Highlands Tiger Beetle
Cicindelidia highlandensis
This record describes Cicindelidia highlandensis (species). Recorded family: Carabidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Distinguished from similar species - C. abdominalis (Eastern Pinebarrens Tiger Beetle), widely distributed throughout the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain, and C. scabrosa (Scabrous Tiger Beetle), confined to the Florida Peninsula and adjacent southeastern Georgia - by an absence of flattened, white setae on the sides of the prothorax and the abdomen and by the reduced or absent elytral maculations. The dark metallic blue coloration of the adults is suggested to function in making the beetle resemble bits of charred wood that are common in the open, fire-mediated habitats where it occurs
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Adephaga
- Family
- Carabidae (Ground Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Cicindelinae
- Tribe
- Cicindelini
- Genus
- Cicindelidia (American Tiger Beetles)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
sand scrub and pine woodland remnants
Geographic Range
Only found in Polk and Highlands counties along the Lake Wales Ridge of FL.
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Cicindelidia highlandensis. 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 Highlands Tiger Beetle (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Daniel P Duran; Additional contributions by Nick Block , metrioptera
Frequently Asked Questions About Highlands Tiger Beetle
What is Highlands Tiger Beetle?
Highlands Tiger Beetle (Cicindelidia highlandensis) is a species in the family Carabidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How do you identify Highlands Tiger Beetle?
Distinguished from similar species - C. abdominalis (Eastern Pinebarrens Tiger Beetle), widely distributed throughout the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain, and C. scabrosa (Scabrous Tiger Beetle), confined to the Florida Peninsula and adjacent southeastern Georgia - by an absence of flattened, white setae on the sides of the prothorax and the abdomen and by the reduced or absent elytral maculations.
Where is Highlands Tiger Beetle found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | sand scrub and pine woodland remnants |
| Range | Only found in Polk and Highlands counties along the Lake Wales Ridge of FL. |