# Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle (*Cicindela tranquebarica*) The Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle is a colorful insect with shiny, greenish bodies and striking white lines. They are fast runners and love to chase after their food, which includes small insects. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Sandy areas ![Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cicindela_tranquebarica.jpg&width=800) Photo: JerryFriedman, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cicindela_tranquebarica.jpg) ## Appearance The Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle has an iridescent metallic body, often coppery, green, or bronzed. It features distinctive pale, slanted (oblique) lines on each dark wing cover, making it easy to identify from other ground beetles. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Carabidae - **Genus:** Cicindela ## Interesting facts - Its eyes are massive, helping it spot tiny prey from a distance. - Its larvae live in burrows, surprising prey that walks past! - Some tiger beetles hold the record for the fastest insect runners on Earth! - When it runs, it moves so fast it can temporarily "outrun" its own vision! ## Special abilities - **Lightning Sprint:** Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle can run at incredible speeds because of its long, powerful legs that help them chase prey. - **Iridescent Armor:** Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle has shimmering colors that help them blend perfectly into sandy habitats, avoiding detection by predators. - **Ambush Master:** Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle can quickly snatch prey because of its razor-sharp mandibles and rapid reflexes. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 20-30 mm - **Size:** 10-14 mm - **Lifespan:** 60-120 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding This speedy beetle hunts small insects and spiders, making it a tiny but mighty predator! - **Age differences:** Larvae are also predatory, ambushing prey from burrows in the soil. - **Primary Foods:** Ants, Flies, Caterpillars, Spiders, Small beetles - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Silky Ant (*Formica fusca*) — A common ant often captured by adult beetles. - **Hunts:** House Fly (*Musca domestica*) — A readily available food source for speedy adults. - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — A common bird predator of ground-dwelling insects. - **Eaten by:** Northern Leopard Frog (*Lithobates pipiens*) — Can snatch adult beetles from the ground. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [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. - [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 your step when exploring their habitats, so you don't accidentally hurt them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Oblique-lined 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 Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle's wingspan? 20-30 mm ### How big is Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle? 10-14 mm ### How long does Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle live? 60-120 days ### How fast can Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle fly? 15 km/h ### What does Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle eat? This speedy beetle hunts small insects and spiders, making it a tiny but mighty predator! ### Where is Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle usually found? Sandy areas ### How does Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Lake Missoula](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-missoula) — Montana, US · Natural Landmark - [Dundy County Courthouse](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dundy-county-courthouse) — Nebraska, US · Historic Site - [Long Point Wildlife Refuge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/long-point-wildlife-refuge) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Beaver Creek Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/beaver-creek-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/oblique-lined-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: [Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/oblique-lined-tiger-beetle)