Ohlone Tiger Beetle
Cicindela ohlone
This record describes Cicindela ohlone (species). Recorded family: Carabidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Federally listed endangered species. For details (including some interesting natural history) see this PDF from the US Fish & Wildlife Service's website. The Ohlone Tiger Beetle was discovered and named by the late Randy Morgan ...naturalist extraordinaire of Santa Cruz, California and cherished mentor and friend to many.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Adephaga
- Family
- Carabidae (Ground Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Cicindelinae
- Tribe
- Cicindelini
- Genus
- Cicindela (Temperate Tiger Beetles)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Open hard-packed soils, with nearby grass used for cover. This habitat is typically provided by hiking & biking trails nowadays, and in earlier times presumably from impacts of other large mammals. (Perhaps pleistocene megafauna ? At least that's one interesting hypothesis that's been put forward! For more details, see the magazine article cited below under "Internet References".)
Geographic Range
Very localized endemic of Santa Cruz County, California.
Seasonal Activity
Late winter, early spring. This constitutes rather early, cool-weather, timing when compared to typical tiger beetle phenology.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: The epithet "ohlone" refers to the tribal name of the native American people indigenous to the area where the species occurs. (Randy Morgan had wanted to name this beetle in honor of Patricia Smith of the Santa Cruz Natural History Museum...but as he explains in this video the specific epitaths "patricia" and "smithiae" were unavailable in the genus)
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Cicindela ohlone. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Ohlone Tiger Beetle (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Aaron Schusteff
Frequently Asked Questions About Ohlone Tiger Beetle
What is Ohlone Tiger Beetle?
Ohlone Tiger Beetle (Cicindela ohlone) is a species in the family Carabidae, within the order Coleoptera.
Where is Ohlone Tiger Beetle found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Open hard-packed soils, with nearby grass used for cover. This habitat is typically provided by hiking & biking trails nowadays, and in earlier times presumably from impacts of other large mammals. (Perhaps pleistocene megafauna ? At least that's one interesting hypothesis that's been put forward! For more details, see the magazine article cited below under Internet References.) |
| Range | Very localized endemic of Santa Cruz County, California. |
When is Ohlone Tiger Beetle active?
Ohlone Tiger Beetle: seasonal activity - Late winter, early spring. This constitutes rather early, cool-weather, timing when compared to typical tiger beetle phenology..