Is this a Six-spotted Tiger Beetle?
Mon, May 18, 2009 at 1:30 PM
Hello,
I was digging in by backyard today when I came across this beautiful beetle. After looking through some Field Guides I guess it may be a Six-spotted Tiger Beetle, but on of them said that they usually don’t occur in Michigan. I was hoping you could shed some light on what I found. It seemed to have been underground next to a nest of larvae feeding on a mouse or rat i dug out.
O. Keller
Port Sanilac, MI
Six Spotted Tiger Beetle
Dear O. Keller,
We believe you have correctly identified your Six Spotted Tiger Beetle. According to the data on BugGuide, Michigan is firmly part of the range of the species.
Tiger Beetles
Sun, May 17, 2009 at 4:32 AM
Hi Lisa Anne and Daniel, thank you for your generous remarks of 5/10. Central WY has been cool and uncharacteristically cloudy this spring, Lepidoptera seem less evident and other orders more so. These tiger beetles especially have stood out. Please correct my i.d.s where necessary.
Your site is still the best!
Dwaine
near Casper, WY
Green Claybank Tiger Beetle???
Hi Dwaine,
Either the Montana Field Guide website Tiger Beetle page has a dearth of photos, or there is something currently wrong with it. When we tried clicking Green Claybank Tiger Beetle, Cicindela denverensis, we get a message that indicates “No photos are currently available.” Upon turning to BugGuide, we see that your specimen appears to match the pictured specimen posted there. The Festive Tiger Beetle – Cicindela scutellaris scutellaris is also noticeably absent from the Montana Field Guide site, but is present on BugGuide, though the common name Festive Tiger Beetle is not indicated. The habitat is listed as “Commonly found in dry sandy habitats with sparse vegetation such as blowouts, dune swales, and roads.” Once again, your photo matches the subspecies of this species posted on BugGuide. The subspecies is found in Alberta, Canada which borders Montana.
Festive Tiger Beetle???
Finally, the specimen that you have identified as a Beautiful Tiger Beetle is not listed on the Montana site. It does not resemble the images posted to BugGuide. We would be more inclined to identify it as the Bronzed Tiger Beetle or Common Shore Tiger Beetle, Cicindela repanda, based on images posted to BugGuide. It is listed on the Montana Field Guide Tiger Beetle page, but once again, “No photos are currently available.” We really believe a true expert in the genus is needed for positive identifications of Tiger Beetles, but we will post our tentative identifications nonetheless. Thanks Dwaine for your wonderful photos. Posting this entry ate up our allotted web time today and we have chores to attend to now.
Bronzed Tiger Beetle???
Turquoise colored beetle
Mon, Apr 27, 2009 at 8:23 AM
On Saturday 4/25/09 at 11:30 A.M. while hiking in the decidious woods of the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois, I saw this pretty beetle sitting on a log by itself in the middle of an upland woods. It did exhibit any unusual behavior and it just sat there letting me take this picture.
Can you tell me what this is ?
The temp in the woods was 80 degrees and clear, with very little humidity
Kevin
Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois
Six Spotted Tiger Beetle
Hi Kevin,
This is a Tiger Beetle in the genus Cicindela. We believe it is a Six Spotted Tiger Beetle, Cicindela sexguttata, even though your photo reveals eight spots. This is a variable species and we did locate one image on BugGuide with markings nearly identical to your individual. Tiger Beetles are fierce predators. Several species of Tiger Beetles are endangered because of habitat loss.
Tue, Apr 28, 2009 at 5:17 AM
Hi Daniel,
Thanks very much for the identification….very interesting. It does seem
to me that I have seen a few of these before, and always in deep woods.
They must prefer deep woods. As far as habitat loss, at least the woods
where I saw this one is an 80-acre tract of woods that has been in my family
for 20 years and will probably remain in the family.
Thanks again.
Kevin
Is this a blister bug?
Fri, Apr 10, 2009 at 10:08 PM
Hello: I live in close proximity to the Chattahoochee river in NE Georgia. this is the second of these bugs that have made it into my house. I have not seen any in the yard, but I have not searched. 3/4 in. long, head to abdomen.
Michael
NE Georgia
False Bombardier Beetle
Hi Michael,
This is a False Bombardier Beetle, probably Galerita bicolor. You can compare your image to photos on BugGuide. False Bombardier Beetles are predatory ground beetles and they will not harm your home bug BugGuide indicates this “Caution: This genus has chemical defenses, see Defensive production of formic acid (80%) by a carabid beetle : Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1997 June 24; 94 (13): 6792–6797. “
¶ Posted 11 April 2009 § ‡ ° Hello Again ! Can You Help?
Thu, Oct 23, 2008 at 10:39 AM
I found this beetle walking along the wall around my porch lights. I discovered it in the spring at night time, where all sorts of insects appear! It is one of the weirdest beetles I have ever seen. (note the thorax). I’ve had quite a lot identified on your website, and hope you can continue to help the poor, helpless public. Thanks!
Luke
Murrayville, Georgia
Long Necked Ground Beetle
Hi Luke,
This is a Long Necked Ground Beetle, Colliuris pensylvanica. According to BugGuide, it is found : “In leaf litter and under logs and stones, and on vegetation in wet areas”
¶ Posted 24 October 2008 § ‡ ° Beetle in Basement
Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 6:10 PM
I am finding these beetles in my house. What are they? While I have found one on the main floor, most are appearing in my finished basement playroom. The living ones I have found seem to be trying to burrow in the carpet. In our utility room (unfinished basement space) I have found several carcases that spiders seem to have killed. Can you identify this bug from the attached image? Do I need to be concerned about finding these in my kids playroom?
Long Island, NY
Ground Beetle
Dear Long Island, NY,
This is a Ground Beetle in the genus Scarites. It will not harm you, your children, or your home. This Ground Beetle is a nocturnal predator that feeds on other insects. You can read more about them on BugGuide.
¶ Posted 18 October 2008 § ‡ ° What is this bug???
Hi Bugman:
I found this bug on the floor of the ground level inside our home last week. Can you please identify and provide some info. We live in Western PA. Thank you.
Marc
Hi Marc,
This is a beneficial predatory ground beetle known as a False Bombardier Beetle, Galerita bicolor.
¶ Posted 10 April 2007 § ‡ ° Hi
I am an American in Japan and thought you’d be interested in seeing what the tiger beetles here look like. They’re called hanmyou here.
I also included photos of a bagworm called a minomushi which means “straw raincoat”. They are a favorite of children here.
Melody McFarland
Yokosuka, Japan
Hi Melody,
Thank you for sending us your wonderful images as well as the language lesson. The jaws on that Hanmyou Tiger Beetle are quite formidable.
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