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April 7, 2020
The six-spotted tiger beetle (Cicindela sexguttata) may be small, but it's definitely one of the more striking insects you're likely to come across. These beetles are often found in open sunlit areas near or within deciduous forests; I've seen a whole bunch on my gravel road. They move very quickly, and if they're being pursued by a predator they can take flight, although they usually don't fly more than 20 or 30 feet (which is a pretty good distance when you're half an inch long). Most of the time, however, six-spotted tiger beetles are the predators in the equation; those large mandibles aren't just for show. They hunt spiders, ants, caterpillars, and other insects, and if you manhandle one, it might even bite you. Fortunately, this doesn't result in much more than a mild pinch -- although it certainly gave six-year-old me a surprise the first time I picked one up! #BenInNature
About this post: Social distancing can be difficult, but the next few weeks present a great opportunity to become reacquainted with nature. While he is working from home, Administrator of Science Ben Williams is venturing outdoors each day to record a snapshot of the unique sights that can be found in the natural world.
This post brought to you by VMNH Corporate Partner S & K Office Products, Inc.
