The puritan tiger beetle is a predatory beetle that is a member of the family of ground beetles. It is notable for being an endangered species, to the point that conservation efforts have been started to save them.
Size: 11-14 mm
Color: It is white and shiny, with elytra that are dark bronze-brown to green and have
cream-colored markings.
Other Characteristic Features: These beetles have white hairs on their undercol3s. It has an elongated and thin body, with long legs.
They are 8.4 mm long and go through three instars before maturing into an adult. To catch prey, they burrow themselves into the ground, leaving only their heads in the open to catch prey with their large mandibles.
When they become fully mature, the larva proceeds to pupate.
After breeding, females lay the eggs on cliffs along sandy surfaces among scattered plants. They take about a week to develop and hatch between July and August.
| Lifespan | 2 years |
| Distribution | Native: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maryland At present: Chesapeake Bay and along the Connecticut River |
| Habitat | Sand and clay deposits along rivers |
| Seasons active | July – August |
| Diet of adults | Flies, fleas, lice, arthropods found on beaches, and certain amphipods |
These beetles are not harmful and cause no damage as they are predatory.
Image Source: objects.liquidweb.services, bugguide.net, cff2.earth.com, livingwithinsects.files.wordpress.com
The puritan tiger beetle is a predatory beetle that is a member of the family of ground beetles. It is notable for being an endangered species, to the point that conservation efforts have been started to save them.
Size: 11-14 mm
Color: It is white and shiny, with elytra that are dark bronze-brown to green and have
cream-colored markings.
Other Characteristic Features: These beetles have white hairs on their undercol3s. It has an elongated and thin body, with long legs.
They are 8.4 mm long and go through three instars before maturing into an adult. To catch prey, they burrow themselves into the ground, leaving only their heads in the open to catch prey with their large mandibles.
When they become fully mature, the larva proceeds to pupate.
After breeding, females lay the eggs on cliffs along sandy surfaces among scattered plants. They take about a week to develop and hatch between July and August.
| Lifespan | 2 years |
| Distribution | Native: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maryland At present: Chesapeake Bay and along the Connecticut River |
| Habitat | Sand and clay deposits along rivers |
| Seasons active | July – August |
| Diet of adults | Flies, fleas, lice, arthropods found on beaches, and certain amphipods |
These beetles are not harmful and cause no damage as they are predatory.
Image Source: objects.liquidweb.services, bugguide.net, cff2.earth.com, livingwithinsects.files.wordpress.com
