# Eastern Beach Tiger Beetle (*Habroscelimorpha dorsalis*) The Eastern Beach Tiger Beetle is a shiny green bug with long legs that loves to run on sandy beaches. It is fast and can be seen darting around in the sun, making it a fun insect to spot! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Eastern Beach Tiger Beetle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Habroscelimorpha_dorsalis_media_P1010649a.jpg&width=800) Photo: xpda, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Habroscelimorpha_dorsalis_media_P1010649a.jpg) ## Appearance The Eastern Beach Tiger Beetle has a metallic green or bronze body with distinctive pale, sometimes yellowish-white, margins along its wing covers. Its slender legs are also metallic, complementing its elongated head and large, prominent eyes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Carabidae - **Genus:** Habroscelimorpha ## Interesting facts - Baby tiger beetles, called larvae, live in sand tunnels for years, ambushing prey from below! - Some people call them “the cheetahs of the insect world” for their incredible hunting speed! - Their powerful, sickle-shaped jaws are perfect for grabbing and holding slippery insect prey. - When running its fastest, this beetle briefly goes blind because its brain can't keep up! ## Special abilities - **Blinding Speed:** Eastern Beach Tiger Beetle can run incredibly fast because of its long, powerful legs that help it chase down prey. - **Super Sight:** Eastern Beach Tiger Beetle has large, bulging eyes that help it spot tiny insects and detect movement from a distance. - **Sandy Camouflage:** Eastern Beach Tiger Beetle has sandy-colored markings along its shell that help it blend perfectly with its environment. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 25-30 mm - **Size:** 13-15 mm - **Lifespan:** 730-1460 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding This beetle is a fierce hunter, using its speed to catch other small insects on the beach. - **Age differences:** Larvae are ambush predators, living in burrows; adults actively chase prey. - **Primary Foods:** ants, flies, small crabs, other beetles - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Silvery wood ant (*Formica argentea*) — Hunts speedy ants on sandy beaches. - **Eaten by:** [Piping Plover](https://www.snappit.app/explore/piping-plover) (*Charadrius melodus*) — A shorebird that preys on beach insects. - **Hunts:** House Fly (*Musca domestica*) — Actively pursues flies along the sand. ## Traits - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be gentle and watch where you step, as these little beetles are quick and like to hide in the sand. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eastern Beach Tiger Beetle? Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Eastern Beach Tiger Beetle's wingspan? 25-30 mm ### How big is Eastern Beach Tiger Beetle? 13-15 mm ### How long does Eastern Beach Tiger Beetle live? 730-1460 days ### How fast can Eastern Beach Tiger Beetle fly? 15 km/h ### What does Eastern Beach Tiger Beetle eat? This beetle is a fierce hunter, using its speed to catch other small insects on the beach. ### Where is Eastern Beach Tiger Beetle usually found? Coastal areas ### How does Eastern Beach Tiger Beetle hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Brunswick Old Town Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brunswick-old-town-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Fort De Soto Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-de-soto-park) — US · Nature Reserve - [Doctor Julian G. Bruce Saint George Island State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/doctor-julian-g-bruce-saint-george-island-state-park) — Florida, US · State Park - [Saint Joseph Peninsula State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/saint-joseph-peninsula-state-park) — Florida, US · State Park [View all places to see Eastern Beach Tiger Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/eastern-beach-tiger-beetle) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Eastern Beach Tiger Beetle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-beach-tiger-beetle)