Insect · GBIF taxon 1034887
Six-spotted Tiger Beetle
Cicindela sexguttataAlso known as Six-Spotted Green Tiger Beetle
Six-spotted tiger beetles flash metallic emerald green as they sprint across sunlit woodland paths in pursuit of small invertebrates. Equipped with bulging compound eyes and sickle-shaped mandibles, these ferocious sun-loving predators hunt by sight and frequently take short flights when startled. Larvae dwell in vertical soil burrows, snapping up passing prey from their hidden ambush tunnels.
IridescentDiurnalPredator
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Ants
- Caterpillars
- Spiders
Predators
- Songbirds
- Robber flies
- Spiders
ThreatsInsecticide use, forest trail compaction, habitat loss
HabitatsDeciduous woodlands, forest trails, sunny glades, clearings
Life span3–4 years (including larval phase)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderColeoptera
- FamilyCarabidae
- GenusCicindela
- SpeciesCicindela sexguttata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Approach slowly: Walk quietly on sunny trails, as these quick beetles take flight if approached suddenly.
- Look on sunlit paths: Scan warm dirt or gravel forest paths in spring where adults bask and hunt.
- Watch for short flights: Observe how they land a few meters ahead along the trail, facing you to watch.
Close Relative Mdf / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
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