Tiger Beetle
Tiger beetles are fast, fierce hunting beetles with big eyes and long, sickle-shaped jaws. They are among the fastest-running insects on Earth, chasing down other bugs on sunny beaches, sandbanks and trails.
Tiger beetle Quick Facts
| Common name | Tiger beetle |
| Type | Insect (ground beetle subfamily) |
| Diet | Ants, flies, caterpillars, spiders and other small creatures |
| Habitat | Sunny open ground: beaches, dunes, sandbars and trails |
| Native range | Worldwide except Antarctica |
| Size | Mostly 1-2 cm; largest over 5 cm |
| Colours | Often metallic green, blue, bronze or red |
| Special feature | One of the fastest-running insects |
Scientists used to put tiger beetles in their own family, Cicindelidae. Today most experts treat them as a subfamily, Cicindelinae, within the ground beetle family (Carabidae). There are more than 2,000 species worldwide.
What Do Tiger Beetles Look Like?
Most tiger beetles are about 1 to 2 cm long. They have large, bulging eyes, long thread-like antennae, long slender legs built for running, and big curved jaws (mandibles) with sharp teeth.
Many species are brilliantly colored, with metallic green, blue, bronze, copper or red bodies, often decorated with cream or white markings. The six-spotted tiger beetle of North America, for example, is a dazzling shiny green with a few small white spots. Other species are black or sandy brown to blend in with the ground.
The biggest tiger beetles belong to the genus Manticora, from the dry regions of southern Africa. These large, flightless, black beetles have enormous jaws and can be over 5 cm long.
Where Do Tiger Beetles Live?
Tiger beetles live on every continent except Antarctica, and are especially common in warm regions. Most species like open, sunny ground where they can run and spot prey, such as:
- sandy beaches and dunes
- river sandbars and lake shores
- mudflats and salt flats
- dirt paths and woodland trails
- rocky outcrops and open grasslands
Some tropical species live in forests, and a few even climb trees.
Hunting and Speed
Adult tiger beetles are active daytime hunters. They use their sharp eyesight to spot ants, flies, caterpillars, spiders and other small creatures, then sprint after them and grab them with their jaws.
They are amazingly fast. One Australian species has been measured running at about 2.5 meters per second, or roughly 9 km/h (5.6 mph). Relative to its body size, that is like a person running hundreds of kilometers per hour.
They run so fast that their eyes cannot keep up. While sprinting, a tiger beetle briefly goes “blind” and cannot see its prey clearly, so it stops for a moment to look again before charging on. That is why tiger beetles often run in quick stop-and-go bursts. Most species are also strong fliers and will zip away a few meters if you get too close.
The Tiger Beetle Larva: A Trapdoor Hunter
Tiger beetle beetle larvae are just as fierce as the adults, but they hunt in a completely different way. Each larva digs a vertical burrow in the soil or sand and waits at the top, with its flat head blocking the entrance like a lid.
The larva has a large head with big jaws and a humped back with special hooks. When an insect walks past, the larva lunges out and grabs it. The hooks on its back anchor it inside the burrow so the prey cannot pull it out. Then it drags its meal down into the tunnel to eat.
Larvae can go for long periods without food, and some species can survive their burrows being flooded for a while.
Life Cycle
Tiger beetles go through complete metamorphosis: egg, larva, pupa and adult.
- Egg: The female uses the tip of her abdomen to dig a small hole in the soil and lays a single egg in it. She covers it up to hide it from predators. She repeats this many times.
- Larva: The larva hatches and digs its burrow. It goes through three larval stages (instars), making the burrow wider and deeper as it grows. Some burrows end up 30 cm (about a foot) deep or more.
- Pupa: When fully grown, the larva plugs the entrance with soil and makes a pupal chamber inside. The pupa stage usually lasts a few weeks.
- Adult: The new adult waits a few days for its shell to harden, then digs its way to the surface.
Depending on the species and the climate, the whole life cycle takes from one to several years. Most of that time is spent as a larva.
Mating
Adults usually start mating soon after they emerge. A male grabs a female’s thorax with his jaws and climbs onto her back. After mating, he often stays riding on her for some time. This is called mate guarding, and it helps stop other males from mating with her before she lays her eggs.
Are Tiger Beetles Dangerous?
Tiger beetles are not dangerous to people. A big one may give a sharp nip with its jaws if you catch it, but they are not venomous. They are actually helpful, because they eat lots of small insects.
Tiger Beetles in Danger
Because many species live only in special habitats like beaches, dunes and riverbanks, tiger beetles are sensitive to change. Building, beach traffic and changes to rivers can destroy their homes. Several species, such as the northeastern beach tiger beetle in the United States, are now protected. Scientists often use tiger beetles as “indicator species”: if they disappear, it is a sign that the habitat is in trouble.
Tiger beetle FAQs
How fast can a tiger beetle run?
One Australian species has been clocked at about 2.5 meters per second, roughly 9 km/h (5.6 mph). For its size, that is one of the fastest speeds of any running animal.
Do tiger beetles bite humans?
A large tiger beetle may give a sharp nip with its jaws if it is caught or held, but it is not venomous and cannot seriously hurt you.
Why are they called tiger beetles?
They are named for their fierce hunting style. Like tigers, they chase down and catch prey, using big eyes and powerful jaws.
What do tiger beetle larvae eat?
The larvae live in vertical burrows and ambush small insects and spiders that walk past, grabbing them with their jaws and pulling them into the tunnel.
Where can I find tiger beetles?
Look on sunny, open ground such as sandy beaches, dunes, riverbanks, dirt trails and salt flats, especially on warm days. They fly off quickly if you get too close.
Randi Jones is the owner and founder of the Nature Gift Store, an online retailer specializing in nature-themed gifts, educational science projects, live animal nature kits and real butterfly artwork. A biology graduate who fell in love with insects, she founded the company in 2001 to make active learning about nature fun, accessible and engaging for children and adults. Her store offers real butterfly frames, home and garden decor and educational live animal kits, including ant farms, worm farms, tadpoles, ladybugs and hermit crabs, and she runs a bug museum in Washington featuring live animals like Eddie the Iguana alongside other reptiles and insects.
