Friday 7 September 2012

Green tiger beetle



The Green tiger beetle is our commonest and arguably most spectacular tiger beetle. However this is the first one I've found within 20 miles of my house, probably due to the fact that we are surrounded by fields, hedgerows and deciduous forest when their preferred habitat is open, sandy, heath. Fast, with big eyes and bigger mandibles an adult tiger beetle is the worst nightmare of pretty much every invertebrate it comes across. The larva are no less ferocious, maggot like creatures with a heavily armoured head and powerful jaws, they lie in wait at the bottom of pitfall traps (often dug on paths) waiting for any insect foolish enough to stumble over the rim.


 Adult Tiger beetles are active for most of the summer, They overwinter as larva.


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