lancaster
Habitat: Dry bluff or hilly prairie
Seasonal Occurrence: Once common, it has not been collected in Nebraska since 1915
Cicindela denverensis Casey
Green Claybank Tiger Beetle
Description: 12-14mm, metallic green with white markings
Similar Species: C. purpurea (green morph), C. decemnotata
Range: Western Plains
Nebraska Distribution: Banner, Box Butte, Buffalo, Cherry, Chase, Custer, Dawes, Dawson, Dundy, Frontier, Garden, Garfield, Hall, Hayes, Hitchcock, Keith, Kimball, Lincoln, Morrill, Red Willow, Scottsbluff, Sheridan, Sioux, Thomas, Valley
Habitat: Clay/loess banks, eroded cliffs
Seasonal Occurrence: Spring/fall, although scarce in fall
Status: Moderately common in dissected loess hills, less common in Pine Ridge
*Note: This beetle is part of a complex of closely-related species which includes C. splendida, C. denverensis, and C. limbalis. We agree with Carter (1989) that C. splendida and C. denverensis may be subspecies of C. denverensis, as there appear to be intergrades in the Gothenburg area. However, until there is a definitive work on the systematics of the complex, we have retained their specific status.
Cicindela fulgida Say
Crimson Salt Flat Tiger Beetle
Description: 11-12.5mm, red, purple, or black with distinct white markings
Similar Species: None
Range: West-central United States
Nebraska Distribution: Box Butte, Dundy, Garden, Lancaster, Saunders, Scottsbluff, Sheridan, Sioux
Habitat: Saline or alkaline flats, pond edges
Seasonal Occurrence: Spring/fall
Status: Locally common
Cicindela lepida Dejean
Ghost Tiger Beetle
Description: 10-11mm, brown background with greatly expanded white markings so beetle often appears mostly white
Similar Species: None
Range: Central Plains, SW to Arizona, NE to New York and Eastern Coast
Nebraska Distribution: Brown, Cherry, Dundy, Keith, Lancaster, Lincoln, Morrill, Nance, Nemaha, Richardson, Saunders, Thomas
Habitat: Sandy areas; blowouts, beaches, stream sides
Seasonal Occurrence: Summer (mostly July)
Status: Scarce
Cicindela longilabris
Boreal Long-lipped Tiger Beetle
Description: 12.5-13.5mm, dark brown with reduced markings
Similar Species: C. nebraskana, C. purpurea audubonii (black morph)
Range: Mostly northeastern United States; also Rocky Mtns. and Sierra Madre Mtns.
Nebraska Distribution: Lancaster
Habitat: Bare open soil or sandy areas
Seasonal Occurrence: Late spring/fall
Status: Unknown; there are two old specimens in the UNSM. One is pictured above.
Cicindela nevadica knausii Leng
Knaus' Nevada Tiger Beetle
Description: 10-13mm, olive brown with white markings
Similar Species: C. repanda, C. macra
Range: Western Plains
Nebraska Distribution: Blaine, Box Butte, Dundy, Garden, Hitchcock, Morrill, Nuckolls, Sheridan
Habitat: Alkaline pond edges, also non-alkaline pond edges (Kippenhan 1994)
Seasonal Occurrence: Summer
Status: Uncommon
Cicindela nevadica lincolniana Casey
Salt Creek Tiger Beetle
Description: 10-13mm, dull olive green with reduced markings
Similar Species: From a distance, a well-marked specimen might resemble C. repanda
Range: Endemic to salt marsh remnants in Lancaster County
Nebraska Distribution: Lancaster
Habitat: Wet, salty soil at pond or creek edges
Seasonal Occurrence: Late spring to early summer
Status: Endangered; restricted to Eastern Nebraska salt marshes near Lincoln, Nebraska
Cicindela purpurea audubonii LeConte
Cow Path Tiger Beetle
Description: 13.5-16mm, all black or dull green with coppery pronotum; indistinct white markings
Similar Species: C. denverensis
Range: Most of United States, except Deep South. More common in the west.
Nebraska Distribution: Banner, Cass, Chase, Custer, Dawson, Dawes, Franklin, Garden, Harlan, Holt, Keith, Kimball, Lancaster, Morrill, Perkins, Saunders, Scottsbluff, Sheridan, Sioux
Habitat: Bare paths, clay banks
Seasonal Occurrence: Early spring/fall
Status: Uncommon to moderately common in the Pine Ridge
Cicindela scutellaris lecontei Haldeman
LeConte's Festive Tiger Beetle
Description: 11-13mm, dull red or maroon (occasionally orangeish or greenish) with white marginal markings
Similar Species: None
Range: Eastern United States, from New England to Nebraska. Other subspecies are found south of Tennessee and Arkansas
Nebraska Distribution: Antelope, Burt, Cass, Cuming, Douglas, Furnas, Howard, Jefferson, Lancaster, Nuckolls, Saunders, Washington, York
Habitat: Sandy open areas with sparse vegetation, such as dunes, road cuts, sand pits
Seasonal Occurrence: Spring/fall
Status: Less frequently found than C. s. scutellaris, although it may be locally common when found
*Note: An intergrade zone between C. s. scutellaris and C. s. lecontei occurs in the eastern one-third of Nebraska. Mixed populations containing both phenotypes occur as far west as Howard Co. and as far east as Lancaster Co.
Cicindela terricola cinctipennis LeConte
Western Variable Tiger Beetle
Description: Brown or olive green with white markings
Similar Species: None
Range: Western United States
Nebraska Distribution: Dawes, Morrill, Scottsbluff, Sioux
Habitat: Alkaline ditches, flats (Carter 1989), bare areas in shortgrass prairie
Seasonal Occurrence: Summer
Status: Uncommon or locally common
Oblique-Lined Tiger Beetle
Description: 12-15.5mm, dark brown with white markings
Similar Species: None
Range: Most of United States
Nebraska Distribution: Arthur, Banner, Blaine, Boone, Box Butte, Brown, Buffalo, Burt, Butler, Chase, Cherry, Colfax, Cuming, Custer, Dawes, Dawson, Dodge, Douglas, Dundy, Franklin, Furnas, Garden, Garfield, Gosper, Grant, Hall, Harlan, Hitchcock, Howard, Jefferson, Keith, Kearney, Knox, Lancaster, Loup, McPherson, Platte, Polk, Red Willow, Scottsbluff, Sioux, Thomas, Wayne, Webster, York
Habitat: Sandy areas, alkaline or saline flats, creek banks, trails
Seasonal Occurrence: Spring/fall
Status: Common
*Note: Lancaster Co. specimens are consistently smaller than Western Nebraska specimens
References
References
- Backlund, D., N. Backlund, S. Weins, and G. Marrone. 2005. Tiger beetles of South Dakota (website). Version 12/28/2005.
- Bruner, L. 1901. The tiger beetles of Nebraska. Proc. Nebr. Acad. Sci. 7: 97-99.
- Carter, M. A. 1989. The biology and ecology of the tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) of Nebraska. Trans. Nebr. Acad. Sci. 17: 1-18.
- Drew, W. A. and H. W. Van Cleave. 1961. The tiger beetles of Oklahoma (Cicindelidae). Proc. Okla. Acad. Sci. 1961: 101-122.
- Eckhoff, D. E. 1939. The Cicindelidae of Iowa (Coleoptera). Iowa State College J. Sci. 13(2): 201-230.
- Kippenhan, M. G. 1994. The tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) of Colorado. Trans. Amer. Entomol. Soc. 120: 1-86.
- Kirk, V. M. and E. U. Balsbaugh, Jr. 1975. A list of the beetles of South Dakota. Agric. Expt. Sta. Bull. 42: 1-139.
- Larson, P. R. 1981. The tiger beetles of North Dakota (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae). Proc. No. Dak. Acad. Sci. 35: 52.
- Pearson, D. L., T. G. Barraclough, and A. P. Vogler. 1997. Distributional maps for North American species of tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae). Cicindela 29(3-4): 33-84.
- Pearson, D. L., C. B. Knisley, and C. J. Kazilek. 2006. A field guide to the tiger beetles of the United States: identification, natural history, and distribution of the Cicindelidae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. 227 pp.
- Willis, H. L. 1970. The Cicindelidae of Kansas. Cicindela 2(1): 1-27.
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