Cicindela purpurea audubonii

Distinguished from co-occurring green claybank species (C. denverensis, C. decemnotata, C. limbalis, C. splendida) by faint purple tinge and distinct metallic purple border around elytral edge. Reduced elytral markings (short oblique middle line, white rear tip only) separate it from similar species with more extensive maculation. Black morphs distinguished from black C. nebraskana and C. longilabris by distinctly hairy frons and retention of reduced white marking pattern.

Grassland habitats throughout central Great Plains and Rocky Mountains. Occurs on clay soil habitats including eroded road cuts, embankments, and sparsely vegetated slopes. Frequently found in sandy-silt mixtures on steep, sparsely vegetated terrain.

Central Great Plains and Rocky Mountains of North America. Common throughout this range; uncommon or feared extirpated in parts of eastern U.S. where nominate subspecies occurs. Black morph incidence increases at northern latitudes and higher western elevations (20-40% frequency).

Spring-fall species: emerges in fall as sexually immature adults, overwinters in burrows, re-emerges in spring to mate and oviposit. Among earliest spring-fall species to appear in spring and latest to disappear in fall; active during cooler conditions.

Spring-fall strategy: adults emerge in fall sexually immature, enter burrows for winter, re-emerge in spring for mating and oviposition. Not all adults emerge in fall—some remain in ground to emerge following spring. Larvae develop through summer.

Adults active during cooler periods relative to other tiger beetles. Fall-emerging adults augment nutrient reserves before winter. Flight behavior not specifically described for this subspecies.

Predatory beetle in grassland ecosystems. Part of tiger beetle community on clay and sandy-silt substrates, co-occurring with multiple congeners in habitat patches with high species diversity.

Subject of interest for tiger beetle enthusiasts and photographers due to color polymorphism. Indicator of healthy grassland and eroded slope habitats. No documented economic or pest significance.

• Cicindela nebraskanaBlack morph C. p. audubonii resembles this all-black prairie species; distinguished by hairy frons and reduced white markings in C. p. audubonii
• Cicindela longilabrisBlack morph confusion at higher elevations; C. longilabris lacks hairy frons and has different marking pattern
• Cicindela denverensisGreen claybank species with similar habitat preference; lacks purple elytral border and has more extensive markings
• Cicindela splendidaGreen claybank associate; distinguished by lack of purple marginal coloration and different marking pattern
• Cicindela limbalisCommon claybank tiger beetle; lacks purple tinge and reduced markings of C. p. audubonii

• tiger beetle
• color polymorphism
• spring-fall life cycle
• claybank habitat
• Great Plains
• Rocky Mountains

• BugGuide
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Monroe Canyon epilogue – Audubon’s tiger beetle | Beetles In The Bush
• Monroe Canyon – A Tiger Beetle “Hot Spot” | Beetles In The Bush