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TIGER BEETLES

CARABIDAE: CICINDELINAE

CARABIDAE: CICINDELINAE

subfamily

Cicindelinae

known species

2,600

distribution

Worldwide except polar regions and

Antarctica, most abundant in the tropics

habitat

Plains, savanna, lake and river margins,

tropical forests

size

6–70 mm

diet

Adults and larvae eat other insects, especially

ants and flies. Large species will tackle large

spiders and small amphibians and reptiles

notes

Most tiger beetles are diurnal, visual

predators with large eyes and bright metallic

colors. Species that have become crepuscular

or nocturnal can be recognized by their

smaller eyes and duller colors

T

he tiger beetles, a large and widespread

subfamily of the ground beetles (family

Carabidae) are, as their name suggests, formidable

predators. The adults rely on their excellent vision

and great speed—they are the fastest of all beetles,

with the Australian Cicindela hudsoni having been

clocked at an incredible 2.5 meters per second

(equivalent to 5.6 miles per hour, or 125 body-

lengths per second!). This speed enables them to

hunt and capture fast-moving prey such as flies.

The larvae prefer to pursue a different hunting

strategy, as sedentary ambush predators. They live

in burrows, which they close with their flattened

head, suddenly grabbing an unwary passing ant or