Description ³

Apparently scarce and local on Martha's Vineyard, if not extirpated; I've never seen it. Tim Simmons, in a personal communication, reports finding it in late June on the Vineyard. Reddish or greenish-bronze forewings and a partial, pale marginal band that extends inward as a broad triangle from the margin at the middle of the wing are the key field marks. A smallish tiger beetle, about 11-13 mm long. Associates with sandy, sparsely vegetated habitats such as dunes and blowouts. Highly variable across its extensive geographic range, with as many as seven fairly well-defined subspecies recognized. For more images, refer to bugguide.net, which has an extensive collection of records for our expected subspecies, Cicindela scutellaris lecontei.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Matt Pelikan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Pelikan
2. (c) Nick Block, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nick Block
3. (c) Matt Pelikan, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• BugGuide
• CUIC Insect Images
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0

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