Other Common Names
Virginia Big-headed Tiger Beetle
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Megacephala virginica
Identification
Adult Tetracha virginica is easy to recognize, as its elytra are entirely green, lacking the apical tan marks of the other three species.
Differentiation of larvae of T. virginica vs. T. carolina may be possible. Quoting from Hamilton
(2)*
Diameter of ocellus 2 slightly greater than the distance between ocelli 1 and 2; pronotum less than four millimeters in width, color of pronotum a dark purple; secondary setae on abdomen not numerous and found only on the chitinized areas--carolina
Diameter of ocellus 2 slightly less than the distance between ocelli 1 and 2; pronotum 4.5 mm. or more in width, color a dark purplish bronze with a green reflection; secondary setae on abdomen numerous and found between as well as upon the chitinized areas--virginica
Designation of
ocelli (simple eyes)
(2) (technically
stemmata):
Ocellus 1 is large, conical and quite prominent and is on the dorsocaudal part of the head (one red dot on diagram).
Ocellus 2 is similar to ocellus 1 and is located cephalad on the dorsolateral part of the head (two red dots on diagram).
*Note that this key was written before the description of T. floridana.
See detail image of head:
Habitat
open grassy areas & at edges of lakes/rivers; common in suburban areas
(1)Season
Jul-Aug in the north, Mar-Nov in the south
(1)Remarks
flightless, nocturnal; comes to lights
(1)
