Spring-fall-species
Guides
Cicindela fulgida fulgida
Crimson Saltflat Tiger Beetle
Cicindela fulgida fulgida is a subspecies of tiger beetle restricted to saline and alkaline habitats in the central and western Great Plains of North America. Adults are active primarily during spring and fall, with larvae constructing distinctive turreted burrows in dry, salt-encrusted soils. The species exhibits strong habitat fidelity to wet, alkaline environments including saline flats and dry alkaline creek beds. Larval burrows feature unique above-ground turret structures thought to function in thermoregulation.
Cicindela purpurea
Purple Tiger Beetle, Cow Path Tiger Beetle
Cicindela purpurea is a North American tiger beetle commonly known as the purple tiger beetle or cow path tiger beetle. Adults measure 12-16 millimeters and display remarkable color polymorphism, appearing in matte green, metallic green, bluish, black, or bronze-purple forms. The species exhibits a spring-fall emergence pattern, with adults active in April-May and September, spending summer as subterranean larvae. It is widespread across northern North America but notably absent from the mid-Atlantic states, Texas, and coastal Pacific regions. Five subspecies are recognized, including the distinctive C. p. audubonii with its reduced elytral markings and occasional all-black morphs.
Cicindela purpurea cimarrona
Cimarron Tiger Beetle
Cicindela purpurea cimarrona is a subspecies of the purple tiger beetle complex found in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain regions of North America. As part of the spring-fall life history group within the true Cicindela, adults emerge in fall as sexually immature individuals, overwinter in burrows, and re-emerge in spring to mate and reproduce. This subspecies is one of several color variants within C. purpurea, which exhibits notable polymorphism including green, blue, black, and bronze-purple morphs. The specific epithet 'cimarrona' references its association with the Cimarron River region and surrounding grassland habitats.
Cicindela scutellaris flavoviridis
Chartreuse Tiger Beetle
Cicindela scutellaris flavoviridis, commonly known as the Chartreuse Tiger Beetle, is a distinctive subspecies of the Festive Tiger Beetle endemic to north-central to central Texas. It is characterized by its striking metallic greenish-yellow (chartreuse) coloration with typically immaculate elytra, lacking the maculations common in other subspecies. This subspecies occupies deep, dry sand habitats including creek sandbars, dunes, and road cuts. It was described by Vaurie in 1950 and is considered intermediate in morphology between the blue-green C. s. rugata to the east and the more coppery nominate C. scutellaris to the north, with minimal intergradation at range boundaries.
Cicindela tranquebarica
Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle
Cicindela tranquebarica, commonly known as the oblique-lined tiger beetle, is a North American tiger beetle species distinguished by its variable coloration ranging from reddish-brown to black to green, with distinct white maculations. Adults measure 11–16 mm in length, with females typically larger than males. The species exhibits notable physiological adaptations including stilting behavior for thermoregulation and tolerance for high temperatures in dry conditions. It has a two-year life cycle with adults active in spring and fall, overwintering in burrows.
Cicindela tranquebarica arida
Death Valley Tiger Beetle
Cicindela tranquebarica arida is a subspecies of the oblique-lined tiger beetle, known by the common name Death Valley Tiger Beetle. It is currently considered a synonym of Cicindela arida. The species to which it belongs, C. tranquebarica, is a spring-fall active tiger beetle found in open, sandy to clay habitats across North America, with adults typically present for only a few weeks. The subspecific epithet 'arida' suggests an association with arid environments.
Cicindela tranquebarica diffracta
Diffracted Tiger Beetle
Cicindela tranquebarica diffracta is a subspecies of the oblique-lined tiger beetle, distinguished from the nominate form by more diffused and broken elytral maculations. It occurs in sandy and clay soils across the Great Plains and western North America. Like other members of the C. tranquebarica complex, it is a spring-fall active species with larvae that construct typical tiger beetle burrows in appropriate substrates.
Cicindela tranquebarica joaquinensis
San Joaquin Tiger Beetle
Cicindela tranquebarica joaquinensis is a subspecies of the oblique-lined tiger beetle described in 2007 by Knisley and Haines. It is endemic to California's San Joaquin Valley, where it inhabits saline and alkaline habitats. Like other members of the C. tranquebarica complex, it is a spring-fall active species with adults emerging in fall as sexually immature individuals, overwintering, and re-emerging in spring to mate and oviposit. The subspecies is distinguished from related taxa by its geographic restriction and specific habitat associations within the Central Valley.
Cicindela tranquebarica kirbyi
Kirby's Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle, Kirby's Tiger Beetle
Cicindela tranquebarica kirbyi is a subspecies of the oblique-lined tiger beetle found in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain regions of North America. It is a spring-fall species that emerges in fall as sexually immature adults, overwinters in burrows, and becomes active again in spring for mating and oviposition. The subspecies is distinguished from the nominate eastern form by broader white maculations on the elytra. It occurs in both saline and dry sandy habitats, showing greater habitat flexibility than many tiger beetle species.
Cicindela tranquebarica parallelonota
Opal Tiger Beetle
Cicindela tranquebarica parallelonota is a subspecies of the oblique-lined tiger beetle, commonly known as the Opal Tiger Beetle. It belongs to the tiger beetle subfamily Cicindelinae within the ground beetle family Carabidae. The species exhibits spring-fall adult activity, with larvae developing in burrows during summer months. Adults are known for their fast running speed and predatory habits, though specific distinguishing features of this subspecies relative to other C. tranquebarica subspecies require careful examination of elytral maculation patterns.
Cicindela tranquebarica tranquebarica
Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle, Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle (nominate subspecies)
Cicindela tranquebarica tranquebarica is the nominate subspecies of the oblique-lined tiger beetle, found across eastern North America. Adults are active in spring and fall, with a life cycle requiring at least one year. The species shows notable habitat flexibility, occurring on dry sandy soils, clay substrates, and saline environments. Adults are generalist predators with large eyes and fast running ability, though they must stop periodically to refocus visually when pursuing prey. The subspecies is distinguished from western populations (C. t. kirbyi) by narrower white elytral maculations.
Cicindela tranquebarica vibex
Wealed Tiger Beetle
Cicindela tranquebarica vibex is a subspecies of oblique-lined tiger beetle in the family Carabidae. It is a spring-fall species active during cooler months, spending summer as larvae in soil burrows. Adults are ground-dwelling predators that hunt small invertebrates using rapid pursuit and visual tracking. The subspecies occurs in western North America, where it has been observed in sandy and clay habitats including saline flats and dry creek beds.
Cicindela tranquebarica viridissima
Greenest Tiger Beetle
Cicindela tranquebarica viridissima is a highly localized subspecies of the widespread Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle, distinguished by its exceptionally bright metallic green coloration. Formerly ranging along much of the Santa Ana River from Orange County to Mentone and possibly the San Jacinto River, it now survives only in two small populations: along the Santa Ana River adjacent to Riverside, and near Bautista Creek in Hemet, California. Adults exhibit a distinctive life cycle with fall emergence, winter dormancy underground, and spring re-emergence for reproduction.