Tiger Beetle Monitoring

Tiger beetles are considered to be one of the fastest land insects in the world, with 21 species found in Ohio and 7 species identified in the Metroparks as follows: Big sand (Cicindela formosa generosa) (uncommon);  Festive (Cicindela scutellans lecontei) (uncommon);  Six-spotted tiger beetle (Cicindela sexguttata)(common); Punctured tiger beetle (Cicindela punctulata) (common); Bronzed tiger beetle (Cicindela repanda) (uncommon); Ghost tiger beetle (Ellipsoptera lepida)(rare); Northern barrens tiger beetle (Cicindela patruela)(rare).  As more insects are being used as bio indicators for conservation, tiger beetles meet the bio-indicator criteria in a big way. Many of our uncommon and rare Metropark species are found in the sand barrens of the Oak Openings Region. The adults feed on all types of insect prey, as well as other tiger beetles. They are “fluid” feeders and secrete digestive juices into prey for pre-digestion.