Tiger beetle - Cicindela bellissima

Thanks everyone--

I guess three votes for the same species is good enough to move it to the species page!

… Charley Eiseman, 12 August, 2008 - 1:19pm

Cicindela bellissima

I have specimens from dunes in coastal Oregon and they look just like this.

… Skip Blanchard, 12 August, 2008 - 1:12pm

Try Cicindela tenuicincta

It is listed for Oregon and that looks like it has the U shaped middle band to me. It would be a new species for this site, I believe. Await confirmation from someone who knows the Oregon fauna.

… Harry Zirlin, 12 August, 2008 - 12:17pm

I would be more inclined to g

I would be more inclined to go with Cicindela bellissima. The color and maculations are quite right for C. tenuicincta.

… Dennis Haines, 12 August, 2008 - 12:33pm

Thank you both

It's hard for me to tell which colors/markings are species differences vs. variation among individuals, but this certainly looks similar to the C. bellissima examples on BugGuide. Let me know if there are any diagnostic features that might be visible in a photograph--I have several other shots of this individual.

… Charley Eiseman, 12 August, 2008 - 1:05pm

C. bellissima has the first m

C. bellissima has the first maculation angling toward the center without any kind of widening at the tip. The second maculation does not present with a prominent "elbow", but is more rounded at the bend. The elytral color is either bright copper brown or green.

C. tenuicincta has the first maculation angling toward the center with a widened tip that is "arrowhead" shaped. The second maculation presents with a distinct elbow. The elytral color is dark brown to black.

Yours definitely fits better in C. bellissima.

… Dennis Haines, 12 August, 2008 - 3:16pm

Belissima

Right, that is a better fit. Dunes habitat is right as well.

… Harry Zirlin, 12 August, 2008 - 1:13pm