Subject: Cicindela species
Location: Isanti County, MN
June 15, 2013 7:38 pm
I found this little guy today on a bug hunt, and I had never seen him before. I think I have him narrowed down to one of two species: C. hirticollis or C. tranquebarica. I’m leaning towards tranquebarica based on the environment he was scuttling through, but I wanted to see what you think.
Signature: Amber
Hi Amber,
Though you indicated that the environment was right, you didn’t specify what that environment was, so we cannot be certain. We actually like the Big Sands Tiger Beetle, Cicindela formosa, for a possible identification. Bugguide indicates it prefers: “Dry sandy areas: blowouts, dunes, roadsides.” Minnesota is in the range.
This does seem to be a Big Sand Tiger Beetle, Cicindela formosa. Cicindela tranquebarica has more reduced maculations; see A Field Guide to the Tiger Beetles of the United States and Canada. (Pearson, et. al)
Thanks for your input.