#cicindelidae

[herpsandbirds]

Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela campestris), family Cicindelidae, Albania

photograph by Frank Hecker

[onenicebugperday]

Hello! I want to ask about the life span of tiger beetles, or more specifically, how long they usually live as adults. (I'm asking about Cicindelidae in general, but if you have specific information about Abroscelis anchoralis, Chaetodera laetescripta, or Cicindela aurulenta, it would be very helpful!! Basically I have some bug OCs (since quite a long time ago--over 5 years now), and for them I sometimes need information that might be hard to find. Thank you!!

This information is indeed hard to find. It depends on species, and I wasn't able to find exact info on the species you mentioned. From what I've read about other species, adult lifespan can range from just a matter of weeks to more than a year. They spend most of their life in their larval form, though.

[typhlonectes]

Bronzed Tiger Beetle, Cicindela repanda, family Cicindelidae, on the shoreline of Caney Creek, New Caney, TX, Montgomery county, USA, 8/6/23

*AKA Common Shore Tiger Beetle

Tiger beetles were previously listed as being in the ground beetle family, Carabidae, but recent work now firmly places them in their own family, the Cicinellidae.

photograph by Paxon Kale CC

[evoldir]

Fwd: Postdoc: USorbonne.EvolutionBeetleChemosensoryGenes

Begin forwarded message: > From: evoldir@evol.biology.mcmaster.ca > Subject: Postdoc: USorbonne.EvolutionBeetleChemosensoryGenes > Date: 6 February 2023 at 06:04:45 GMT > To: rdmpage@gmail.com > > > > Post-doc description > Evolution of chemosensory genes in aquatic beetles > > In the context of a project founded by the French national agency for > research (ANR), we are offering a 20 months post-doctoral position > (ideally starting 1st May 2023), to study the evolution of the > chemosensory system in the context of adaptation to aquatic life in > a major clade of predatory coleopterans (beetles). Transcriptomes > of chemosensory organs (antennae; palps; control non-sensory tissue) > have been generated in our lab (partly assembled and some preliminary > analyses already performed) from adult specimens of about 15 species > representing the main families of the beetle suborder Adephaga: Carabidae > and Cicindelidae (terrestrial), Dytiscidae (the most species-rich aquatic > family) and their successive aquatic/sub-aquatic sister-groups. For one > dytiscid species, chemosensory organ transcriptomes have been produced > from the strictly aquatic larval stage and from the adult stage > (amphibious) for comparison. The research to be carried out by the > post-doc will focus on chemosensory genes known in aerial insects to > be involved in the detection of either water-soluble molecules (e.g., > ionotropic and gustatory receptors: IRs and GRs) or of hydrophobic > molecules (odorant receptors: ORs; odorant binding proteins: OBPs). The > aim is to reconstruct within a phylogenetic framework, the evolution of > these gene families (gene expansions and losses; selection signatures) > and of their expression sites (notably antennae vs. palps; see Montagné > et al. 2021. Front. Ecol. Evol. 9: 773915). The project will provide an > unprecedented picture of the evolutionary changes in chemodetection that > accompanied land-to-freshwater transition(s) in a lineage of insects, > and is expected to yield papers in high impact scientific journals. > > Applicants must hold a PhD and confirmed skills in bioinformatics, > particularly transcriptomics and genomics including phylogenetic analyses > and RNAseq analyses, and a keen interest in evolutionary biology and/or > ecology. The recruited post-doc is expected to perform mainly in silico > analyses (transcriptome assemblies, annotations, gene phylogenies, > species tree / gene tree reconciliation, dN/dS analyses, differential > gene expression analyses, evolutionary interpretations). The salary will > be determined according to qualification and prior experience. > > The research activity will be conducted within the EvoFonct group > of the Institute of Systematics, Evolution and Biodiversity > (https://ift.tt/7WGtHTB), an internationally renowned lab > in the study of organism diversity and evolution, and in close > collaboration with the Sensory Ecology department of iEES Paris > (https://iees-paris.fr/). The post-doc will be supervised by Michaël > Manuel (https://ift.tt/pqi1f2K) and Muriel Jager. Our lab > is located on the Pierre & Marie Curie campus of Sorbonne University in > the heart of Paris near the “Quartier Latin”. Sorbonne University > comprises three faculties: science and engineering, humanities and > medicine. Covering all fields of knowledge in science and engineering, > the Faculty of Science and Engineering is dedicated to supporting research > at the heart of the disciplines as well as promoting multidisciplinary > approaches to meet the major challenges of the 21st century. > > Candidates should send a letter of motivation and curriculum vitae to > Pr. Michaël Manuel (michael.manuel@sorbonne-universite.fr) > > See also the announcement on the ISYEB website > https://ift.tt/WKMNpcI > > > > > Michael MANUEL

[drhoz]

#1634 - Subfam. Cicindelinae - Tiger Beetle Larva

Photo by Peter Hayhoa in the Tiwi Islands, north of Darwin.

The records for tiger beetles up that way include Cicindela (Archidela) darwini (which makes sense) and Australicapitona australasiae (also a good name), but since I can’t find pics of the larvae of either, I’m not going to go past subfamily. Not least since they were demoted to a subfamily of the Carabidae and the published literature on their taxonomy is an appalling mess. 

Tiger Beetles are highly predatory Ground Beetles, with large eyes and, usually, long legs. They move so quickly that they can’t process what they’re seeing without stopping to think, leading to a distinctive dash-and-pause run as they pursue prey and recalculate which way to run. Wisely, they hold their antennae out in front of them as they sprint, to avoid running into obstacles at top speed. 

Tiger beetles larvae, on the other hand, live in cylindrical burrows up to a meter deep. They are large-headed, fearsomely jawed, and hump-backed, and use their humpbacks to grip the sides of their tunnels as the lunge out at any passing prey. While they wait, their heads fit snuggly into the burrow, and their eyes are positioned to peer in all directions.

Some tropical species are arboreal, but most live on the ground along shorelines, on sand dunes, around dry lakebeds and on clay banks or woodland paths, being particularly fond of sandy surfaces as in the photo here. That said, being unearthed from their burrow is a problem, so at least one beach-dwelling species, Cicindela dorsalis media, will flip intself into a circle and roll off across the beach at high speed, driven by the wind.  

[usgsbiml]

Tiger Beetle from one of the old sand mines that line the Patuxent River.  Thankfully it is a sand mine that never was capped with clay and planted with invasive non-native plants...the standard operation in many parts of the country.  Lisa Murray took the photographs.  

[pongwira]

Cosmodela sp. #tigerbeetle #insect #cosmodela #cicindelidae #bug #instainsect #insectofinstagram #insectmagazine #insectagram #macroworld #macro_insects #macro #macrophotography #macropicture #naturephotography #naturelover #natureofthailand #biodiversity #nature

[nunoxaviermoreira]

騙子虎甲 by Alan, Yip Wah 騙子虎甲 20210520 DSC_3146 Insecta: Coleoptera Cicindelidae 虎甲科 (Cylindera fallaciosa) Sha Lo Tung, Hong Kong https://flic.kr/p/2mBbx2h

[esmaniottoart]

Bug Portrait_Cicindelidia cyanipleura. Digital, 2020.

References

Daniel P. Duran and Stephen J. Roman. 2020. A New Tiger Beetle from the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae, Cicindelini). Zootaxa. 4810(2); 375–382. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4810.2.11

[herpsandbirds]

Eastern Big Sand Tiger Beetle (Cicindela formosa generosa), family Cicindelidae, Belmont, Michigan, USA

photograph by Jared Adelman

[grimm-troupe-caretaker]

The Cicind Tribe

This is a brief post about the Cicind Tribe which Falx/Caretaker/Reaper claim to hail from. The post is lengthy and will contain a read more. An apology now if this seems a bit disjointed in areas, I love world building and sometimes my thoughts don’t like to flow from one topic to the next.

Navigation

General

Location

Religion

Lifestyle

Hierarchy

Miscellaneous

Fun Facts

General

The Cicind Tribe were a highly efficient tribe of beetles that lived far northwest of Hallownest and at a time that predated Hallownest and even Radiance. Though they were the more aggressive of the tribes within the area, there were still territory disputes with a Mantis Tribe (Not related to the tribe depicted within Hallownest) Adult beetles are tall with long strong legs and arms, slender segmented torsos, thick fur like filaments on their chests and shoulders, and tear drop shaped heads with two long segmented horns located a few ‘inches’ from their eyes. While the common coloration was to have a black iridescent body with white and black patterned wing cases, many Cicind’s had a variety of colors along their segmented abdomens. While Cicinds were capable of flight, it was uncommon for them to do so, due to their religious beliefs

Location

The Cicinds’ homeland consisted of a marshland that was surrounded by tall grasses, lush plants, mudflats and waterways that commonly flooded. Much of the tribe was spread out over the stretch of this marshland, however the peak of their civilization was a keep known as Tlis. This keep was built on a smaller island within the mudflats that rarely flooded. 

Tlis had buildings made of ‘salt rock’ and many of these buildings were also decorated with a combination of vegetation,to keep their homes cool, but also often adorned the bones of their various foes. The center of Tlis’ keep has the Empress's home built within the bones of a ferocious predator that predated the Tribe.

Religion

Cicinds were one of few known to worship a higher being known as the Nightmare King. When the founding members were searching for their new home, it was said they first laid eyes upon said being waiting for them on the skeleton of a long since deceased predator. At first they feared the higher being but upon the King’s warm invitation, they were in awe at such a figure that they returned the invitation with their own devotion. It was once a celebrated day that upon the anniversary of the day Tils was founded, the tribe holds a grand celebration and feast that honors the Nightmare King’s surprising generosity. This event lasts a few days and even hosted the higher being if he were able to attend. Outside this celebration, the tribe made regular practice of embodying the same fear their ancestors once felt. This is fierce nature was brought upon any the Cicind’s declared as prey or foes, thus giving them their reputation of being aggressive and frightening to other bugs. Naturally this stigma stuck with the tribe so much that their whole life was devoted to becoming fearless hunters in order to appease their King.

Lifestyle

Though fearsome on the outside, many Cicinds were rather peaceful until provoked or the call of a hunt brought out their true nature. As with many long standing civilizations, there were a host of skills each beetle claimed outside of their strength in the hunt. Many were lovers of the arts and such reflected within the architecture and adornments of their homes and buildings. Having a natural love for botany was as common as being able to wield a glaive. Cicnds often practiced the ability of balance. As they were expected to be capable hunters, though civilized to their fellow beetles. As such it’s common that within age groups, large brother and sister families form, even without being blood relatives. These generational groups sometimes can make up a whole city or sector within Tlis and while fiercely competitive with other generations, are still respectful to one another. Relationships outside of the large family like unit are not uncommon nor are prohibited so long as all members of the tribe contribute in passing along their genes at least once within their life time. Tradition of the tribe dictates that eggs are hatched in the mudflats and the grubwryms are raised to be like one family unit, hence the bond they share as they grow.

Hierarchy

Unlike many other societies at the time, Cicind’s loose pecking order on the societal echelon is based on combat skill, not financial welfare. Even still it is possible to slide around within the hierarchy if one is capable enough in battle, at least to some extent.

~ Starting on the lowest are grubwyrms. Of course the infants and children are not expected to best their adult counterparts, however from the moment children hatch, they are trained and allowed to fight and hunt the various mites that populate the mudflats. Squabbles of dominance are not uncommon, but dedicated caretakers see to ensuring these fights are not brutal in addition to caring for every other need grubwyrms have.

~ While these caretakers are considered the lowest on the adult scale, it is only because they are not allowed to partake in the hunt. It is not uncommon for many grubwyrms to grow into adults and serve a small amount of time caring for the next generation before advancing upward.

~ After caretakers are the agricultural, trade, and craft workers. As their goals in life are meant to focus around providing other services to the Tribe, they are not expected to join the hunting parties of the knights. Should their home come into danger or the Tribe livelihood become threatened, they will happily raise arms to join the hunt just as the knights do.

These workers are considered equal to knights despite their regular duties as many shifted from the more armed service into a passive life.

~ The knights can be viewed as the military might of the Tribe. Many young caretakers will immediately transfer into this echelon to satisfy their youthful energy and blood lust. Hunting parties are rotated out to collect food or ward off encroaching enemies while the rest stay behind to train, defend the tribe, or even act as security should it be needed.

~ If a knight proves himself or herself a ferocious hunter, they may be promoted to a Shin or Paladin. While Paladin’s act as personal knights to the higher scales, they commonly do not see a hunt outside of the Tribe unless there is a significant threat. Shin on the other hand are more likely to be away from the Tribe gathering information about enemy movements. They live considerably dangerous lives as they are often alone and far from having any form of support from the Tribe while they stalk enemy territory.

~ Then are Generals of both Paladins and Shin. They are typically older hunters who have less stamina then their younger counterparts. Often these individuals (usually one of each) are the right and left hand of the ruler.

~ Preceding the ruler are retired knights who serve more as scholars and the nobles of the Tribe. Like the Generals, they are equally capable in a fight, but are not as strong as their younger generations. Many oversee their ‘businesses’, scientific findings, and the less grittier and warlike operations of the Tribe. As such they typically are wealthier than the other classes, though it means nothing in the eyes of their fellow Cicinds.

~ Last is the ruler. Commonly an Empress (though male emperors are not unheard of) this beetle is often chosen from knighthood at a young age by the previous ruler and the Nightmare King himself. Females are usually picked over males as females are considered the more dominant of the sexes (only because they are larger and stronger than their male counterparts). Though if a male is chosen, there is no qualm as it is often a combination of hunting skills and intelligence that are ideal for rulers.

~ While the Nightmare King is not considered part of the tribe, he does have a place on the scale. Though his place is more akin to the star that shines over the rest of the pyramid. Never within reach, but always visible to serve and worship.

Miscellaneous 

~ Clothing within the Cicind’s depended upon their status within the Tribe and their current task. Ranging from elegant and formal clothes to the lightweight Sho (A lightweight dark blue and black clothing mixed with light weight armor around specific points.) Though clothes did not make their society, it was not uncommon for the higher ranking beetles to poses a varied wardrobe. All meant to serve a variety of tasks, even to fool potential threats of misjudging a skilled hunter. 

~ Weapons often come in the form spears, halberds, lances, and glaives. The purpose of these ranged weapons comes down to the Cicind’s claws acting as short range weapons and making it difficult to manipulate items with a shorter hilt. 

~ As previously mentioned, flight is not something used commonly as it is believed that going into the sky will obstruct the Nightmare King’s vision by extent of distracting him with something majestic, powerful, and of course shiny (Yes even the Cicind’s knew their King had a bit of a dramatic flair). Additionally as they were in a marsh land, there were many other threats in the air that were keen to snatch a careless beetle with ease. 

~ One legend tells of a Cicind who was so daring that he regularly took to the skies to challenge the King. The legend goes that at first the King flew with the beetle and tested his skill in flight. However it was after a time the King grew tired of the display and caught the beetle finally to consume him. (In reality, the dude was constantly managing to out fly a bat....until one day he couldn’t lol)

Fun Facts

It should be notated that ‘Cicind’ is a shorter part of the longer scientific name of Cicindelidae, which is the sub family of ground beetles known as tiger beetles. They are a species found worldwide, though tend to favor more open habitats, sea shores, sand dunes, and oddly...dirt roads. Tiger beetles are known for their aggressive hunting habits and being capable of running at incredible speeds (for a beetle mind you).

The Cicinds are based off the Salt Creek Tiger Beetle which is considered critically endangered due to agricultural ‘drainage’. They are also based off the Blue Tiger Beetle (For that iridescent black sheen) and Southern White Beach Tiger beetle (For the white and black patterns on the wing cases) Pronunciation of Cicind is “Si-sind”

[elytrid]

Inktober drawing for October 17th, 2018: Tiger beetle (close up of head). Tiger beetles are rad, why not draw them again? I wanted to do the front view of the head to show how sick the mandibles are. As usual, my interpretation doesn’t do it full justice. Reference here.

[kamounlab]

Hello kids, I'm a biologist!

My presentation to the 9-10 year old children of the British International School of Tunis. March 21, 2019. 

Click here for the slides. Photos on Facebook.

Here you can find notes, acknowledgements and links to the videos:

Slide 1. The action shot is from this interview with CropLife International. More on my background can be found on the Wikipedia English and French pages, and these interviews “Stranger in a strange land: the experiences of immigrant researchers” and ISMPMI Interactions InterViews.  For popular science writing, check the PlantVillage article “https://medium.com/@plantvillage/keeping-up-with-the-plant-destroyers-9c0047899683”.

Slide 3. The Australian outback ~1994 with our clunky Ford Falcon. With @SaskiaHogenhout.

Slide 4. You go there to chase insects and instead insects start chasing you... #fieldworkfail #Australia

Slide 5. This Scanning Electron Microscopy shot of a tiger beetle head is courtesy of Charles R. Krause who captured it in 1982 on a Hitachi S-500 SEM.

Slide 6. Rivacindela eburneola, Cicindelidae, Coleoptera. I took this shot in 1994 at Lake Gilmore, Western Australia.  

Slide 7. The fastest running insect in the world. BBC Earth.

Slide 8. Ed Yong’s National geographic piece on The Predator That Becomes Blind When It Runs After Prey.

Slide 9. Cornell University Daniel Zurek and Cole Gilbert study on how tiger beetles use their antennae to sense obstacles at high speed.

Slide 10. What’s in this picture? #PlantBlindness

Slide 11. The time-lapse video of potato plants infected by the Irish famine pathogen Phytophthora infestans was produced by Remco Stam.

Slide 12. I received the image of the potato farmer from Dr. Tarlochan Thind, Punjab Agricultural University. He is quoted in this story about potato late blight in India.

Slide 13. Different varieties of potato are either destroyed by the blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans or fully resistant (immune). The photo is courtesy of Vivianne Vleeshouwers at Wageningen University.

Slide 14. This stunning animation of the bacterium Xanthomonas infecting tomato plants was produced by students at Halle University working with Prof. Ulla Bonas.

For more suggestions of videos to use in classroom, check this Twitter feed.

[phgq]

Int’ biodiversity confab kicks off in Mati City

#PHnews: Int’ biodiversity confab kicks off in Mati City

MATI CITY, Davao Oriental – The International Biodiversity Conference 2019 kicked off here as several international delegates arrived since Monday for the 3-day event slated Nov. 12-14.

IBC 2019 will convene around the theme “Biodiversity for the People: From Ridge to Reefs”, at Honey’s Hotel where an exhibit will also be held.

Attendees are researchers, environmental managers, and other stakeholders who are taking strategic actions in mainstreaming opportunities to capitalize biodiversity from the ridge to reef as a toll to safeguard sustainable development for the people.

IBC 2019 will showcase the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the newest Unesco World Heritage Site, as well as Pujada Bay Landscape and Seascape of the City of Mati.

Host Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology said the event will facilitate the exchange of information, lessons learned and catalyze action among the participants to safeguarding global biodiversity that will ultimately benefit the quality of life and economic sustainability of the people.

In a message by City of Mati Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat, delivered by Vice Mayor Glenda Rabat-Gayta, she welcomed all the delegates as she expressed hope that the international conference would benefit the city’s ultimate goal of protecting and nurturing the environment so that it can be enjoyed by our future generations.

“Striking a balance between protecting the environment and allowing people to make a living using the natural resources around is somewhat like making a balancing act on a high-wire — dangerous but doable,” Mayor Michelle said.

Among the topics to be discussed in the conference are interconnecting ecosystems, sustainable management of biodiversity, innovations for biodiversity conservation, sustainable management of biodiversity, biodiversity and food security, interconnecting ecosystems, among others.

Among the studies to be presented during parallel sessions are:

1. Characteristics and habitat survival preferences of fauna in the Mati protected landscape and its implications to integrated watershed management to be presented by Ruben Amparado of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology;

2. Breaking the natural steward’s myth: cases of indigenous culture-based conservation of Philippine eagles in the Philippines to be presented by Jimbea Lucino of the Philippine Eagle Foundation;

3. Three decades of Philippine primate studies: research gaps and opportunities for Philippine primatology to be presented by Lief Erickson Gamalo of the University of the Philippines Mindanao;

4. Birds feeding on Cebu mistletoe Lepeostegeres cebuensis (Loranthacaeae) in Nug-as Forest, Cebu, Central Philippines to be presented by Geraldine Quinones of the Negros Oriental State University;

5. Three new species of Metapocyrtus Heller 1912 from Mindanao Island, Philippines to be presented by Analyn Cabras of the University of Mindanao;

6. Field documentation of Ground Beetles (Carabidae) and Tiger Beetles (Cicindelidae) in Central Cebu Protected Landscape and Alcoy Forested Area, Cebu, Philippines to be presented by Julie Otadoy of the University of San Carlos Talamban Campus; and

7. DNA Barcodes of bamboo-inhabiting beetles (BIB) in live and postharvested bamboos using the mitochondrial CO1 gene to be presented by Jewel Anne Salvador of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology.

Lecturers from the other parts of the world would also be speaking before the delegates, among them are Dr. Yoh Yamashita, Dean of the Educational and Research Unit for Studies of CoHHO of Kyoto University in Japan; Dr. Fernando Siringan of the University of the Philippines; and Dr. Maarten Bijleveld Van Lexmond, chairman of Task Force on Systemic Pesticides in Switzerland. (CIO MATI)

***

References:

* Philippine News Agency. "Int’ biodiversity confab kicks off in Mati City." Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1085759 (accessed November 12, 2019 at 10:43PM UTC+14).

* Philippine News Agency. "Int’ biodiversity confab kicks off in Mati City." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1085759 (archived).

[norfolknaturalist]

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle (Cicindela sexguttata), spotted on the Lynn Valley Trail yesterday. Tiger Beetles develop as larvae in sandy areas as ant-lion-like predators, lying in wait within tunnels to ambush passing prey. As predators they are also voracious predators, hunting basically any arthropods they encounter of a suitable size. Their beautiful jewel-like wing-covers flash in the sun as they use their large eyes to hunt visually for prey. . . . . . . . #nature #ontario #lynnvalleytrail #tigerbeetle #tigerbeetles #cicindela #cicindelidae #cicindelasexguttata #insects_of_our_world #insect #entomology #macrophotography #invert_macro #beetle #beetlesofinstagram #coleoptera #norfolkcounty #norfolkwild #blognorfolk #simcoeontario (at Lynn Valley Trail) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_uMbKSg5E4/?igshid=o1c2zyx7pstw

[sporadictragedycollective-blog]

Bọ cánh cứng hổ - loài côn trùng chạy nhanh nhất thế giới

Bọ cánh cứng hổ (Tiger beetle) là loài côn trùng tuyệt vời, với những đặc điểm khác biệt và màu sắc rực rỡ, bạn sẽ phải mê mẩn vì những khả năng đặc biệt của chúng.

Con bọ cánh cứng hổ ngồi bất động, tắm nắng trên những con đường rừng rộng lớn hoặc những bãi biển đầy cát. Nhưng khi bạn cố gắng di chuyển lại gần hơn để nhìn rõ hơn, chúng đã biến mất. Bọ cánh cứng hổ là một trong những loài côn trùng nhanh nhất mà bạn từng gặp phải. Không dễ dàng để chụp ảnh hoặc tiến lại gần chúng.

I. Bọ cánh cứng hổ và những điều chưa biết:

Đã bao giờ bạn tưởng tượng một con bọ cánh cứng có thể chạy nhanh, thậm chí chạy rất nhanh nếu so sánh trong thế giới côn trùng.

1. Bọ cánh cứng hổ nhanh như thế nào ?

Nhà vô địch trong cuộc thi chạy là bọ cánh cứng hổ úc (Australian tiger beetle) - Cicindela hudsoni. Được đo với vận tốc 2,5m trên giây, tương tương với 5,6 dặm trên một giờ. Và bọ cánh cứng hổ úc trở thành loài côn trùng 6 chân nhanh nhất thế giới. Về nhì là bọ cánh cứng hổ úc Cicindela eburneola, 4,2 dặm trên một giờ.

Ngay cả những loài bọ cánh cứng hổ Bắc Mỹ như Cicindela repanda cũng chỉ đạt 1,2 dặm một giờ. Điều này xem ra khá chậm với những người anh em của nó. Nhưng một nghiên cứu của Đại học Cornell cho thấy con bọ cánh cứng này chạy nhanh đến mức tự mù (không nhìn thấy gì trong lúc chạy).

Nhà côn trùng học Cornell Cole Gilbert nhận thấy các con bọ cánh cứng hổ hổ thường có xu hướng dừng lại đột ngột trong khi săn đuổi con mồi. Liệu điều này có ý nghĩa gì. tại sao con bọ cánh cứng hổ phải nghỉ ngơi khi đang truy sát? Ông phát hiện ra những con bọ cọ đã chạy rất nhanh, và chúng không thể liên tục tập trung vào mục tiêu. Bọ cánh cứng hổ theo nghĩa đen là chúng chạy quá nhanh, và bị mù.

Gilbert giải thích: "Nếu những con bọ hổ di chuyển quá nhanh, chúng sẽ không thu thập được đủ photon (ánh sáng chiếu vào mắt của con bọ cánh cứng) để hình thành hình ảnh con mồi.

"Với tốc độ rất nhanh trong quá trình đuổi theo, bọ cánh cứng hổ sẽ không nhận được đủ photon phản xạ từ con mồi để tạo ra hình ảnh và tìm ra con mồi, đó là lý do tại sao chúng phải dừng lại, nhìn quanh và đi, mặc dù chúng chỉ bị mù tạm thời. "

Mặc dù bị mù tạm thời, nhưng bọ cánh cứng hổ chạy đủ nhanh để tóm gọn con mồi.

Bạn có thể tự hỏi làm thế nào một bọ cánh cứng chạy quá nhanh nó có thể quan sát mọi chướng ngại vật để tránh hoặc tìm con đường bằng phẳng để đuổi con mồi.

Một nghiên cứu khác được thực hiện trên loài bọ cánh cứng hổ cổ lông Cicindela hirticollis, nhận thấy chúng luôn giữ cặp ăn-ten luôn hướng về phía trước, trong hình dạng V vững chắc trong lúc chạy. Chúng sử dụng cặp ăn-ten để phát hiện các chướng ngại vật trên đường đi của chúng, và cũng có thể con bọ cánh cứng hổ cổ lông chọn cách chạy vòng qua.

2. Bọ cánh cứng hổ trông như thế nào ?[caption id="attachment_2499" align="alignleft" width="300"]

Bọ cánh cứng hổ úc (Australian tiger beetle)[/caption]

Bọ cánh cứng hổ thường có màu trắng hoặc ánh kim, với các dấu hiệu dễ xác định. Hầu hết các loài đều có màu kim loại, nâu hoặc xanh lá cây. Chúng có hình dáng cơ thể khác biệt khiến chúng dễ nhận ra. Bọ hổ có kích thước nhỏ đến vừa, thường từ 10 đến 20 milimet.

Nếu bạn có cơ hội tiến gần chúng hơn (mặc dù điều này không dễ), bạn sẽ thấy chúng có cặp mắt lớn, dài và những đôi chân thanh mảnh.

Đôi mắt hợp chất lớn của bọ cánh cứng hổ cho phép chúng phát hiện ra con mồi hoặc động vật ăn thịt nhanh chóng, ngay cả bạn đang hợp với chúng một góc 120 độ, đó là lý do tại sao chúng phản ứng rất nhanh khi có ai đó áp sát. Nếu bạn quan sát một cách kỹ, bạn sẽ nhận thấy chúng còn có thể bay, và chúng bay được khoảng 20 hoặc 30 feet.

Nếu bạn sắm một cái ống nhòm, bạn sẽ thấy con bọ cánh cứng hổ có hàm dưới lớn hơn. Hoặc bạn có thể nhận ra điều này thông qua vết cắn của chúng.

3. Phân loại bọ cánh cứng hổ

Trước đây, bọ cọ cánh cứng hổ đã được phân loại như là một họ riêng, Cicindelidae. Những thay đổi gần đây trong việc phân loại bọ cánh cứng, đã xếp chúng vào chung một họ với bọ cánh cứng đất.

Giới - Động vật (Animalia)

Ngành - Chân khớp (Arthropoda)

Lớp - Côn trùng (Insecta)

Bộ - Bộ cánh cứng (Coleoptera)

Họ - Bọ chân chạy (Carabidae)

Phân họ - Bọ hổ (Cicindelinae)

II. Bọ cánh cứng hổ và môi trường sống:

1. Bọ cánh cứng hổ ăn gì ?

Bọ cánh cứng hổ trưởng thành ăn côn trùng nhỏ và động vật chân đốt khác. Chúng sử dụng tốc độ của mình và cái hàm dưới khỏe mạnh để tước đi sự sống của con mồi. Ấu trùng bọ hổ cũng là loài động vật ăn tạp, nhưng kỹ thuật săn bắt của chúng khá ngược lại với con bọ trưởng thành.

Ấu trùng bọ hổ ngồi và chờ đợi con mồi trong các hố đất hoặc hố cát. Chúng tự cố định cơ thể mình với hai móc ở phần bụng, vì vậy chúng không thể bị kéo đi bởi một động vật chân đốt lớn hơn và mạnh hơn. Một khi ở vị trí đó, ấu trùng ngồi, với hàm mở, chờ đợi bất cứ con mồi nào đi ngang qua và đóng cửa miệng lại. Nếu ấu trùng bọ cánh cứng hổ bắt thành công con mồi, nó sẽ rút lui vào hố để thưởng thức bữa tiệc.

2. Vòng đời của bọ cánh cứng hổ

Giống như tất cả những loài bọ cánh cứng khác. Bọ cánh cứng hổ cũng trải qua quá trình tiến hóa gồm 4 giai đoạn:

Trứng

Ấu trùng

Nhộm

Trưởng thành

Con bọ hổ mẹ sẽ đào một cái hố sâu 1cm và đặt một quả trứng vào trước khi lấp số đất đó đi. Ấu trùng nở dưới mặt đất, trỗi dậy và tiếp tục phát triển thêm 3 thời kỳ trong giai đoạn này. Giai đoạn ấu trùng có thể mất đến vài năm để tiến hóa thành nhộng. Cuối cùng, con nhộng chôn mình xuống đất và trưởng thành sau một khoảng thời gian dài. Vòng đời của bọ cánh cứng hổ cứ như thế mà tiếp diễn.

Nhiều loài bọ cánh cứng hổ trưởng thành vào mùa thu, trước khi trải qua mùa đông lạnh giá. Chúng ngủ đông trong những tháng đông, chờ đợi mùa xuân đến để trào ra, tìm kiếm thức ăn và sinh sản. Một số loài khác lại trưởng thành trong mùa hè và sinh sản luôn vào thời gian này.

3. Những hành động tự vệ của bọ cánh cứng hổ

Một số loài bọ cánh cứng hổ sản xuất và phóng cyanide (xyanua - một chất cực độc) khi đối mặt với kẻ thù hoặc bị đe dọa bởi những loài động vật ăn thịt. Những loài này thường sử dụng màu sắc aposematic để cảnh báo cho kẻ thù rằng chúng không dễ bị bắt nạt. Nếu một động vật ăn thịt từng bị thất bại trước một con bọ cánh cứng hổ, nó sẽ không bao giờ quên hình ảnh con bọ cánh cứng hổ với cái miệng đầy xyanua.

Nhiều loài bọ cánh cứng hổ sống trong môi trường cực nóng, như cồn cát và sa mạc. Làm thế nào mà chúng có thể sống sót mà không bị nấu trên cát trắng nóng? Những loài này thường có màu trắng hoặc kim loại, cho phép chúng phản xạ ánh sáng mặt trời chiếu vào lưng. Chúng thường có lông ở dưới đáy cơ thể để bảo vệ khỏi sự tỏa nhiệt trên mặt cát. Và chúng sử dụng đôi chân dài và mỏng của mình để nâng cơ thể lên từ mặt đất và cho phép không khí chảy quanh cơ thể.

4. Phân bố

Ước tính có khoảng 2.600 loài bọ cánh cứng hổ sống trên khắp thế giới. Ở Bắc Mỹ, có khoảng 111 loài bọ cánh cứng được mô tả.

Một số loài bọ cánh cứng hổ đòi hỏi điều kiện môi trường rất cụ thể, giới hạn phạm vi của chúng đáng kể. Môi trường sống hạn chế đã làm cho một số quần thể bọ cánh cứng gặp rủi ro, vì bất kỳ sự xáo trộn nào của môi trường cũng có thể đe dọa sự sống còn của chúng.

Thật vậy, bọ hổ rất nhạy cảm với những thay đổi như vậy, chúng được coi là công cụ để đánh giá các chỉ số sinh học về sức khoẻ môi trường. Chúng có thể là loài đầu tiên trong một hệ sinh thái bị giảm số lượng bởi sự ảnh hưởng của thuốc trừ sâu, môi trường sống hoặc thay đổi khí hậu.

Tại Hoa Kỳ, ba loài bọ cánh cứng được liệt kê là nguy cấp, và hai loài bị đe dọa:

Salt Creek tiger beetle (Cicindela nevadica lincolniana) – Nguy cơ tuyệt chủng

Ohlone tiger beetle (Cicindela ohlone) – Nguy cơ tuyệt chủng

Miami tiger beetle (Cicindela floridana) – Nguy cơ tuyệt chủng

Northeastern beach tiger beetle (Cicindela dorsalis dorsalis) –Đang bị đe dọa

Puritan tiger beetle (Cicindela puritan) - Đang bị đe dọa

Dịch vụ diet con trung chúc bạn thành công!

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