
Community identification
Six-spotted Tiger Beetle
Cicindela sexguttata
- Order & Family
- Coleoptera: Carabidae
- Size
- 10 to 14 mm (0.4 to 0.5 inches)
Natural Habitat
Open deciduous forests, forest edges, and sunlit paths or sidewalks throughout eastern North America.
Diet & Feeding
Predaceous; it feeds on a variety of small arthropods including ants, spiders, and flies by using large mandibles.
Behavior Patterns
Active during the day (diurnal), these beetles are fast runners and agile fliers that often take short flights ahead of humans. They are found from spring to early summer.
Risks & Benefits
Benefits the ecosystem as a natural pest controller by preying on smaller insects; however, they can deliver a small, painful bite to humans if handled roughly.