Beetles of North Carolina
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Scientific Name: Common Name:
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View CARABIDAE Members:
Members of Cicindelidia:
175 NC Records

Cicindelidia punctulata - Punctured Tiger Beetle

Compare with: Eastern Red-Bellied Tiger Beetle   Eastern Pinebarrens 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: Mark Shields
Taxonomy
Family: CARABIDAE Subfamily: CicindelinaeSubgenus: Cicindela                                                             
Comments: One of 19 species in this genus that have occur in North America north of Mexico (Pearson et al., 2015); four have been recorded in North Carolina.
Species Status: Three subspecies have been described, with only the nominate form occurring east of the Rocky Mountains (Pearson et al., 2015)
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Evans (2014)Online Resources: BugGuide, Wikipedia, GBIF   iNaturalistTechnical 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: Knisley and Schultz (1997) claim that this species has a broader range of open or sparsely vegetated habitats than any other North American Tiger Beetle. Specifically, they mention adults as occurring along roadcuts and trails, plowed fields, gardens, sand pits, and eroded banks. Larvae, likewise, burrow in hard-packed sand, loam, or clay.
Diet: Predacious, presumably feeding on a wide variety of small insects and other arthropods
Observation Methods: This species is fairly easy to spot when moving on the bare substrates that it prefers. When captured, they give off a strong, characteristically fruity odor that is reminiscent of apples.
Abundance/Frequency:
Adult Phenology:
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5T5 [S5]
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: This is one of our most widespread, common, and habitat-generalized species of Tiger Beetle. Consequently, it seems secure within the state.

Photo Gallery for Cicindelidia punctulata - Punctured Tiger Beetle

Recorded by: R. Newman
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: Robert Emmott
Haywood Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Robert Emmott
Haywood Co.
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Recorded by: Nora Murdock
Haywood Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Nora Murdock
Haywood Co.
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Recorded by: Sarah Toner
Hyde Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields
Greene Co.
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Recorded by: R. Newman
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: R. Newman
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Sarah Toner
Dare Co.
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Recorded by: R. Newman
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Hunter Phillips
Wayne Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields
Caldwell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields
Alleghany Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields
Pender Co.
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Recorded by: Morgan Ariel Freese
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields
Pender Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields
Hoke Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Rob Van Epps
Moore Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields
Bladen Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Salman Abdulali
Pitt Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields
Currituck Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields
Columbus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields
Robeson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields
Duplin Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields
Jones Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams
Gates Co.
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Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams
Gates Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan
Brunswick Co.
Comment: Found along a roadside right-of-way, with short grasses and patches of open sand		Recorded by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Jeff Beane
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: L. Amos
Warren Co.
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Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger
Halifax Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger
Halifax Co.
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Recorded by: K. Bischof
Beaufort Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall
Montgomery Co.
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Recorded by: E. Corey, SBW, FKW
Camden Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: E. Corey, SBW, FKW
Camden Co.
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Recorded by: Newman, Randy
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
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