Beetles of North Carolina

Family (Alpha):
Scientific Name: Common Name:

View	CARABIDAE Members:	Members of Cicindela:	16 NC Records
Cicindela purpurea - Cow Path Tiger Beetle

Compare with: Splendid Tiger Beetle
Identification Tips: Move the cursor over the image, or tap the image if using a mobile device, to reveal ID Tips.
Note: ID Tips follow Pearson et al., 2015

Photo: Giff Beaton

Taxonomy

Family: CARABIDAE	Subfamily: Cicindelinae	Subgenus: Cicindela
Comments: One of 38 species in this genus that occur in North America north of Mexico (Pearson et al., 2015), 12 of which have been recorded in North Carolina
Species Status: Five subspecies are currently recognized, with only the nominate species occurring in the East (Pearson et al., 2015).

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

Online Resources: BugGuide, Wikipedia, GBIF iNaturalist

Technical Description, Adults/Nymphs: Knisley and Schultz (1997); Pearson et al. (2015)

Distribution in North Carolina


County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.


Flight Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Cicindela purpurea is associated with open, montane, upland habitats with patches of bare ground. Those include natural openings in forests and mountain meadows, as well as powerlines, roadsides, and paths. Larvae dig shallow burrows in relatively hard-packed substrates (Pearson et al., 2015).

Diet: Predacious, presumably feeding on a wide variety of small insects and other arthropods

Observation Methods: Easily flushed but often seeking refuge in grass or other herbaceous vegetation (Pearson et al., 2015)

Abundance/Frequency:

Adult Phenology:

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5T5 [S3S4]

State Protection: As with other North Carolina insects, no state laws provide them any protection. Permits must be obtained, however, to collect them in State Parks and other nature preserves

Comments: We have few records for this species but its use of widespread, common, and in some cases human-created habitats suggests that it may be secure within the state.

Photo Gallery for Cicindela purpurea - Cow Path Tiger Beetle
	Recorded by: Mark Shields Watauga Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Max Ramey Watauga Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Max Ramey Watauga Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Giff Beaton Haywood Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: E. Corey, B. Roach Alleghany Co. Comment:

Cicindela purpurea - Cow Path Tiger Beetle

Photo Gallery for Cicindela purpurea - Cow Path Tiger Beetle