- Aquatic Biomes
- Range length
- 13 to 15 mm
- 0.51 to 0.59 in
Female tiger beetles lay eggs individually into small depressions that are later enlarged into burrows by the larvae as they mature, passing through three larval stages, or instars. The pupal stage occurs following the third instar. The larvae are responsible for digging a pupal chamber adjacent to the burrow. The larva will lie on its back and gradually lose mobility in its appendages; eventually its exoskeleton will become a translucent and creamy-white pupa. The pupal stage usually lasts 18-24 days, during which time the pupa becomes darker. The adult (Drees Ph.D. and Jackman Ph.D., 1998; Dunn, 1998a; Dunn, 1998b)emerges through a slight hole in the dorsal portion of the pupal case, a process which requires two hours to complete.
- Development - Life Cycle
Mating occurs on warm, humid days. Female tiger beetles lay eggs individually into small depressions that will later be enlarged into burrows by the larvae as it matures. Tiger beetles are only known to produce one generation per year. (Drees Ph.D. and Jackman Ph.D., 1998; Dunn, 1998a; Dunn, 1998b)
Female tiger beetles have sensitive hairs on their abdomens that detect moisture content in the soil. Appropriate soil conditions are essential to larval survival and development, so these hairs play a major role in the females selection of where to oviposit her eggs. (Drees Ph.D. and Jackman Ph.D., 1998; Dunn, 1998a; Dunn, 1998b; Grzimek, 1972)
After oviposition, there is no further known parental investment.
- Parental Investment
Communication and Perception
This species detects is surroundings visually, and through ground vibrations.
- Communication Channels
- Other Communication Modes
Larvae wait in their burrows to ambush passing prey; their wide head helping to disguise the opening of their burrow. They will usually eat their prey at the bottom of the burrow unless it is too large to fit down the hole. A first instar larva needs at least one meal in order to molt into its second instar. Because instars two and three of require several meals during their development, serious competition for food develops between individuals whose burrows are close to one another. The larvae have adapted to this by having a long developmental period and an ability to feed over a twenty-four hour time period. (Dunn, 1998a; Dunn, 1998b)
- Animal Foods
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
- Positive Impacts
- controls pest population
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
have no negative affect on humans unless they are mishandled, in which case they tend to bite.
- Negative Impacts
- bites or stings
Populations ofare in no danger and have no special status.
Sara Diamond (author), Animal Diversity Web.
Bryan Crane (author), Southwestern University, Stephanie Fabritius (editor), Southwestern University.
living in the Nearctic biogeographic province, the northern part of the New World. This includes Greenland, the Canadian Arctic islands, and all of the North American as far south as the highlands of central Mexico.
- bilateral symmetry
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.
an animal that mainly eats meat
Found in coastal areas between 30 and 40 degrees latitude, in areas with a Mediterranean climate. Vegetation is dominated by stands of dense, spiny shrubs with tough (hard or waxy) evergreen leaves. May be maintained by periodic fire. In South America it includes the scrub ecotone between forest and paramo.
the nearshore aquatic habitats near a coast, or shoreline.
- desert or dunes
in deserts low (less than 30 cm per year) and unpredictable rainfall results in landscapes dominated by plants and animals adapted to aridity. Vegetation is typically sparse, though spectacular blooms may occur following rain. Deserts can be cold or warm and daily temperates typically fluctuate. In dune areas vegetation is also sparse and conditions are dry. This is because sand does not hold water well so little is available to plants. In dunes near seas and oceans this is compounded by the influence of salt in the air and soil. Salt limits the ability of plants to take up water through their roots.
- active during the day, 2. lasting for one day.
animals which must use heat acquired from the environment and behavioral adaptations to regulate body temperature
union of egg and spermatozoan
Referring to a burrowing life-style or behavior, specialized for digging or burrowing.
having a body temperature that fluctuates with that of the immediate environment; having no mechanism or a poorly developed mechanism for regulating internal body temperature.
the state that some animals enter during winter in which normal physiological processes are significantly reduced, thus lowering the animal's energy requirements. The act or condition of passing winter in a torpid or resting state, typically involving the abandonment of homoiothermy in mammals.
An animal that eats mainly insects or spiders.
- internal fertilization
fertilization takes place within the female's body
A large change in the shape or structure of an animal that happens as the animal grows. In insects, "incomplete metamorphosis" is when young animals are similar to adults and change gradually into the adult form, and "complete metamorphosis" is when there is a profound change between larval and adult forms. Butterflies have complete metamorphosis, grasshoppers have incomplete metamorphosis.
having the capacity to move from one place to another.
- native range
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
reproduction in which eggs are released by the female; development of offspring occurs outside the mother's body.
offspring are all produced in a single group (litter, clutch, etc.), after which the parent usually dies. Semelparous organisms often only live through a single season/year (or other periodic change in conditions) but may live for many seasons. In both cases reproduction occurs as a single investment of energy in offspring, with no future chance for investment in reproduction.
reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female
that region of the Earth between 23.5 degrees North and 60 degrees North (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle) and between 23.5 degrees South and 60 degrees South (between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle).
Living on the ground.
movements of a hard surface that are produced by animals as signals to others
uses sight to communicate
Arnett, Jr. Ph.D., R. 1985. American Insects: A handbook of the insects of America north of Mexico. New York, New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company.
Drees Ph.D., B., J. Jackman Ph.D.. 1998. A Field Guide to Common Texas Insects. Houston, Texas: Gulf Publishing Company.
Dunn, G. 1998. "Biology of Tiger Beetles" (On-line). Accessed April 18, 2001 at http://members.aol.com/YESedu/biology.html.
Dunn, G. 1998. "Ecology of Tiger Beetles" (On-line). Accessed April 18, 2001 at http://members.aol.com/YESedu/ecologyt.html.
Grzimek, B. 1972. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia Vol. 2: Insects. New York, New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company.
O' Toole, C. 1986. The Encyclopedia of Insects. New York, New York: Facts on File Publications.