An active, ground-dwelling beetle of sandy places including heaths and dunes. Upperparts usually green with pale spots on elytra; legs and thorax margins are shiny bronze. Widespread and locally common. Seen May-July. Active predator.
Tiger Beetle - Cicindela campestris
Description. This species is known as the Common or Green Tiger Beetle. Adult 12-16 mm long, colour rather variable in shades of green with 4 or 5 yellowish-white markings on each elytron. Margins of the elytra and parts of the thorax, head and legs brilliant coppery red. Front piece of the head whitish in colour and bearing large sickle-shaped mandibles which cross-over each other when closed.Biology. Long-legged, fast-running beetles found in spring and summer in areas of light or sandy, well-drained soil. Fond of sunning themselves on the ground and readily fly when disturbed. Both adults and larvae are fierce carnivores, feeding on insects and other invertebrates. The larvae live in vertical burrows in the soil, lying in wait for passing prey.
Distribution. Much of Europe, including the British Isles.