Tigers in Texas
Ross Winton Texas Master Naturalist Annual Meeting Invertebrate Biologist Rockwall, Texas Nongame & Rare Species Program October 18-20, 2019 Texas Parks & Wildlife
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Tigers in Texas Texas Parks and Wildlife
Mission To manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
Nongame & Rare Species Program The Nongame and Rare Species Programs focus is Texas' rich diversity of nongame animals, plants, and natural communities. Our biologists collect, evaluate, and synthesize significant amounts of data to better inform conservation decisions and formulate management practices. By taking a proactive approach, we work to prevent the need for future threatened and endangered species listings and to recover listed species. Photo: Alliance Texas for America’sWildlife &Fish Tigers in Texas Coleoptera: Carabidae: Cicindelinae
Predatory Ground Beetles Sight predators Larvae burrow and wait for prey
Identification: Sickle-shaped mandibles with teeth 11-segmented antennae Eyes and head wider than the abdomen Long thin legs Tunnel-building behavior of larvae
Very charismatic group that gains a great deal of attention from collectors
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Tigers in Texas
Collecting Methods: Net Pitfall Trap Debris Flipping Extraction from nightly burrows “Fishing”
Observation Methods: Naked Eye Binoculars Digi-scoping
Know Habitat Associations Anticipating Emergence Great Guide Books
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter, Arizona State University Morphology
Segments of the body
Thorax characters
Elytral maculation
Setae
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter, Arizona State University Life Cycle: 1-5 years, larvae to adult
Activity Period: spring, summer, fall
Notes: Nocturnal Found on Sand Dunes Quick to Fly or Flightless
Tiger Beetle The “Giant” Tiger Beetles Amblycheila
Life Cycle: Up to 5-year
Activity Period: Spring/Fall, Nocturnal
Notes: - Utilize Mammal Burrows - Largest of the Texas Cicindelines - Flightless - Do not come to lights
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter The “Giant” Tiger Beetles Amblycheila
South Texas Giant Tiger Beetle Plateau Giant Tiger Beetle Amblycheila hoversoni Amblycheila picolominii
Great Plains Giant Tiger Beetle Amblycheila halffteri ? Amblycheila cylindriformis Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter The “Giant” Tiger Beetles Amblycheila
South Texas Giant Tiger Beetle Great Plains Giant Tiger Beetle Plateau Giant Tiger Beetle
Source: Knisley et al. 2006 The “Dromo” Tiger Beetles Cicindela (Dromochorus)
Life Cycle: 2-year
Activity Period: Summer, Late in Day or Cloudy
Notes: - Often Flightless or Not Quick to Fly
Photo: Dan Duran, D.P. Duran et al. 2019 The “Dromo” Tiger Beetles Cicindela (Dromochorus) Loamy-ground Tiger Beetle Dromochorus belfragei Frosted Tiger Beetle Dromochorus pruininus Cajun Tiger Beetle Dromochorus pilatei
Velvet Tiger Beetle Dromochorus velutinigrens
Photo: Dan Duran, D.P. Duran et al. 2019 The “Dromo” Tiger Beetles Cicindela (Dromochorus) Chaparral Tiger Beetle Dromochorus chaparralensis Gulf Prairie Tiger Beetle Dromochorus welderensis Juniper Grove Tiger Beetle Dromochorus knisleyi
Pygmy Dromo Tiger Beetle Dromochorus minimus
Photo: Dan Duran, D.P. Duran et al. 2019 The “Dromo” Tiger Beetles Cicindela (Dromochorus)
Dromochorus belfragei Dromochorus pruininus Dromochorus pilatei Dromochorus velutinigrens Dromochorus chaparralensis Dromochorus welderensis Dromochorus knisleyi Dromochorus minimus
Source: Duran et al. 2019 The “Big-headed” Tiger Beetles Tetracha
Life Cycle: 3 to 4-year
Activity Period: Summer
Notes: - Flightless or Not Quick to Fly - Some species nocturnal - Some species come to lights
Photo: Mike Quinn The “Big-headed” Tiger Beetles Tetracha
Pan-American Big-headed Tiger Beetle Tetracha carolina
Upland Big-headed Tiger Beetle Tetracha affinis
Virginia Big-headed Tiger Beetle Tetracha virginica
Photo: Mike Quinn The “Big-headed” Tiger Beetles Tetracha
Pan-American Big-headed Tiger Beetle Upland Big-headed Tiger Beetle Virginia Big-headed Tiger Beetle
Source: Knisley et al. 2006 The “Temperate” Tiger Beetles Cicindela
Life Cycle: 3 to 4-year
Activity Period: Spring, Summer & Fall
Notes: - Typically Quick to Fly - Many species partition by soil type - Very popular with collectors - Some species with multiple subspecies
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Life Cycle: 2+ years Activity Period: Spring, Fall Big Sand Notes: F – sand associate, Splendid S- red clay soils on roads Tiger Beetle Tiger Beetle Cicindela formosa Cicindela splendida
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Life Cycle: 2-year Activity Period: Spring(s,r), Fall(r) Six-spotted Notes: S- Forest paths, Tiger Beetle R-Waters edge in sandy Bronzed Tiger Beetle Cicindela sexguttata substrates. Cicindela repanda
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Life Cycle: 2+ years Activity Period: Spring, Fall Notes: F – salt flats, D – silty Twelve-spotted Crimson Saltflat & sandy soils near water Tiger Beetle Tiger Beetle Cicindela Cicindela fulgida duodecimguttata
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter, Ken Allen Life Cycle: 2-years Activity Period: Spring, Fall Notes: Sandy soils in open and forest. Festive Cicindela s. scutellaris Cicindela s. flavoviridis Cicindela s. rugata Tiger Beetle
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter, Mike Quinn Life Cycle: 2-3 years Activity Period: Spring, Fall Notes: Sandy to sandy-clay Cow Path Hairy-necked soils. H-waters edge, P- Tiger Beetle open paths and trails Tiger Beetle Cicindela hirticollis Cicindela purpurea
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Life Cycle: 2-years Activity Period: Spring, Fall Notes: D-grassy clay Beautiful prairies, P-compact sandy Green Claybank Tiger Beetle soils Tiger Beetle Cicindela pulchra Cicindela denverensis
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter The “Tribon” Tiger Beetles Cicindela (Tribonia)
Life Cycle: 2 to 3-year
Activity Period: Spring & Fall
Notes: - Typically Quick to Fly - Many species partition by soil type - 5 species in the subgenus, 2 in Texas - Some species with multiple subspecies Life Cycle: 2-years Activity Period: Spring, Fall Notes: T-widespread, L- Oblique-lined sandy soil in open areas Blowout Tiger Beetle Tiger Beetle Cicindela tranquebarica Cicindela lengi
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter The “American” Tiger Beetles Cicindela (Cicindelidia)
Life Cycle: 2-year
Activity Period: Spring, Summer & Fall
Notes: - Typically Quick to Fly - Many species partition by soil type - Several species with red-brown to bright orange - Small eyes and often shorter legs - Several are only active in the summer *
Life Cycle: 2-year Activity Period: Spring, SUMMER & Fall Notes: N-sandy soil in Williston’s grass in summer at Black Sky Tiger Beetle waters edge, W-clay at Tiger Beetle Cicindela willistoni waters edge Cicindela nigrocoerulea
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter *
Life Cycle: 2-3 years Activity Period: Summer, Fall Notes: Gravel-loam to clay Horn’s soils with salinity, hide under Large Grassland Tiger Beetle debris at mid-day Tiger Beetle Cicindela hornii Cicindela obsoleta
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Life Cycle: 2-year Activity Period: Summer Notes: Hard packed sand, Punctured clay, loam near waters Thin-lined Tiger Beetle edge. Tiger Beetle Cicindela punctulata Cicindela tenuisignata
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter * ?
Life Cycle: 2-year Activity Period: Summer, Fall Notes: P-Found on rock Limestone outcrops, Limestone scrub Cazier’s Tiger Beetle Tiger Beetle Cicindela politula Cicindela cazieri
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Eastern Red-bellied Life Cycle: 1-2 year cycle Tiger Beetle Activity Period: Summer Cicindela rufiventris Notes: Summer active and comes to lights, R- Western Red-bellied rocky outcrops, slow Tiger Beetle flyer. S-mudflats and Cicindela playas sedecimpunctata Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter, Tom Murray Life Cycle: 1-year Activity Period: Summer Notes: Mud & alkali flats, Ocellated ocean beaches Wetsalts Tiger Beetle Tiger Beetle Cicindela ocellata Cicindela hemorrhagica
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Life Cycle: 1-2 years Activity Period: Summer Notes: S – attracted to lights, Saline limestone at Schaupp’s the edge of vegetation, T- S-banded Tiger Beetle coastal dunes and shore. Tiger Beetle Cicindela schauppii Cicindela trifasciata
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter The “Habro” Tiger Beetles Cicindela (Habroscelimorpha)
Life Cycle: 1 - 2 year
Activity Period: Summer
Notes: - Typically Slow to Fly but very fast runner - Tropical to sub-Tropical species - Often coastal or playa associated - Some attracted to lights *
Life Cycle: 1-2 year Activity Period: Summer Notes: Moist muddy salt Cream-edged flats. Attracted to lights. Glittering Tiger Beetle Tiger Beetle Cicindela circumpicta Cicindela fulgoris
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Life Cycle: 1-2 years Activity Period: Summer Notes: Attracted to lights. Eastern Beach Found on coastal dunes Gulfshore Tiger Beetle and shorelines. Tiger Beetle Cicindela dorsalis Cicindela pamphila
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Life Cycle: 1-2 years Activity Period: Summer Saltmarsh Notes: Attracted to lights, quick to fly, moist mud or sand from coast to Tiger Beetle marshes. Sometimes escapes into Cicindela severa fiddler crab holes.
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter *
Life Cycle: 1-2 year Activity Period: Summer Notes: White-cloaked Only species in the genus. Spine at the Tiger Beetle tip of the elytra. Thick white setae or Cicindela (Eunota) hairs on the body. Attracted to lights togata and well adapted to hot conditions.
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Life Cycle: 1-2 years? Activity Period: June - July Notes: Confined to beaches in far Lime-headed southern Texas in a single isolated Tiger Beetle population. Very fast runner that runs along the beach at the waters edge. Cicindela (Opilidia) Has not been detected in over 100 chlorocephala
Photo: Christopher C. Wirth, Smithsonian Institution years. The “Round-thorax” Tiger Beetles Cicindela (Cylindera)
Life Cycle: 1 to 2-year
Activity Period: Summer
Notes: - Small body size - Little to no hair on the thorax - Active only in the summer ?
Life Cycle: 1-2 years Activity Period: Summer Notes: Easy to mistake for large red harvester White-striped ants which are found in Grass-runner Tiger Beetle the same habitats. Not Tiger Beetle Cicindela lemniscata good flyers Cicindela debilis
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter *
Life Cycle: 1-2 years Activity Period: Summer Swift Tiger Beetle Notes: Flightless and runs like an ant Cicindela celeripes at the bases of vegetation in a variety of soils. Rarely collected.
Photo: Charles Schurch Lewallen The “Ellipsed-winged” Tiger Beetles Cicindela (Ellipsoptera)
Life Cycle: 1 to 3-year
Activity Period: Spring through Fall
Notes: - Coastal species or at the waters edge - Very large eyes and long legs *
Life Cycle: 1-2 years Activity Period: Spring - Fall Notes: H- comes to lights White-striped and flies short distances, N- Grass-runner Tiger Beetle found on wet often alkali or Tiger Beetle Cicindela hamata saline soils. Cicindela nevadica
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Life Cycle: 1-2 years Activity Period: Spring -Fall Notes: Normally flightless and White-striped attracted to lights. Sandy sparsely Grass-runner vegetated areas near water. Tiger Beetle Tiger Beetle Cicindela cuprascens Cicindela macra
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Life Cycle: 2-3 year Activity Period: Summer Notes: Muddy and sandy White-striped beaches near water. Grass-runner Tiger Beetle Often flightless and Tiger Beetle Cicindela sperata attracted to lights. Cicindela marutha
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Life Cycle: 2-3 years Activity Period: Summer Notes: Prefers dune habitat and is often found in swales. Larval burrows White-striped can reach 2-3m deep. Attracted to Tiger Beetle lights. Flies straight up and is caught Cicindela lepida by wind to evade predators.
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Call to Action Submit your observations (iNat & BugGuide) - Statewide Distribution - Unique species and habitats - Really need observations of SGCN’s and other rare and declining species
Photos - Take Good Clear Photos from multiple angles - Make notes and take photos of Habitat
Submit to iNat or BugGuide to help us learn more about these unique Texas species. References & Acknowledgements
Data: Pearson et al. 2006 Duran et al. 2019 Mike Quinn (TexasEnto)
Photos: Chris Grinter Mike Quinn Chris Wirth Dan Duran Charles Schurch Lewallen Tom Murray Ken Allen
Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter