# Western Tiger Beetle (*Cicindela oregona*) The Western Tiger Beetle is a shiny, fast bug with beautiful green and blue colors. They love to run around in sunny places and are great at catching their food! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Sandy areas ![Western Tiger Beetle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cicindela_oregona.jpg&width=800) Photo: user:pompilid, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cicindela_oregona.jpg) ## Appearance The Western Tiger Beetle is a slender insect with a metallic body that gleams green, bronze, or coppery. It often has distinctive cream or yellow markings on its wing covers. Its large, bulging eyes and prominent, sickle-shaped mandibles set it apart. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Carabidae - **Genus:** Cicindela ## Interesting facts - Its larvae are fierce ambush predators, digging burrows to surprise passing prey. - They are part of a group with over 2,600 species, found nearly worldwide! - This beetle sometimes pauses while running because its brain can't keep up with its leg speed! - Tiger beetles are considered bioindicators, meaning their presence can show a habitat's health. ## Special abilities - **Blazing Pursuit:** Western Tiger Beetle can run incredibly fast, reaching up to 9 km/h, because of powerful legs that help them chase down quick prey. - **Eagle Eyes:** Western Tiger Beetle has large, bulging compound eyes that help them spot tiny moving insects from a distance. - **Grasping Jaws:** Western Tiger Beetle has strong, sharp mandibles that help them quickly capture and crush their insect prey. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 25-32 mm - **Size:** 12-16 mm - **Lifespan:** 60-120 days - **Flight Speed:** 20 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These speedy hunters are insectivores, mostly eating small bugs they catch with their powerful jaws. - **Age differences:** Larvae are ambush predators from burrows; adults are free-ranging pursuit hunters. - **Primary Foods:** flies, ants, small caterpillars, aphids, spiders - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [fruit fly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fruit-fly) (*Drosophila melanogaster*) — Adult beetles actively pursue. - **Hunts:** silky ant (*Formica fusca*) — Common prey item for adults. - **Eaten by:** [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) — A common predator in its range. - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Birds can snatch these beetles. ## 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. - [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 careful not to touch insects, as they can be delicate. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Western 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 Western Tiger Beetle's wingspan? 25-32 mm ### How big is Western Tiger Beetle? 12-16 mm ### How long does Western Tiger Beetle live? 60-120 days ### How fast can Western Tiger Beetle fly? 20 km/h ### What does Western Tiger Beetle eat? These speedy hunters are insectivores, mostly eating small bugs they catch with their powerful jaws. ### Where is Western Tiger Beetle usually found? Sandy areas ### How does Western Tiger Beetle hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Lake Missoula](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-missoula) — Montana, US · Natural Landmark - [Charbonneau Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/charbonneau-park) — Washington, US · Park - [Iona Beach Regional Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/iona-beach-regional-park) — British Columbia, CA · Park - [Moyie Lake Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/moyie-lake-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Cowichan River Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cowichan-river-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Kikomun Creek Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kikomun-creek-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see Western Tiger Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/western-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: [Western Tiger Beetle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-tiger-beetle)