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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Adephaga » Ground Beetles (Carabidae) » Tiger Beetles (Cicindelinae) » Flashy Tiger Beetles (Cicindelini) » Temperate Tiger Beetles (Cicindela) » Bronzed Tiger Beetle (Cicindela repanda)
Photo#443487
Which Tiger Beetle(s) please - Cicindela repanda
Copyright © 2010 Naomi Smith

Which Tiger Beetle(s) please - Cicindela repanda
Brighton, Northumberland, Ontario, Canada
August 1, 2010
I noticed a tussle on the ground, I found a male tiger beetle trying to mate with a female. I'm not sure but I don't think they are the same species. After rolling around for some time the female was able to free herself although she had a small hole that was oozing a liquid. The male returned shortly and tried again, another tussle ensued and the female suffered further damage. The male just walked away. I was surprised that neither insect actually attempted to fly away. Is this normal behaviour and can the beetles be ID'd?

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Which Tiger Beetle(s) please - Cicindela repanda Which Tiger Beetle(s) please - Cicindela repanda Which Tiger Beetle(s) please - Cicindela repanda
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Contributed by Naomi Smith on 17 August, 2010 - 2:01pm
Last updated 20 August, 2010 - 2:30pm

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Eric R. Eaton, 20 August, 2010 - 2:30pm login or register to post comments

Nope
Not hirticollis. You were right to suspect different species. This is actually pretty interesting. The male beetle on top is Cicindela punctulata, while the female is C. repanda. It seems there was a case of mistaken identity. The female beetles have a depression in the side of the thorax called the coupling sulcus which is shaped to match the mandibles of the males. Usually, this makes it easier for the females to dislodge males that are the wrong species. Looks like the overzealous punctulata caused some damage to her thorax.
… Ben Coulter, 17 August, 2010 - 7:20pm login or register to post comments

 
WOW, thank you all. Really
WOW, thank you all.
Really interesting.
Naomi
… Naomi Smith, 18 August, 2010 - 10:10pm login or register to post comments

Cicindela hirticollis
Hairy necked tiger beetles. Indeed, trying to mate. Successfuly by the looks of it (see the orange 'bit'). Same species, males are colored differently. The process is often traumatic to the female.
… Kira, 17 August, 2010 - 2:57pm login or register to post comments

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