Six Spotted Tiger Beetles Mating

bugman

May 31st, 2009 at 11:09 am

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Green metallic beetle (?) love
Sat, May 30, 2009 at 4:40 PM
Hi Bugman, we found this handsome green couple on a sunny rock at Great Falls Park in MD (they were so preoccupied that they failed to even notice the garter snake we were watching mere inches away). I’m wondering if they’re borers of some kind since a large dead tree was nearby. Before they became engaged they moved very quickly and even ran over the snake’s back once or twice.Can you tell us what they are?–didn’t have any luck searching “iridescent green” and “metallic green” on the site. (Photo taken by Elizabeth Bouras)
Love the site and the new design. Thanks for your help!
Paula O’Keefe
Great Falls, MD, USA

Mating Six Spotted Tiger Beetles

Hi Paula,
This is a pair of Six Spotted Tiger Beetles, Cicindela sexguttata, a species with a relatively extensive range. According to BugGuide: “In the United States, found over much of the eastern and Great Plains states. Absent from the Gulf Coast area. Range continues into southeastern Canada.”