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Image of Heath tiger beetle
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Heath Tiger Beetle

Cicindela (Cicindela) sylvatica Linnaeus 1758

Biology

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All tiger beetles are sun-loving, agile, and typically predacious beetles (2). Adult heath tiger beetles have been recorded from March to July (5); they are active in bright sunshine, running around rapidly whilst hunting for prey, and take to the wing readily (3). The larvae live in burrows in the sand, and wait at the burrow entrance for prey to pass by (2). The life-cycle takes a year to be completed, with adults breeding in spring and summer (3). Both the adults and larvae prey upon invertebrates that are active on the surface of the soil, particularly ants and caterpillars (3).
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Conservation

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The heath tiger beetle is a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) and has been included in English Nature's Species Recovery Programme. A Species Action Plan has been published; this plan aims to maintain all known populations, and enhance them by the year 2010. A further aim is the creation of five new populations in parts of the historic range of this species, also before 2010 (3).
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Description

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Cicindela sylvatica is the largest tiger beetle (2). It is bluish-black in colour, with a bronze sheen, and a metallic blue underside (2). The patterns on the wing cases ('elytra') are characteristic of the species (2), and the black upper lip (labrum) with its clear central ridge distinguishes it from all other tiger beetles (4).
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Habitat

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As the common name suggests, this species is found in heaths on dry, open and sandy soils (3), usually in open coniferous woodland (5).
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Range

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Since 1970, this beetle has been recorded only from Sussex, Surrey, Dorset and Hampshire. Historically it was widespread in the heaths of southern England, from Dorset to Kent, and at one isolated site in Lincolnshire (3). Outside of Britain, it occurs throughout Europe, with the exception of the Mediterranean and the extreme north (3).
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Status

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Classified as Nationally Scarce in Great Britain (3).
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Threats

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Main threats facing this beetle are the loss and fragmentation of heathlands, and unsuitable heathland management, particularly neglect, which results in a loss of open areas and the growth of scrub (3).
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Cicindela sylvatica

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Cicindela sylvatica is a tiger beetle, commonly known as the wood tiger beetle or heath tiger beetle. It is the largest of the British tiger beetles[1] with a length of between 15–19 millimetres (0.59–0.75 in). It is black in colour with a blue tinge, more pronounced on the underside, and sometimes appears with a bronze sheen.[2][3]

The beetle occurs throughout Europe with the exception of the Mediterranean and the extreme north.[4] In the UK, it is found in England. The beetle has been given priority status under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) and has been included in the English Nature's Species Recovery Programme.[2] The beetle population has declined in England by 65% over 40 years. The beetle's traditional stronghold is on the Dorset heaths where there are at least 4 populations, and also persists in two populations on the Surrey heaths.[4]

The distribution list is Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, China, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, mainland France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary (doubtful), Ireland, Kaliningrad, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mongolia, the Netherlands, North Korea, North Macedonia, mainland Norway, Poland, Romania (doubtful), Russia,[5] Slovakia, Slovenia, mainland Spain, Sweden, Turkey and Ukraine.[6][7]

References

  1. ^ Royal Entomological Society of London (1979). Handbooks for the identification of British insects. Royal Entomological Society. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  2. ^ a b "ARKive - Heath tiger beetle videos, photos and facts - Cicindela sylvatica". Archived from the original on 2012-05-04. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  3. ^ Duran, Daniel P.; Gough, Harlan M. (2020). "Validation of tiger beetles as distinct family (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), review and reclassification of tribal relationships". Systematic Entomology. 45 (4). doi:10.1111/syen.12440.
  4. ^ a b "UK Priority Species data collation Cicindela sylvatica" (PDF).
  5. ^ "Cicindela sylvatica Linnaeus, 1758". Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  6. ^ "Cicindela (Cicindela) sylvatica Linne, 1758". Fauna Europaea. 2.6.2. August 29, 2013. Archived from the original on December 25, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  7. ^ "Cicindela sylvatica Linnaeus, 1758". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
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Cicindela sylvatica: Brief Summary

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Cicindela sylvatica is a tiger beetle, commonly known as the wood tiger beetle or heath tiger beetle. It is the largest of the British tiger beetles with a length of between 15–19 millimetres (0.59–0.75 in). It is black in colour with a blue tinge, more pronounced on the underside, and sometimes appears with a bronze sheen.

The beetle occurs throughout Europe with the exception of the Mediterranean and the extreme north. In the UK, it is found in England. The beetle has been given priority status under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) and has been included in the English Nature's Species Recovery Programme. The beetle population has declined in England by 65% over 40 years. The beetle's traditional stronghold is on the Dorset heaths where there are at least 4 populations, and also persists in two populations on the Surrey heaths.

The distribution list is Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, China, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, mainland France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary (doubtful), Ireland, Kaliningrad, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mongolia, the Netherlands, North Korea, North Macedonia, mainland Norway, Poland, Romania (doubtful), Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, mainland Spain, Sweden, Turkey and Ukraine.

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