Green Tiger Beetle

The Green Tiger Beetle is a Ground Beetle and is easily recognisable by the iridescent green colour, yellowish spots on its back and pink markings on its body and legs.

They are often found at ground level and prefer areas of bare ground with little vegetation and are most commonly seen in warm and sandy habitats in heaths, hillsides and dunes.

Bare ground warms up quickly in sunshine, which is perfect for both the adults and larvae. Being warm is important as a warm beetle can move faster and can then hunt and avoid being preyed on more efficiently. The Green Tiger Beetle lays its eggs in soil under bare ground, as this soil is warmer than soil under vegetation. The eggs and larvae will be able to develop more rapidly in the warm soil.

The larvae live in a small burrow which acts like a pitfall trap. They wait for passing prey to fall into their burrow which they then grab with their mandibles. They feed on spiders and ants and anything else that falls down their burrow.

Adult Green Tiger Beetles have strong mandibles that have several teeth. They feed on small invertebrates, including spiders, caterpillars and ants.

Green Tiger Beetles can be seen from April to September.

They are widespread in Britain.