Glad you like them!

Hey Chris, this is easily the coolest picture I've ever seen of a larval tiger beetle head. Nice work! - Dan

Thanks, Will! See in the remarks section of the photo for details on how I took the photo.

Will said.
These are great images.

Jeff!

I've never been able to find these guys, even though I live next to an area thats full of the adults.

Take a look at the section at the bottom of this page. I have found digging up the larva is the easiest method. Stick a blade of grass down the burrow and make sure it is all the way down. Then you can start digging, just be careful not to smash the larva. Follow the blade of grass down and you will find the larva. If you want took take photos in the field, set up a tripod so the camera is focused on the burrow. You will have the say very still and wait a few minutes. The larva will probably come up to the top of the burrow and you can get a photo.

When I was a child, the following method was quite effective for catching "Doodle-bugs". Select a smooth, thin grass stem several inches long. Lower it gently into the burrow, and wait a bit. If the burrow is occupied, the owner will start pushing it out. After the stem has moved upward a few inches, with a slightly brisk motion, retrieve the stem. If the speed was right, the larva will still be attached to the stem. They appeared to be uninjured and will return to the burrow if placed close to it.
Gayle