southern Canada, the United States and northern Mexico
Fine-art photographic collection
Cicindela (Cicindelidia) punctulata
A heat-sensitive tiger beetle whose entire transformation occurs inside one self-dug shaft.
About this species
Punctured Tiger Beetle
Cicindela (Cicindelidia) punctulataOlivier, 1790
Information reviewed15 July 2026
Cicindela punctulata is a widespread North American tiger beetle of open soil. Adults hunt in sunshine but retreat when the surface becomes too hot, while larvae complete all three instars and pupation within burrows.
Taxonomy
Animalia · Arthropoda · Insecta · Coleoptera · Carabidae · Cicindela
Accepted taxon. · checked 2026-07-15
southern Canada, the United States and northern MexicoBroad documented range and selected reference localities — not a complete occurrence map.
Open, sparsely vegetated soil including paths, fields and disturbed ground.
Diurnal and most conspicuous in warm sunny conditions.
Predatory on small arthropods.
What makes this species remarkable?
Larvae moult through three stages and finally pupate inside the same burrow system, so the underground tunnel functions as a multi-year life-support chamber.
Adults dig shallow night shelters and deeper overwintering burrows, changing excavation depth according to the duration of protection required.
Midday heat can drive the beetles from the hunting surface into vegetation or soil even though bright sun is essential for their visual pursuit strategy.