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Cicindela sexguttata
These brilliant green tiger beetles have large white, forked mandibles. Many have six white spots on their eyltra (wing covers), but many lack all spots.
I find these insects in sandy, sunny areas and on dappled forest paths.
These tiger beetles are aggressive predators. They are strong fliers and fast runners. I've watched them chase down ants and attack them, the ants sometimes win the struggle and escape, but some do not. The mandibles on these beetles look like inter-meshed whitetail deer antlers.
Spotted on Jun 28, 2009
Submitted on Apr 5, 2011
4 Comments
Thanks Gordon for sharing... details about spotting...!!
Yeah, they are pretty common here as well, but they are fast and alert. They've got great eyesight and any movement will send them flying. Fortunately, they usually don't go far and where you find one, there will generally be others. Capturing the color is hard; tends to go dark in a photograph.
He is so cute one...!!
you really captured their brilliant metallic colors
it is common to see them in yard in maine during the summer
it is hard to watch them because they fly away so fast