10 Jul 2020

Critter of the Week Tiger beetle

From Afternoons, 3:35 pm on 10 July 2020

Sticking with invertebrates that have charismatic megafauna in their names, this week is the common tiger beetle. This fly-sized ground beetle is known as the fastest running beetle, reaching speeds of up to 8km per hour says Doc's Nicola Toki. Their larvae, also called ‘butcher boy’ (haha) live in 15cm holes in the ground for more than one year. Both adults and larvae are aggressive hunters of other invertebrates.

Common Tiger Beetle

Common Tiger Beetle Photo: Pat Enright_Source iNaturalist