Montana Field Guide

The following is taken from Wallis (1961), Willis (1966), Kippenhan (1994), Acorn (2001), and Pearson et al (2015). Body length is 11-13 mm. Above usually shiny coppery-red, some populations with purplish to black individuals and contrasting margins of bright green. White maculations are thick and complete, shoulder (humeral) maculation long but widely separated from the middle maculation, the middle maculation bent at a right angle that runs parallel to elytra outer margin. Elytra deeply punctate (pitted). Below is metallic green to blue. Forehead is hairy, labrum short with three teeth.

Tiger beetle life cycles fit two general categories based on adult activity periods. “Spring-fall” beetles emerge as adults in late summer and fall, then overwinter in burrows before emerging again in spring when mature and ready to mate and lay eggs. The life cycle may take 1-4 years. “Summer” beetles emerge as adults in early summer, then mate and lay eggs before dying. The life cycle may take 1-2 years, possibly longer depending on latitude and elevation (Kippenhan 1994, Knisley and Schultz 1997, and Leonard and Bell 1999). Adult Cicindela fulgida fulgida, a spring-fall species, typically April to June and July, and again August to October (Carter 1989, Kippenhan 1994, Acorn 2001, Larochelle and Larivière 2001, and Pearson et al. 2015). In Montana, adult C. fulgida present at least mid-May to June and mid-August to early September (Nate Kohler personal communication), but these records attributed to C. f. westbournei.

The following comes from Wallis (1961), Willis (1966), Knudsen (1985), Kippenhan (1994), Acorn (2001), and Pearson et al. (2015). The combination of smaller size, shiny elytra with thick and complete maculations, and occurrence on saline habitats help distinguish this from many other tiger beetles. Most similar to the Dark Saltflat Tiger Beetle (C. parowana) but that species does not occur in Montana nor do the two overlap in range, and C. parowana has a longer labrum (among other subtle differences). The Blowout Tiger Beetle (C. lengi) is larger, less shiny, and tends to occur in sandy habitats, not saline. The Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle (C. tranquebarica) is much larger, less polished looking, and the shoulder (humeral) maculation is much narrower at the shoulder. The middle maculation of C. f. fulgida bends at a right angle that is parallel to the edge of the elytra, rather than bent obliquely and angled away from the elytra margin as with C. f. pseudowillistoni; C. f. fulgida is slightly larger and more shiny and bright above than C. f. westbournei; ambiguous and inconsistent variation among geographical populations confound subspecies designations (see Willis 1966, Hooper 1969, Knudsen 1985, Kippenhan 1994, Acorn 2001, and Pearson et al. 2015).

Non-migratory but capable of dispersal. When wings fully developed (macropterous) it is a strong flier, fast runner, and very active (Larochelle and Larivière 2001).

Adult and larval tiger beetle habitat is essentially identical. The larvae live in soil burrows (Knisley and Schultz 1997). Across the range C. fulgida (including the nominate subspecies) associated with saline flats, alkaline soils (pH up to 8.5), dry mud flats, ditches, saline margins (wet or dry) of lakes, reservoirs, marshes, ponds, rivers, sand flats, in grasslands and prairies, always in presence of sparse short grass or small shrubs at edges of open areas (Vaurie 1950, Hooper 1969, Knisley 1984, Carter 1989, Kippenhan 1994, Acorn 2001, Larochelle and Larivière 2001, Kritsky and Smith 2005, and Pearson et al. 2015). In Montana, habitat where Cicindela fulgida encountered includes saline areas along roads, lake margins, reservoirs, to at least 2200 ft (650 m) elevation within range of C. f. fulgida (Vaurie 1950, Nate Kohler personal communication).

Larval and adult tiger beetles are predaceous. In general, both feed considerably on ants (Wallis 1961, Knisley and Schultz 1997). Adults can capture prey without the use of antennae or vision (Riggins and Hoback 2005). Diet of adult Cicindela fulgida fulgida in the field includes ants, acridid grasshoppers, other insects, spiders. In captivity both live and dead dipterans (fruit flies). Larval foods not described (Vaurie 1950, Larochelle and Larivière 2001, Riggins and Hoback 2005).

Larval tiger beetles live in burrows and molt through three instars to pupation, which also occurs in the larval burrow. Adults make shallow burrows in soil for overnight protection, deeper burrows for overwintering. Adults are sensitive to heat and light and are most active during sunny conditions. Excessive heat during midday on sunny days drives adults to seek shelter among vegetation or in burrows (Wallis 1961, Knisley and Schultz 1997). Most subspecies of Cicindela fulgida have a narrow range of ecological tolerance (stenotopic) with the exception of C. fulgida fulgida, which has a broad range of ecological tolerance (eurytopic) and the widest distribution of the subspecies. Larval burrows excavated among vegetation in vicinity of hummocks, along margins of small flats, and along sloping stream banks (Larochelle and Larivière 2001). Adults are diurnal and gregarious, very active beginning in early morning and especially so at midday but may remain motionless or in shade when soil temperature exceeds 30°C (Brosius and Higley 2013), and may hide in round holes in the ground or under alkaline crusts on rainy and cloudy days. Predators apparently not described but probably include asilid (robber) flies and various birds. Not especially wary, prefers to run rapidly when pursued, escape flights tend to be short and erratic (Vaurie 1950, Ferris 1969, and Larochelle and Larivière 2001). Associated tiger beetle species include C. (=Eunota) circumpicta, C. (=Ellipsoptera) marutha, C. (=Ellipsoptera) nevadica, C. (=Cicindelida) nigrocoerulea, C. (=Cicindelida) punctulate, C. repanda, C. (=Parvindela) terricola, C. (=Eunota) togata, and C. tranquebarica (Spomer and Higley 1993, Kippenhan 1994, Larochelle and Larivière 2001, and Pearson et al. 2015).

Life cycle of Cicindela fulgida fulgida is probably 2-3 years (Acorn 2001, and Pearson et al. 2015). Pairs noted in August (Vaurie 1950). Adult females oviposit while tunneling below the soil surface, depth of oviposition is not known. Larval burrows (second instar) about 13.0 cm deep, duration of larval stage unknown but probably 2 years in Alberta (Acorn 2001, Larochelle and Larivière 2001, and Brust et al. 2012). No information about reproductive characteristics of this or any other subspecies of Cicindela fulgida in Montana.

Not considered rare or in need of special conservation management (Knisley et al. 2014). Maintaining areas of open saline soils, which is tied to fluctuations in surface and subsurface water levels, is probably of most importance to all subspecies of Cicindela fulgida. Encroachment of open areas by native or exotic plants that invade saline soils might become a problem locally. Local disturbance could also be a problem for some populations where larval burrows are damaged or destroyed by trampling from livestock drawn to water sources, but grazing at appropriate times and stocking levels could also be beneficial by keeping vegetation cover more open (Knisley 2011).