New Tiger Beetle Guide Posted on iNaturalist
Eleven species of tiger beetles are known from Martha's Vineyard, some of them common and widespread, some of them rare or perhaps even extirpated. Several of our species are of conservation concern, listed under the Massachusetts or Federal Endangered Species Acts. To help facilitate the study of these attractive and interesting beetles on Martha's Vineyard, we've prepared a simple identification guide to the Vineyard's species, accessible here:
https://www.inaturalist.org/guides/13576
Tiger beetles average about a half-inch to three-quarters of an inch in length. As a group, they've generally strongly marked, which makes them fairly easy to identify, and often show iridescent body parts, which makes them attractive. Look for them in open habitat with sparse vegetation or even bare sand. Larval tiger beetles are ambush hunters that live in burrows; adults chase their prey (nearly any sort of small arthropod) down with bursts of incredibly fast running. Tiger beetles can be hard to spot when standing still, and you'll probably find that you notice them most regularly when they flush in response to your movement. But follow them carefully while they're in flight; they typically fly less than 30 feet or so when flushed, and with careful observation you can often spot where they land. Then a more careful approach -- "low and slow" -- will get you into binocular range, or even photography range, allowing identification based on the beetle's color and pattern of markings.
Keep an eye out for these fascinating predator beetles, and be sure to submit any photos you manage to get to iNaturalist. We appreciate your help in studying these important insects!
