Saturday, May 29, 2010

Six-spotted Green Tiger Beetle

This little guy is a Six-spotted Green Tiger Beetle. This beetle is often found leading the way down a trail and is shiny and glistening like a new car.

They are the best kind of insect. They eat small insects and spiders. So, as they join you on the path they may eat a few mosquitoes before the mosquitoes eat you.

They lay eggs in the dirt so they don't even bother any plant hosts. Even though this is the Six-spotted Green Tiger Beetle, they usually have only four spots and occasionally don't have any spots at all. As far as I can tell the one in the picture is average with four spots.

Source: "Audubon Field Guide to Insects and Spiders"

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