# 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. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Northern Dune Tiger Beetle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cicindela_hybrida_2_Richard_Bartz.jpg&width=800) Photo: Richard Bartz , Munich aka Makro Freak, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cicindela_hybrida_2_Richard_Bartz.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Carabidae - **Genus:** Cicindela ## 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 - **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. - **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. - **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. - **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 - **Hunts:** [Black Garden Ant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-garden-ant) (*Lasius niger*) — Adult beetles actively hunt these common ants on sandy ground. - **Hunts:** House Fly (*Musca domestica*) — Flies are a swift source of protein for the quick-moving adults. - **Eaten by:** [House Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — Birds can snatch adult beetles, despite their speed and camouflage. - **Eaten by:** [Sand Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sand-lizard) (*Lacerta agilis*) — Lizards are a key predator of both adult and larval tiger beetles. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [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 very small and can be easily hurt. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Northern Dune 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 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 ## 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: [Northern Dune Tiger Beetle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-dune-tiger-beetle)