Dune Tiger Beetle
Cicindela hybrida
Tap image to enlarge · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
The Dune Tiger Beetle is one of the most exciting insects of the Sefton Coast. It's fast, iridescent and a voracious predator. The bronze-green body with pale markings catches the light and the massive jaws are a giveaway — these beetles hunt other invertebrates on the sand surface, running them down with speed or ambushing from shallow burrows in the sand. The Sefton Coast holds one of the better populations in England. Hot, sunny conditions are needed — they disappear in cloud.
At a Glance
| Order | Coleoptera |
| Family | Carabidae |
| Habitat | Bare sand dune · Open sandy ground · Dune blowout |
| Diet | Other invertebrates — ants, beetles, flies — pursued and caught on the sand surface or ambushed from burrows |
| UK population | Restricted to coastal dunes; declining due to habitat loss — amber-listed beetle |
| Sefton Coast | One of the better populations in England; present on open bare sandy areas at Ainsdale NNR |
| Conservation | UK Amber List |
Where to See It
Open bare sandy areas on the dunes at Ainsdale NNR and Birkdale. Runs fast on hot sand.
Identification
Medium beetle to 16mm. Reddish-brown with pale cream markings on elytra. Long legs, prominent eyes, massive mandibles. Very fast on bare sand. Flies short distances if approached.
Viewing & Photography Tips
Visit the hottest, most exposed bare sandy areas of the dunes on a hot summer day. Move slowly and look several metres ahead — they see you before you see them and take flight if approached quickly.
Conservation Status
UK Amber List
This species is of moderate conservation concern. Population monitoring and habitat management on the Sefton Coast support its continued recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Tiger Beetles so hard to approach?
Tiger Beetles have large, forward-facing eyes that give them excellent wide-angle vision, combined with very fast running speed (relative to body size they are among the fastest insects). As you approach, they see you and run or fly a short distance, then land and turn to face you again. The trick is to approach very slowly, pausing when they turn to face you, allowing them to habituate to your presence.
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.