Tiger beetle, Cicindela campestris, (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) in Värmland, Sweden. This medium sized beetle (1.3 cm long) is predatious on many small insects. The beetle has very large pointed mandibles (jaws) which can hold insects and pierce them. It catches insects on the ground since it flies somewhat clumsily. You can see these kinds of beetles along dirt roads since they like sand. They will fly ahead and then land. I saw this one dig down a few mm and find some wet sand which it drank, I was really surprized that they could find free water in what looks like a dessert. However, it had rained the day before (as usual) and so moisture is just below the dry surface. Many tiger beetles are irridescent colors and this is one of the most beautiful I've seen.

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Images © 1996 by John A. Byers, Chemical Ecology.