Overview
Once abundant along coastal beaches throughout much of the northeast, today the northeastern beach tiger beetle can only be found in the Chesapeake Bay of and Massachusetts. These tiny sand-colored beetles spend their whole lives on long, wide beaches with little human activity, often congregating at the water’s edge during warm days. They prey upon small invertebrates and will scavenge dead fish, crabs and amphipods that wash up on the shore. The northeastern beach tiger beetle has been listed as threatened by the Service since 1990.
Scientific Name
Identification Numbers
Characteristics
Habitat
Once abundant along coastal beaches throughout much of the northeast, today the northeastern beach tiger beetle can only be found along the Chesapeake Bay and in Massachusetts. Adult and larval beetles are found on long, wide, dynamic beaches with little human activity. Adult beetles are present from June through September and are active on warm, sunny days where they can be seen feeding, mating, or basking along the water's edge.
Food
Adults prey on small invertebrates and also scavenge dead fish, crabs and amphipods that wash up on the beach. Larvae are sedentary ambush predators, feeding on prey that happens to pass by their burrows.
Timeline
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