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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Ground and Water Beetles (Adephaga) » Ground Beetles (Carabidae) » Tiger Beetles (Cicindelinae) » Big-headed Tiger Beetles (Megacephalini) » Metallic Tiger Beetles (Tetracha) » Carolina Metallic Tiger Beetle (Tetracha carolina)

Species Tetracha carolina - Carolina Metallic Tiger Beetle

Classification · Other Common Names · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Remarks · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Carolina Tiger Beelte - Tetracha carolina

Carolina tiger beetle - Tetracha carolina

Tetracha at black light, dorsal view - Tetracha carolina

Megacephala carolina - Tetracha carolina

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Adephaga (Ground and Water Beetles)

Family Carabidae (Ground Beetles)

Subfamily Cicindelinae (Tiger Beetles)

Tribe Megacephalini (Big-headed Tiger Beetles)

Genus Tetracha (Metallic Tiger Beetles)

Species carolina (Carolina Metallic Tiger Beetle)

Other Common Names

Pan-American Big-headed Tiger Beetle

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Megacephala carolina

Numbers

Formerly considered to contain two subspecies: carolina and floridana. A recent (2007) revision of the genus gives floridana status as a full species--see discussion and guide page for genus Tetracha.

Size

body length 12-20 mm

Identification

dorsal surface glossy metallic green, often mixed with red or purple; large cream-colored spots (apical lunules) at apex of elytra

Range

Southern United States. In southeast: Virginia to Florida, Arkansas, Louisiana. Perhaps absent from Appalachians, though Brimley (1) reports it from Asheville, North Carolina. Also found in southwest, west to California.

Habitat

Sandbanks of rivers, pastures, open, disturbed areas. Often found near water. Nocturnal, found under boards, rocks, trash, etc. during day.

Season

Noted July-October (North Carolina)

Food

Predatory

Remarks

Nocturnal. Comes to lights. Apparently, does not fly often.

See Also

Virginia Tiger Beetle (Tetracha virginica) lacks pale spots at apex of elytra

Print References

Brimley, p. 113--Tetracha carolina (1)

Dillon, p. 50, plate VI--Tetracha carolina (2)

Choate, pp. 62-63, plates 55-58, 176-177 (3)

Internet References

Dr. Jay--Louisiana

Clemson Univ.

Tiger Beetles of Florida

Giff Beaton--Georgia

Illustrated Key to Florida Tiger Beetles--pdf file

pinned adult images by John Riggins, plus description, habitat, seasonality, habits, US distribution map (Tiger Beetles of United States; USGS)

Works Cited

1.	Insects of North Carolina By C.S. Brimley

2.	A Manual of Common Beetles of Eastern North America By Dillon, Elizabeth S., and Dillon, Lawrence

3.	Tiger Beetles: A Field Guide and Identification Manual for Florida and Eastern U.S. By Paul Merrill Choate

Contributed by Cotinis on 23 January, 2005 - 10:00am
Additional contributions by Robin McLeod, TCMacRae
Last updated 25 October, 2009 - 3:32pm

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