Thermoregulatory-adaptation
Guides
Cicindela fulgida
Crimson Saltflat Tiger Beetle, Shiny Tiger Beetle
Cicindela fulgida is a tiger beetle species specialized for saline habitats, occurring in dry, salt-encrusted soils of the central and western North American plains. Adults are active primarily during spring and fall, avoiding the hottest summer months. The species is notable for its distinctive larval burrows, which feature unique turret-like structures that extend above ground level—an adaptation thought to aid in thermoregulation in extreme environments.