Beetles of North Carolina

Family (Alpha):
Scientific Name: Common Name:

View	CARABIDAE Members:	Members of Cicindela:	8 NC Records
Cicindela ancocisconensis - Appalachian Tiger Beetle

Compare with: Bronzed Tiger Beetle Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle Twelve-spotted 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: No subspecies have been described (Pearson et al., 2015)

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

Online Resources: BugGuide, Google, 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: This species primarily inhabits shady, sandy or silty margins of mountain streams and rivers (Knisley and Schultz, 1987). Larval burrows have been found in dry sand or silt deposits located 1-5 meters from the water's edge.

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

Observation Methods: Adults are well camouflaged on their wet sand and silt habitats but are quite active during the day, when their movements make them easy to spot

Abundance/Frequency:

Adult Phenology:

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status: SR

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G3 S1S2

State Protection: This species is listed as Significantly Rare by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, which gives it some value in identifying priority natural areas for conservation but does not give it any sort of legal protection. Nor is protection provided by either the Federal or State Endangered Species Acts. While all species are eligible for federal protection, the populations of this species are still considered relatively secure at the national level, and in the case of North Carolina endangered species protection, no insects even qualify for statewide protection no matter how endangered they might be within the state. This is markedly different from the case of vertebrates, molluscs, or crustaceans, all of which may receive protection from hunting, collection, or other forms of exploitation depending on their state conservation status. Individual state agencies -- such as the Division of Parks and Recreation and Wildlife Resources Commission -- can nonetheless require permits for collecting insects on lands they own or manage. The same is true for other types of nature preserves.

Comments: This is a globally uncommon species that has declined significantly in some parts of its range and appears to be continuing to decline (NatureServe Explorer, 2018). We currently know of only six records from the mountains of North Carolina, located close to the southern extreme of its range. Only three of these are recent. No reasons are known to explain why this species is so uncommon in our area or why it may have declined. Nonetheless, this species currently appears to be one of our rarest and most poorly known Tiger Beetles. More information is needed to determine its current residency status within the state, its overall distribution, its habitat preferences, and population trends.

Photo Gallery for Cicindela ancocisconensis - Appalachian Tiger Beetle
	Recorded by: Ron Storey Surry Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Ron Storey Surry Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields Caldwell Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Max Ramey Watauga Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Max Ramey Watauga Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Maxwell Ramey Caldwell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Giff Beaton Haywood Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Giff Beaton Haywood Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Giff Beaton Haywood Co. Comment:

Cicindela ancocisconensis - Appalachian Tiger Beetle

Photo Gallery for Cicindela ancocisconensis - Appalachian Tiger Beetle