Cicindela campestris | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Coleoptera |
Family: | Cicindelidae |
Genus: | Cicindela |
Species: | C. campestris |
Binomial name | |
Cicindela campestris | |
Cicindela campestris, commonly called the green tiger beetle, [1] is a widespread Eurasian species of tiger beetle. It is the type species of the large genus Cicindela.
Adults are typically 12–15 millimetres (0.47–0.59 in) long. The elytra and thorax are green, varying in tone from light to dark, spotted with cream-coloured patches, and in bright sunlight are somewhat iridescent. The eyes are blackish; the legs are brown with whitish hairs. The antennae are long and straight, not clubbed.
The adults are sun-loving. They live in places with dry soils (sandy or chalky), mostly between May and October at the latitude of Britain. Like other tiger beetles, they run fast on their long legs and are most often seen on bare ground, in Britain typically on heather moorland. They can fly fast, making a loud buzzing noise. [2] It can run at speeds of 60 cm per second. [3]
Cicindela campestris is distributed across Europe from Spain in the southwest to Finland in the northeast. Most records are from the UK, Germany, Austria and the south of Sweden. In Britain, records are mainly from dry sandy or heathy areas such as the heathlands of Surrey, Hampshire and Dorset, and the mountains and moorlands of the Scottish Highlands. [4]
The species is divided into several subspecies:
The mollicute bacterium species Entomoplasma freundtii (Entomoplasmatales, Entomoplasmataceae) can be isolated from the green tiger beetle. [5]
Tiger beetles are a family of beetles, Cicindelidae, known for their aggressive predatory habits and running speed. The fastest known species of tiger beetle, Rivacindela hudsoni, can run at a speed of 9 km/h, or about 125 body lengths per second. As of 2005, about 2,600 species and subspecies were known, with the richest diversity in the Oriental (Indo-Malayan) region, followed by the Neotropics. While historically treated as a subfamily of ground beetles (Carabidae) under the name Cicindelinae, several studies since 2020 indicated that they should be treated as a family, the Cicindelidae, which are a sister group to Carabidae within the Adephaga.
The Salt Creek tiger beetle is a critically endangered subspecies of tiger beetle endemic to the saline wetlands of northern Lancaster County, Nebraska, adjacent to and immediately to the north of the city of Lincoln, Nebraska. It is a predatory insect, using its mandibles to catch other insects. The beetle is one of the rarest insects in North America; surveys showed that 194 adults existed in 2009, down from 263 in 2008, and 777 in 2000. However, efforts are continuing to boost the population, which in 2013 numbered 365 beetles: one beetle for each day in a regular year. The adult beetles can move very fast to catch their prey.
The six-spotted tiger beetle, also known as the six-spotted green tiger beetle, is a common North American species of tiger beetle in the Cicindelinae subfamily. It is common in many areas of the states, and is well known. It is recognized for its bright green color and its flight pattern. The beetle is largely harmless to humans and may live as long as three years.
Cicindela, commonly known as common tiger beetles, are generally brightly colored and metallic beetles, often with some sort of patterning of ivory or cream-colored markings. They are most abundant and diverse in habitats very often near bodies of water with sandy or occasionally clay soils; they can be found along rivers, sea and lake shores, sand dunes, around dry lakebeds, on clay banks, or woodland paths.
Neocicindela tuberculata is a species of tiger beetle in the family Cicindelidae, endemic to New Zealand. Its common names include common tiger beetle, moeone, and papapa, and in its larval stage penny doctor, butcher boy, kapuku, kui, kurikuri, moeone, and muremure. Neocicindela tuberculata was the first carabid beetle described from New Zealand. The species can run as fast as 5 miles per hour and are considered to be the fastest running beetles. Adult species prefer clay banks in summer and are good predators when in comes to insects.
Cicindela ohlone, the Ohlone tiger beetle, is endemic to California. It was discovered in 1987 and named and described in 1993. C. ohlone is most closely related to Cicindela purpurea.
Cicindela repanda, commonly known as the bronzed tiger beetle or common shore tiger beetle, is a species of tiger beetle that is 10–13 millimetres (0.39–0.51 in) long and lives in most of North America. It has a small labrum with one tooth and a coppery, hairy pronotum. The shoulder marking usually touches the middle band. It is most often seen in spring and summer, and it lives in sand, gravel, or clay soil. It feeds on many species of insects and even some fruit. The species has a two-year life cycle. It can be found across sand dunes around the Great Lakes. The species comprises three subspecies: C. repanda repanda, C. repanda novascotiae, and C. repanda tanneri.
Cicindela albissima, commonly called the Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle is a species of tiger beetle endemic to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in southern Utah, United States. It was originally described by Rumpp in 1962 as the subspecies Cicindela limbata albissima, but mitochondrial DNA, along with the species' morphological and geographical distinctiveness, have shown that it is a separate species. C. albissima can be distinguished from other Cicindela species by its restricted range and lack of pigmentation on its elytra.
Entomoplasma is a mollicute bacteria genus. Entomoplasma freundtii can be isolated from the green tiger beetle.
Entomoplasma freundtii is a mollicute bacteria species that can be isolated from the green tiger beetle.
Cicindela denikei, Laurentian tiger beetle is a species of tiger beetle in the Cicindelinae subfamily that can be found in Minnesota, Manitoba, and Ontario. The species have green coloured elytron and is 13–15 millimetres (0.51–0.59 in) long. It can be found in gravel and sand as well as coniferous forests where it preys on other insect species. When it comes to hunting, adults are either wait for their prey in an ambush or chase it. It larvae usually digs burrows in which they wait for their victim to come by. Once an unsuspected arthropod is in sight, it opens it jaws and eats it.
Cicindela patruela, the northern barrens tiger beetle, is a species of tiger beetle found in eastern North America. Due to their specific habitat requirements as well as human involvement, populations of this species have declined significantly in several regions, including most of New England, Ontario, and Quebec.
Byrrhus pilula is a Holarctic species of beetle in the family Byrrhidae the pill beetles. It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758.
Cicindela theatina, commonly known as the Great Sand Dunes tiger beetle, is a predatory beetle found in sparsely vegetated sandy habitats. The species' range encompasses only about 290 square kilometres (110 sq mi) in the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. Despite its small range, the species is relatively secure because its entire habitat is within a protected national park.
Habroscelimorpha dorsalis, commonly known as the eastern beach tiger beetle, is a species of flashy tiger beetle in the family Cicindelidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Ellipsoptera puritana, the puritan tiger beetle, is a species of flashy tiger beetle in the family Cicindelidae. It is found in North America. Puritan tiger beetles are found in sandy beaches and rocky cliffs along rivers in Massachusetts, Maryland, and Connecticut. Little is known about this species due to its small geographic range and quickly disappearing populations.
Cicindela tranquebarica, the Oblique-lined tiger beetle, is a species of flashy tiger beetle in the family Cicindelidae that is found in North America. It appears in various colors, but it is most commonly known for its compound eyes. The beetle can range from 11 mm to 16 mm, and females are often observed to be slightly longer than males. This beetle is sensitive to temperature changes and performs stilting to help with temperature regulation. They typically display a variety of social behaviors and are a strong flier.
Habroscelimorpha dorsalis dorsalis, commonly known as the northeastern beach tiger beetle, is the largest subspecies of eastern beach tiger beetle. In 2012, Cicindela dorsalis dorsalis was reclassified under the name Habroscelimorpha dorsalis dorsalis, but the names are used synonymously in recently published literature. Fitting to its common name, the northeastern beach tiger beetle dwells along the U.S. northeast coast in small sand burrows. The beetle is diurnal and can be spotted by its light tan coloring with dark lines and green hues on its thorax and head.
Rivacindela hudsoni is an Australian species of the family Cicindelinae or "tiger beetle" and is the fastest running insect. The genus Rivacindela is contentiously treated as a subgenus of the broader Cicindela and are typically found in salty habitats such as dry salt lakes and salt streams. The species was discovered in South Australia and described in 1997, with an adult form of approximately 20–21mm in length and a running speed of 2.49 m/s, or 120 body lengths per second.
Chinery, Michael. Collins Complete Guide to British Insects. Collins, 2005. ISBN 978-0-00-729899-0
• Opus 43, Cicindela Campestris by Stephen Andrew Rawle.