Turret-building
Guides
Cicindela willistoni willistoni
Williston's Tiger Beetle
Cicindela willistoni willistoni is a subspecies of tiger beetle endemic to saline and alkali flats in the southwestern United States. Adults and larvae occupy distinct microhabitats within these systems, with adults typically found along the water's edge. Larvae construct unique chimney-like turrets extending 1–4 cm above their burrow entrances, which function primarily for thermoregulation and attracting prey rather than flood prevention. The subspecies exhibits highly specialized habitat requirements and is part of complex habitat partitioning systems where multiple tiger beetle species coexist by occupying different microhabitats.
Geolycosa
Burrowing Wolf Spiders
Geolycosa is a genus of burrowing wolf spiders (family Lycosidae) established by Montgomery in 1904. These spiders are characterized by their obligate burrowing lifestyle, constructing deep cylindrical burrows in sandy or loose soils. Some species build distinctive turrets around burrow openings using sticks and debris. The genus includes approximately 70 species distributed across North America, with some species extending into the Levant. Geolycosa species are medium to large spiders with morphological adaptations for digging, including enlarged chelicerae and stout anterior legs.