Cicindela sexguttata
| Cicindela sexguttata | |
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| File:Cicindela sexguttata Fabricius 1.jpg | |
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C. sexguttata
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| Cicindela sexguttata Fabricius, 1775
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The Six-Spotted Tiger Beetle or Six-spotted Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela sexguttata) is a common North American species of ground beetle in the Cicindelinae subfamily.
Description
They are commonly found in deciduous forests in between Minnesota,[1] Rhode Island, and Ontario and south to Kentucky, and are easily recognizable by their large, white, overlapping mandibles. The imago (adult) is 12–14 mm (1/2-5/8") in length,[2] with long legs. Their large, white mandibles give these attractive insects a ferocious appearance. While tiger beetles are voracious predators of small arthropods, they do not bite humans unless handled and their bite is a barely noticeable pinch. The adults can also defend itself by secreting a foul-smelling liquid.[3] Both the common name and the species name refer to the number of small white spots on the beetle's metallic-green to metallic-blue elytra, usually numbering six. This is not always true, however, as some individuals have more spots,[4] fewer spots, or none at all. Six-spotted Tiger Beetles live in woody places, and they like shady openings such as dirt paths and fallen logs to hunt caterpillars, ants, spiders, and many other kinds of arthropods. This species is not gregarious, but sometimes many beetles may be seen in one fallen log. The females lay eggs in sandy patches, and the larvae burrow into the ground when they hatch. Here they lie in wait until small arthropods walk by, where then the larvae pounce much like jack in the boxes. The beetles develop as larvae for about one year before pupating and the insect has a total lifespan of just under 5 years.
Gallery
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Green tiger beetle 1.jpg
Cicindela sexguttata
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Cicindela sexguttata - six-spotted tiger beetle - desc-iridescent in sunlight on ground.jpg
Cicindela sexguttata
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Spinus-six-spotted-green-tiger-beetle-2015-06-n041281-w.jpg
Cicindela sexguttata, Belleplain State Forest, New Jersey, US.
References
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- ↑ National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Insects and Spiders of North America, by Arthur V. Evans
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External links
Media related to Cicindela sexguttata at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Cicindela sexguttata at Wikispecies- Cicindela sexguttata, BugGuide
- Cicindela sexguttata, Tiger Beetle of Connecticut
- Cicindela sexguttata, Tiger Beetles of Ontario
- Tiger Beetles, Canadian Biodiversity Web Site
