Beetles of North Carolina

Family (Alpha):
Scientific Name: Common Name:

View	CARABIDAE Members:	Members of Ellipsoptera:	47 NC Records
Ellipsoptera gratiosa - Whitish Tiger Beetle

Compare with: Ghost 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: Cicindelinae	Subgenus: Ellipsoptera	Synonym: Cicindela gratiosa
Comments: One of thirteen species in this genus, all of which occur in North America north of Mexico with a few also extending southward (Pearson et al., 2015); four have been recorded in North Carolina.
Species Status: No subspecies have been described (Pearson et al., 2015)

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Evans (2014)

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: This species is strongly psammophilic, with nearly all of our records coming from dry-to-xeric areas of open sand located in or adjacent to Longleaf Pine-dominated woodlands. While we have found it in coastal Sandhill Scrub communities located close to the coast, we do not have any records from the dunes associated with barrier islands. One record from the Mountains seems out of place, at least as the site of a breeding populations. Pearson et al. (2015) report that larvae dig burrows in areas with mixed sand and clay substrates.

See also Habitat Account for Dry-Xeric Sand Barrens and Glades

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

Observation Methods: This species is well-camouflaged against its pale sand backgrounds. Its active behavior, however, makes it fairly conspicuous.

Abundance/Frequency: Fairly common on sand ridges and dunes

Adult Phenology:

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G3G4 [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: This species is a strong habitat specialist and large areas of its sandhill habitats have been converted to pine plantations, golf courses, and other human uses. Suppression of naturally occurring fires is also changing the once open barrens habitats it prefers to shrub thickets or closed canopy forests. Management recommendations include protection of larval habitats from the impacts of sand-mining, off-road vehicle use, and trampling from human foot-traffic. Where associated with fire-maintained vegetation, prescribed burns should be used to keep the habitats open.

Photo Gallery for Ellipsoptera gratiosa - Whitish Tiger Beetle
	Recorded by: Mark Shields Columbus Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Bladen Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields Brunswick Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Shields Pender Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields Hoke Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Rob Van Epps Columbus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Rob Van Epps Columbus Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Rob Van Epps Columbus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields Brunswick Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Shields Columbus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Morgan Freese New Hanover Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Morgan Freese New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields Onslow Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Shields Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Beane Scotland Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Jeff Beane Bladen Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: E. Corey Bladen Co. Comment: Observed on a sand ridge	Recorded by: Chris Helms Columbus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dorothy E. Pugh New Hanover Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Steve Hall New Hanover Co. Comment:

Ellipsoptera gratiosa - Whitish Tiger Beetle

Photo Gallery for Ellipsoptera gratiosa - Whitish Tiger Beetle