bronzed tiger beetle

(Cicindela repanda)

Conservation Status
bronzed tiger beetle
Photo by Kirk Nelson
  IUCN Red List

not listed

 
  NatureServe

N5 - Secure

S5 - Secure

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
           
 
Description
 
 

Bronzed tiger beetle is a small tiger beetle. It is one of the most common species of tiger beetle in North America. Adults are to ½ long.

The hardened wing coverings (elytra) are dark brown with pale markings. They are widest beyond the middle. Between the bases of the elytra there is a small triangular plate (scutellum) that is visible when the beetle is viewed from above. The pale markings on the elytra are essential in identifying the species. The front area of the elytra (humeral region), closest to the head, has a crescent-shaped mark (linule) consisting of a dot at the forward outer corner (humerus), a posthumeral dot, and a curved marginal line connecting them. The humeral linule on each elytra points the one on the other elytra. The middle area (middle region) has a more or less S-shaped middle band and a marginal band. The middle band is complete, not broken into dots. The marginal band is connected to, or only narrowly removed from, the humeral linule. The rear area (apical region) has a linule consisting of a dot at the tip of the elytra, a subapical dot, and a curved marginal line connecting them.

The plate covering the thorax (pronotum) is dark brown, coppery tinged, and hairy. The front angle of the pronotum is rounded and does not conspicuously project forward. The pronotum is narrower than the head and narrower than the base of the elytra.

The eyes are large and bulging. The antennae are thread-like 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).

 
     
 

Size

 
 

to ½

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
 

Twelve-spotted tiger beetle (Cicindela duodecimguttata) front angle of the pronotum is angled, not rounded. The humeral linule is broken and is separated from the marginal line by a wide gap.

 
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Open, sunny, sandy, gravelly, or clay, sparsely vegetated areas adjacent to streams and rivers; beaches, sandbars, mud flats.

 
     
 
Biology
 
 

Season

 
 

March to July and August to October

 
     
 

Behavior

 
 

Adults are active during the day. They are fast runners.

 
     
 

Life Cycle

 
 

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 then sits on top of the burrow, anchors itself using a hook on the fifth abdominal segment, and waits for any insect unlucky enough to pass by. When it detects prey it seizes the insect, drags it to the bottom of the tunnel, and eats it there.

The bronzed tiger beetle lives about two years. The larva passes through three stages (instars) before it pupates. It overwinters the first year as a third instar, the second year as an adult. Adults emerge from the pupal stage in late summer and fall. Overwintering adults may survive into July or even August, overlapping the next generation.

 
     
 

Larva Food

 
 

Any insect the larva can get into its hole

 
     
 

Adult Food

 
 

Mostly insects but occasionally also fruit

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

24, 27, 29, 30, 82.

 
  8/27/2022      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common and abundant

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Order

Coleoptera (beetles)  
 

Suborder

Adephaga (Ground and Water Beetles)  
 

Superfamily

Caraboidea  
 

Family

Carabidae (ground beetles)  
 

Subfamily

Cicindelinae (tiger beetles)  
 

Tribe

Cicindelini (flashy tiger beetles)  
 

Genus

Cicindela (common tiger beetles)  
  Subgenus Cicindela  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

bronzed tiger beetle (Cicindela repanda repanda)

Nova Scotia tiger beetle (Cicindela repanda novascotiae)

Tanner’s tiger beetle (Cicindela repanda tanneri)

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

bronzed tiger beetle

common shore tiger beetle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Elytra

The hardened or leathery forewings of beetles used to protect the fragile hindwings, which are used for flying. Singular: elytron.

 

Linule

A crescent-shaped mark. On some tiger beetles (Cicindela spp.) an important identification mark.

 

Pronotum

The exoskeletal plate on the upper side of the first segment of the thorax of an insect.

 

Scutellum

The exoskeletal plate covering the rearward (posterior) part of the middle segment of the thorax in some insects. In Coleoptera, Hemiptera, and Homoptera, the dorsal, often triangular plate behind the pronotum and between the bases of the front wings. In Diptera, the exoskeletal plate between the abdomen and the thorax.

 

Tarsus

The last two to five sections of an insect’s leg, attached to the tibia; the foot. Plural: tarsi.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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Evin

 
 

It was found underneath a car seat cover on my car in my garage

 
    bronzed tiger beetle   bronzed tiger beetle  
 

Kirk Nelson

 
 

On the banks of the Mississippi River

 
    bronzed tiger beetle      
           
 

Seen on Picnic Island; fairly abundant

 
    bronzed tiger beetle      
           
 
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Other Videos
 
  Cicindela repanda repanda 1
Mathew Brust
 
   
 
About

Published on Apr 5, 2015

High densities of Cicindela repanda repanda at Box Butte Reservoir in Dawes County, Nebraska on April 4, 2015.

 
  Cicindela repanda repanda 2
Mathew Brust
 
   
 
About

Published on Apr 5, 2015

Cicindela repanda repanda at Box Butte Reservoir in Dawes County, Nebraska on April 5, 2015.

 
  Bronzed Tiger Beetle (Carabidae: Cicindela repanda) Caught in Web
Carl Barrentine
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Jul 11, 2009

Photographed at the Rydell NWR, Minnesota (11 July 2009).

 
  Bronzed Tiger Beetle (Carabidae: Cicindela repanda)
Carl Barrentine
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Apr 17, 2010

Anterior and lateral views of a Tiger Beetle. Photographed at the Rydell NWR, Minnesota (17 April 2010).

 

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this insect.

 
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  Evin
8/27/2022

Location: Sauk Rapids, MN

It was found underneath a car seat cover on my car in my garage

bronzed tiger beetle  
  Kirk Nelson
4/16/2016

Location: Hidden Falls Park; St Paul

On the banks of the Mississippi River

bronzed tiger beetle  
  Kirk Nelson
8/30/2015

Location: Fort Snelling State Park

Seen on Picnic Island; fairly abundant

bronzed tiger beetle  
           
 
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Created 9/1/2015

Last Updated:

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