six-spotted tiger beetle

not listed

N5 - Secure

S5 - Secure

not listed

Six-spotted tiger beetle is a small predaceous, tiger beetle. It may be the most common species of tiger beetle in eastern North America. Adults are ⅜″ to 9 ⁄16″ long.

The hardened wing covers (elytra) are shiny, iridescent, metallic green to bluish-green, occasionally greenish-blue or all blue. They are somewhat wider beyond the middle. There are usually three spots on each elytra: two lateral spots near the margin and a dash near the rear. There is usually an additional small spot on each elytra between the lateral spots in the middle of the elytra. There is rarely an additional small spot near the margin between the upper lateral spot and the front (humeral) angle. Occasionally, some or all white spots will be absent.

The plate covering the thorax (pronotum) is narrower than and the same color as the elytra.

The head at the eyes is as wide or wider than the pronotum. It is the same color as the elytra and pronotum. The eyes are large and bulging. The antennae are thread-like, have 11 segments, and are inserted above the base of the mandibles. The mouthpart between the mandibles (labrum), often likened to an upper lip, is small and has a single tooth.

The legs are long and slender. All legs have five end segments (tarsi).

Total length: ⅜″ to 9 ⁄16″

Adults and larval burrows are very often seen on paths in the woods. Six-spotted tiger beetle can be thought of as a woodland path species.

Open, sunny areas in deciduous and mixed woodlands; forest edges and openings; trails, dirt paths, fallen logs.

April to early July

The larva sits inside its burrow and waits for any insect unlucky enough to pass by. When it detects prey it pops out, seizes the insect, drags it to the bottom of the tunnel, and eats it there.

After mating the female digs a hole in the soil, deposits a single egg, then covers the hole. The egg hatches and the emergent larva burrows further into the soil creating a tunnel. It overwinters in the burrow, developing for about a year before pupating.

This beetle lives for almost five years. Adults overwinter in pupal burrows. Unlike most tiger beetles, six-spotted tiger beetle is seen mostly in the spring, rarely in the fall.

Any insect the larva can get into its hole

Small insects and spiders

Sources

7, 24, 27, 29, 30.

Very common

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle...

I wasn’t sure if this was a six-spotted tiger beetle until a specialist in the area (Val Cervenka) confirmed it was. I was informed the spots can vary from zero to eight. It was a small beetle maybe a half inch or just over that. It was quite an interesting looking little creature from the front face view. Came across it recently on a grassy part of a hiking trail near Twin Valley, Mn. It just kind of sat there briefly while I photographed it then took off.

Location: Eagles Bluff Park in La Crescent, MN

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota

Location: near Twin Valley, Mn

I wasn’t sure if this was a six-spotted tiger beetle until a specialist in the area (Val Cervenka) confirmed it was. I was informed the spots can vary from zero to eight. It was a small beetle maybe a half inch or just over that. It was quite an interesting looking little creature from the front face view. Came across it recently on a grassy part of a hiking trail near Twin Valley, Mn. It just kind of sat there briefly while I photographed it then took off.