Green tiger beetle  (Cicindela campestris)

Not threatened (2).

This species is the commonest British tiger beetle (2). All tiger beetles are long-legged and fast-running. When disturbed they make fast, buzzing short flights (3). Adults are a beautiful iridescent green in colour with yellowish spots on the elytra or wing cases. Their large eyes and mandibles belie the fact that these beetles are superb predators (4).

This beetle is widespread and common in many parts of Britain (1). It has a wide Eurasian range, and is found from Europe across Siberia to the Pacific Ocean (4).

This tiger beetle is always found in sunny sites (1). It occurs in areas with bare ground and little vegetation such as sandy heaths and hillsides, and raised bogs. It is associated with well-draining soils (4).

The adults can be seen from April until September (2). Both adults and larvae are fearsome predators of other invertebrates. The larvae dig pits, typically on pathways, in order to create a pitfall trap (4).

This species is not threatened.

Conservation action is not required for this species (4).

For more on invertebrates and their conservation see Buglife, the invertebrate conservation trust:
http://www.buglife.org.uk/

• Elytra: in beetles and earwigs, the hard fore wings. They are held aloft when the insect flies, and are often coloured or patterned.
• Larvae: stage in an animal’s lifecycle after it hatches from the egg. Larvae are typically very different in appearance to adults; they are able to feed and move around but usually are unable to reproduce.

1. National Biodiversity Network Species Dictionary (January2004): http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nbn
2. Harde, K.W. (2000) Beetles. Silverdale Books, Leicester.
3. Chinery. M. (1993) Insects of Britain and Northern Europe. Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, London.
4. The ground beetles of Ireland (January 2004): http://www.ulstermuseum.org.uk/carabids/7122.html