Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle
Cicindela tranquebarica
This beetle runs so fast that its eyes cannot process light quickly enough, causing it to go temporarily blind while sprinting. It must pause frequently to visually relocate its prey.
- Scientific name
- Cicindela tranquebarica
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Coleoptera › Cicindelidae › Cicindela
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Open clay soils, sandy riverbanks, gravelly flats, and sparsely vegetated fields.
- Diet
- Small insects, spiders, and other terrestrial invertebrates.
- Range
- United States, Canada
- Size
- 11-15 mm
- Lifespan
- 1-2 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat loss from urban development, off-road vehicle traffic in sandy habitats, and heavy pesticide use.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. These beetles are incredibly skittish and will fly away if approached within a few feet. Observe them quietly from a distance of 3–5 feet. If handled roughly, they may pinch with their mandibles; if bitten, simply wash the area with soap and water as they carry no venom.
Cicindela tranquebarica , the oblique-lined tiger beetle , is a species of flashy tiger beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America.
Photo: Ken-ichi Ueda, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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