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Photo#60476
tiger beetle - Cicindela sexguttata

tiger beetle - Cicindela sexguttata
Dallas County, Iowa, USA
Seems to match the general description of Cicindela sexguttata, but lacks the six conspicuous white spots that other photos seem to show clearly. I have this photo and a badly overexposed side photo. The beetle was numerous and would go on sidewalks and bare wood. I never observed white spots or markings of any kind on the beetles, but they were this brilliant green color. Although common in early June they are totally gone now.

Images of this individual: tag all
tiger beetle - Cicindela sexguttata tiger beetle - Cicindela sexguttata

Tiger Beetle
It looks like this is mostly seen in Kansas, just wanted to say I see this in Northbridge, MA today for the first time. It is unusual?

 
can happen anywhere
There is a lot of variation in most sexguttata populations and you can find completely spotless specimens in any part of sexguttata's range. However, it is much more common to see this in the midwestern (and also southeastern) parts of the species distribution, where most individuals may be unmarked.

Moved
Moved from Cicindela.

Yep, Cicindela sexguttata
From what I've read, populations of sexguttata in the plains are often completely unmarked.

http://entomology.unl.edu/nebraska_tigers/Csexguttata_home.htm

 
exactly
You're exactly right about that, Ben. "six spotted" is accurate a lot of the time, but really misleading in some parts of the range (and they can have more than 6 spots as well). - Dan

Moved
Moved from Beetles.

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I've seen similar
I've seen similar tiger beetles in Kansas that otherwise match C. sexguttata, but lacked the spots, I couldn't identify mine either. Maybe its a plains subspecies... "C. sexguttata nada" ;-)

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