TIGER BEETLE

any member of the approximately 2,000 species of the insect family Cicindelidae (order Coleoptera). The name derives from their voracious eating habits. The larva lives in a vertical burrow, which is sometimes as much as 0.67 m (2 feet) deep. It waits at the top of the burrow for prey (insects), which it grasps with sicklelike mandibles (jaws). A pair of hooks on the abdomen anchor the larva, so that it cannot be pulled out of its burrow by the struggling victim. The prey is then dragged to the bottom of the burrow and eaten. The slender, long-legged adults are about 10 to 20 mm (2/5 to 4/5 inch) long and have bulging eyes. Many are iridescent blue, green, orange, or scarlet in colour. They are rapid runners and fliers. When handled, tiger beetles can inflict a painful bite with their long mandibles. Although tiger beetles occur throughout the world, most species are subtropical or tropical and are usually seen on sunny paths and sandy areas. The wing covers (elytra) of many species of Cicindela, a common genus, have scroll-like marks. Species that inhabit sandy areas are often light-coloured and match the environment.