Common tiger beetle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Common tiger beetle |
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Neocicindela
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N. tuberculata
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| Neocicindela tuberculata Fabricius, 1775
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The Neocicindela tuberculata is a super-fast insect! It's a type of tiger beetle found only in New Zealand. People call it the common tiger beetle, moeone, or papapa.
When it's a larva (a young beetle), it has cool names like penny doctor or butcher boy. This beetle was the first of its kind described in New Zealand way back in 1775.
Adult tiger beetles can run as fast as 5 miles per hour. This makes them one of the fastest running beetles in the world! They love sunny, clay areas in summer. They are also excellent hunters, catching other insects for food.
You can spot N. tuberculata all over New Zealand. Look for them on hot, sunny days on clay paths or sandy spots. Besides running, they can also fly! An adult beetle is usually about 2.5 cm long. It's often greenish with yellow marks on its wing covers.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
Adult Beetles
Tiger beetles can look very similar. It can be tricky to tell them apart. The main differences are often in how their body parts are shaped.
The adult Neocicindela tuberculata has long legs. This helps it run super fast! Its wing covers, called elytra, are dark brown. They might have a velvety black look. You can also see pale yellow markings on the sides. These wing covers also have tiny green dots. They can look shiny, like bronze or green metal.
Larvae (Young Beetles)
The larvae of the common tiger beetle look very different from the adults. They are more like grubs. They have a long, thin body with 13 parts.
These larvae have special hooks on their back. They use these hooks to stay put in their burrows. Their legs also have one or two claws. They have special eyes that can look in many directions. This helps them spot prey easily. The front part of their mouth, called the labrum, sticks out from their head.
Life Cycle of the Tiger Beetle
Mating for N. tuberculata happens in February. After mating, the female beetle lays her eggs in the soil. She drills many small holes with a special tool called an ovipositor. She lays one egg in each hole.
When the larvae hatch, they are small. As they grow bigger, they make their holes larger. So, the size of a burrow can tell you how old the larva is! The larval stage usually lasts one to two years. This depends on how much food they find and the weather.
When a larva is ready to change into an adult, it becomes a pupa. This stage is short. It starts in February. The larva plugs its burrow hole. Then, it goes to the bottom of the burrow. It digs a small side room to pupate in.
Adult beetles come out in spring or early summer. They will mate and then die before autumn ends.
Where Do They Live?
In New Zealand
There are 16 different types of tiger beetles found only in New Zealand. The Neocicindela tuberculata is one of them.
You can find Neocicindela tuberculata all over the North Island of New Zealand. They are also in the Marlborough and Tasman areas of the South Island. They usually live in flat, low-lying areas.
Favorite Places to Live
N. tuberculata can live in many places. But they really like open areas. They are active during the day, especially when it's sunny. So, they prefer places with lots of sunlight.
The larvae like to dig their burrows in dry soil. They especially like exposed sand, peaty soil, or clay banks.
What Do They Eat?
Both adult and larval Neocicindela tuberculata are hunters. They eat other insects. Adult beetles mainly eat caterpillars and flies. They use their long legs to run fast and catch their prey. They can also fly short distances to hunt.
The larvae dig straight burrows in the ground. These burrows can be up to 15 cm deep. The larvae keep their burrows clean and smooth. They wait at the entrance with their head sticking out. When they see prey, they decide how to catch it. They might pull it into their burrow or dart out quickly. Larvae usually eat flies and other small invertebrates.
Who Hunts the Tiger Beetle?
Several animals like to eat Neocicindela tuberculata. Birds like Kiwis and magpies are predators. Assassin flies also hunt them.
To protect itself, the adult beetle lets out a musky smell when it feels threatened. Tiger beetles are also one of the only beetle families that can fly instantly. This helps them escape predators quickly. Their long legs also make them super fast runners, which is another great way to get away!
Interesting Facts
Neocicindela tuberculata was the very first carabid beetle from New Zealand to be officially described by scientists. This happened in 1775.
Images for kids
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A common tiger beetle, showing its long legs and distinctive markings.
