Montana Field Guide

The following is taken from Pearson et al. (2015). The body length is 12-15 mm. Above red to reddish-brown (dark maroon, green, blue, or black also in Canada). Maculations wide and often connected along margins of elytra, the front (shoulder) maculation angles away from margin in a straight line with no hook at posterior end. Underside of abdomen metallic green to blue-green with dense white hairs, thorax distinctly coppery and contrasting with the metallic green or bluish-green abdomen. Color variants may tend to match ancestral soil color (Acorn 2001).

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 (Criddle 1907, Kippenhan 1994, Knisley and Schultz 1997, Leonard and Bell 1999). Adult C. lengi versuta is a spring-fall species, April to October but mostly May to July, with stragglers September to October (Criddle 1907, Carter 1989, Kippenhan 1994, Acorn 2001, Larochelle and Larivière 2001, Pearson et al. 2015). In Montana, adults appear by at least mid-May, again August to mid-September (Nate Kohler personal communication).

The following largely comes from Pearson et al. (2015). Differs from the similarly colored and sometimes sympatric Big Sand Tiger Beetle (C. formosa) by its narrower and smaller size, longer and narrower labrum, and the front (shoulder) maculation is relatively longer. The Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle (C. tranquebarica) is darker above with thinner shoulder maculations. The Crimson Saltflat Tiger Beetle (C. fulgida) is smaller, much shinier above, and occurs in moist alkaline soils of salt flats or river and lake edges, not dry sandy areas.

Non-migratory but capable of dispersal. When wings fully developed (macropterous), a good but short-distance flier and fast runner (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. lengi versuta prefers open spaces in dry upland sandy areas, well drained, with moderate to sparse amounts of vegetation, margins of blowouts and grasslands, sandy road cuts, sand ridges through open coniferous forest, sandy beaches, eroded banks along dry watercourses, sand flats, and sometimes open gravel patches in short grass in the absence of sand (Vaurie 1950, Wallis 1961, Hooper 1969, Carter 1989, Acorn 2001, Larochelle and Larivière 2001, Kritsky and Smith 2005, Pearson et al. 2015). In Montana, found in sand hills, blowouts, and sandy banks and beaches along water courses (Nate Kohler personal communication).

Larval and adult tiger beetles are predaceous. In general, both feed considerably on ants (Wallis 1961, Knisley and Schultz 1997). Adult C. lengi versuta reported to feed on ants (Larochelle and Larivière 2001), and probably other small insects and spiders.

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). C. lengi versuta has a narrow range of ecological tolerance (stenotopic). Larval burrows are found in low densities in sandy soils on both flats and slopes (Criddle 1907, Pearson et al. 2015), and are up to 137 cm deep; adults overwinter in burrows 30-80 cm deep. Adults are diurnal and gregarious. They seek shade in vegetation to escape hot sunshine. Predators include asilid (robber) flies. Adults remain close to cover, escape pursuit by flying quickly in straight line up to 5 m. Other associated tiger beetle species include Big Sand Tiger Beetle (C. formosa), Badlands Tiger Beetle (C. decemnotata), Sandy Tiger Beetle (C. limbata), and Boreal Long-lipped Tiger Beetle (C. longilabris) (Vaurie 1950, Acorn 2001, Larochelle and Larivière 2001).

The life cycle of C. lengi versuta is 3-4 years, depending on latitude, probably 2-3 years as larvae in the north (Acorn 2001, Larochelle and Larivière 2001). Mating reported in June. Larval burrows average 112.5 cm deep, overwinter in burrows 70-137 cm deep (Larochelle and Larivière 2001). No information for Montana.

Not considered rare or in need of special conservation management (Knisley et al. 2014). Sandy habitats favored by this species experience vegetation encroachment and stabilization as succession proceeds, and benefit from disturbance that retains a mosaic of successional conditions. Some colonies (particularly the larval burrows) could be impacted by trampling through livestock overgrazing, but grazing at appropriate times and stocking levels could also be beneficial by keeping vegetation cover more open (Knisley 2011). Prescribed fire in late autumn could also be a useful tool for sustaining habitat once larvae and adults are in overwinter burrows.