Northeastern beach tiger beetles mate in late June-August on sandy beaches. (Gene Nieminen/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
The northeastern beach tiger beetle is a tiny, sand-colored beetle that lives on sandy beaches throughout the middle and lower Chesapeake Bay.
Appearance:
Mostly sand-colored body
Shiny, bronze or greenish head and chest
White or light tan wing covers, often marked with fine, dark lines
Grows less than 1 inch long
Habitat:
Lives on light, sandy beaches
Active along the water’s edge during warm, sunny summer days
Range:
Lives along parts of the middle and lower Chesapeake Bay, from the Patuxent River to the mouth of the Bay
Feeding:
Feeds near the water’s edge
Aggressively preys upon flies, fleas and amphipods
Will also eat dead crabs and fish that wash up on the beach
Predators:
Larvae are preyed upon by parasitic, ant-like wasps, which paralyze the larvae and lay their eggs on them
Reproduction and Life Cycle:
Mates in late June-August
Females lay their eggs in the sand just above the high tide mark
Eggs hatch in late July-August
Larvae live in vertical burrows in the sand. They keep their head at a right angle at the burrow entrance to camouflage it and watch for prey.
Larvae have two hooks on their abdomen. They dig the hooks into the sides of their burrow so they won’t be pulled out of the burrow when they latch on to prey.
Larvae molt and burrow deeper as they develop into adults. They usually leave the burrow approximately two years after they hatched.
Other Facts:
Also known as the white beach tiger beetle
It is difficult to get close to tiger beetles. When approached, they will quickly fly away.
Classified as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act. Tiger beetles have lost habitat due to development, population growth and increased beach use.
