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Northern Dune Tiger Beetle

Cicindela hybrida

The Northern Dune Tiger Beetle is a shiny, fast bug that loves to run on sandy beaches and dunes. Its bright colors help it blend in with the sand while it hunts for food.

Habitat: Coastal areas

Appearance

The Northern Dune Tiger Beetle has an elongated, iridescent body that can appear green, blue, or copper, often with creamy-yellow markings along its wing covers. It features very large, prominent eyes and powerful sickle-shaped jaws. Its long, slender legs are built for incredible speed on sandy surfaces.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderColeopteraFamilyCarabidaeGenusCicindela
Northern Dune Tiger Beetle
solitary trait badgecolorful trait badgeambush_predator trait badgecoastal trait badge
Northern Dune Tiger Beetle

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Its shimmering colours help it blend into sandy or pebbly habitats, making it hard to spot.

Their powerful jaws are like tiny, sharp pincers, perfect for catching and holding onto insects.

This beetle is so speedy, it often has to stop running for a moment to 'see' where it's going!

Tiger beetle larvae are also fierce hunters, waiting patiently in their burrows to surprise prey!

Special abilities

Ability

Supersonic Sprint

Northern Dune Tiger Beetles can run incredibly fast, up to 2.5 meters per second, because of their long legs that help them chase down prey.

Ability

Hyper-Vision

Northern Dune Tiger Beetles have huge, compound eyes that help them spot tiny prey and avoid predators with a wide field of view.

Ability

Ambush Hunter Larvae

Northern Dune Tiger Beetle larvae can hide in sand burrows with hooked abdomens, snapping at prey that passes by with strong jaws.

Ability

Blinding Speed

Northern Dune Tiger Beetles can run so fast they temporarily go blind, having to pause to reorient themselves and find their prey.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
25-35 mm
Size
11-15 mm
Lifespan
60-120 days
Flight Speed
10 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

These speedy hunters love to eat other small insects found on the ground.

Age differences: Larvae are ambush predators, waiting in burrows; adults are active pursuit hunters on the surface.

Primary Foods

  • ants
  • small flies
  • spiders
  • small caterpillars
  • aphids

Foraging Method

  • Pursuit

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Be gentle and watch where you step, as these little beetles are very small and can be easily hurt.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Northern Dune Tiger Beetle's wingspan?

25-35 mm

How big is Northern Dune Tiger Beetle?

11-15 mm

How long does Northern Dune Tiger Beetle live?

60-120 days

How fast can Northern Dune Tiger Beetle fly?

10 km/h

What does Northern Dune Tiger Beetle eat?

These speedy hunters love to eat other small insects found on the ground.

Where is Northern Dune Tiger Beetle usually found?

Coastal areas

How does Northern Dune Tiger Beetle hunt?

Pursuit

How many legs does Northern Dune Tiger Beetle have?

6

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