Bug Identifier
Six-spotted Tiger Beetle
Community identification

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

Cicindela sexguttata

Order & Family
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Carabidae
Size
10 to 14 millimeters (roughly 0.5 inches)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Open deciduous forests, woodland edges, and sunny paths or rocky areas

Diet & Feeding

Carnivorous; it preys on small insects, spiders, and arthropods by chasing them down.

Behavior Patterns

Diurnal, active during the day. Known for being extremely fast runners and agile fliers that often take short flights when startled. Larvae live in vertical burrows and ambush passing prey.

Risks & Benefits

No significant risk to humans, though they can nip if handled. They are beneficial to the ecosystem as natural pest controllers because they eat many small garden and forest insects.