Chesapeake-bay
Guides
Habroscelimorpha dorsalis dorsalis
Northeastern Beach Tiger Beetle
The Northeastern Beach Tiger Beetle is the largest subspecies of Habroscelimorpha dorsalis, endemic to sandy Atlantic coast beaches of the northeastern United States. Listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act since 1990, this diurnal predator has experienced severe population declines due to habitat loss from coastal erosion, shoreline development, and human recreational activity. Adults are active from mid-June through July, while larvae overwinter in deep sand burrows. The species serves as an indicator of beach ecosystem health and requires specific habitat conditions including medium-coarse sand and minimum beach widths of 6.5 feet for successful reproduction.