Globally-imperiled
Guides
Cicindela arenicola
St. Anthony Dune Tiger Beetle, Idaho Dunes Tiger Beetle
Cicindela arenicola is a rare, endemic tiger beetle restricted to sand dune ecosystems in southern Idaho and southwestern Montana. First described by Rumpp in 1967 from the St. Anthony Dune system of the Snake River Valley, this species is one of several closely related sand dune endemics in the C. maritima species group. Adults display striking coloration with bold white elytral markings, green and copper highlights on the head and pronotum, and dense white pubescence on the sides and undersurface. The species is considered globally imperiled due to its extremely limited range and ongoing habitat degradation from invasive plants, cattle trampling, and off-road vehicle traffic.