Martha's Vineyard Atlas of LifeSpecies ListsTiger BeetlesTiger Beetles Checklist

Checklist of Tiger Beetles

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Checklist of Tiger Beetles

Tiger Beetles
Common NameScientific NameNotes
Six-spotted Tiger BeetleCicindela sexguttataa generalist typically found along paths in mixed or deciduous woods; common and widely distributed; adults primarily found in spring and early summer
Festive Tiger BeetleCicindela scutellaris rugifronsfound in dry habitats such as loose sand with sparse vegetation; a spring-fall species; formerly uncommon and local, no recent records
Common Shore or Bronzed Tiger BeetleCicindela repanda repandalocally common; a spring-fall species but usually present through the summer; found mainly on fresh or brackish shorelines and on damp coastal bluffs
Oblique-lined Tiger BeetleCicindela tranquebarica tranquebaricaa generalist species found in various habitat types including both sandy and clay soil; locally common to abundant; a spring-fall species
Hairy-necked Tiger BeetleCicindela hirticollis rhodensistypically found sand habitats next to large bodies of fresh or salt water; on the Vineyard found on many shorelines particularly ocean and sound beaches. Common to locally abundant; a spring-fall species; often exhibits reduced spots (maculations)
Punctured tiger beetleCicindela punctulata punctulatafound on bare soil on dry hard-packed disturbed land; common; a summer species; will come to lights
Clay Bank Tiger BeetleCicindela limbalisfound on sloping clay soil; uncommon and local, with no recent records; a spring-fall species. Threatened in Massachusetts
Purple or Cowpath Tiger BeetleCicindela purpurea purpureaFound on open sandplain areas, open hilltops, and occasionally coastal banks. Fairly common, occasionally even outnumbers C. tranquebarica, with which it overlaps strongly in distribution and phenology. A spring-fall species; a Species of Special Concern in Massachusetts
Big Sand Tiger BeetleCicindela formosa generosarare to, at best, uncommon; found in early summer in sparsely vegetated habitats often with false heather, coastal jointed knotweed (Polygonum articulatum). Sometimes occurs with C. tranquebarica
Saltmarsh or Margined Tiger BeetleEllisoptera marginatafound on mud flats at the edge of salt marshes on the bay side of barrier beaches and salt ponds; uncommon; a summer species
Northeastern Beach Tiger BeetleHabroscelimorpha dorsalis dorsalisfound only on white-sand ocean beaches with dunes that are free from vehicular traffic; a summer species; locally common on Martha’s Vineyard. Endangered in Massachusetts, Federally Threatened