Cow Path Tiger Beetle Cicindela purpurea purpurea Olivier, 1790S3 (Watch list)    Synonyms: Purple Tiger Beetle.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Coleoptera   >   Family Carabidae   >   Genus Cicindela   

Status:

Cicindela purpurea has a wide range across much of North America. In Maryland, the nominate form occurs. This species generally prefers grassy habitats with patches of open, bare substrate, including pastures and powerline rights-of-way. The soil type can vary from primarily clay, to having a substantial sandy component. It is among the first species of tiger beetles to become active in spring, and can sometimes be found basking on warm sunny days in March. Cow Path Tiger Beetles are often quite wary, and tend to fly long distances when flushed. They also often occur at low densities, which makes detecting populations in small patches of habitat difficult (Knisley & Schultz, 1997). This species is on the watch list (S3).

There are 17 records in the project database.

View images at BugGuide

View taxon at iNaturalist

View taxon at NatureServe

Search Google Images

Search MBP Facebook posts (beta | requires login)


[View seasonality details]
GA AL WA FRCLMOHOBA BCHACEPG AA CVCHSMKEQA CNTADOWISOWO
A Cow Path Tiger Beetle in Allegany Co., Maryland (4/19/2015). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A Cow Path Tiger Beetle in Bedford Co., Pennsylvania (5/28/2007). Photo by Ben Coulter. (MBP list)

A Cow Path Tiger Beetle in Allegany Co., Maryland (10/21/2019). Image processed by Erick Hernandez. Photo by USGS PWRC. (MBP list)

A Cow Path Tiger Beetle in Allegany Co., Maryland (10/21/2019). Image processed by Erick Hernandez. Photo by USGS PWRC. (MBP list)

A Cow Path Tiger Beetle in Bedford Co., Pennsylvania (5/28/2007). Photo by Ben Coulter. (MBP list)

Cow Path Tiger Beetle in Allegany Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) tomfeild, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Tom Feild. (MBP list)

A Cow Path Tiger Beetle in Allegany Co., Maryland (3/30/2016). Photo by Rick Borchelt. (MBP list)

Cow Path Tiger Beetle in Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Derek Hennen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Derek Hennen. (MBP list)

A Cow Path Tiger Beetle collected in Allegany Co., Maryland (4/13/2015). Determined by Richard Wrigley/BugGuide. Photo by Rick Borchelt. (MBP list)

A Cow Path Tiger Beetle collected in Allegany Co., Maryland (4/13/2015). Determined by Richard Wrigley/BugGuide. Photo by Rick Borchelt. (MBP list)


View All Images

Use of images featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.