Cicindela campestris, Green Tiger Beetle

Common Name: Green Tiger Beetle

Cicindela campestris, more commonly known as the Green Tiger Beetle, is a common ground beetle of heathland, moorland, sandy grassland and sand dunes. Often seen in bright, sunny conditions during the spring and summer, it is a fast, agile hunter, running across the ground to catch its invertebrate prey, including spiders, caterpillars and ants.

It is well-equipped to tackle its prey with a ferocious set of jaws and long legs that give it an impressive turn of speed (it's one of our fastest insects). When disturbed, they will often fly a short distance before running away.

Cicindela campestris is a large, metallic-green beetle, with purple-bronze legs and eyes, and large creamy spots on the wing cases. There are four rarer species of tiger beetle, which are either much smaller or purple-grey with creamy spots. Widespread and common throughout the UK.

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