# 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.

- **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.

## About

Cicindela tranquebarica , the oblique-lined tiger beetle , is a species of flashy tiger beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/9d1fce55-b7c3-46e0-a5d7-4b7f704a91d5
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/82450
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicindela tranquebarica
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/105061/medium.jpg (Ken-ichi Ueda, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.