Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

Or “Cicindela sexguttata.” Is it just me, or does this *Six*-spotted Tiger Beetle have *eight* spots?

It’s more officially spring when the bugs start coming out, right MaryBeth??!!?? Spotted this guy walking through the woods on campus. (It’s a cooler walk when the weather is warm-to-hot!)

Confirmed at BugGuide as “Cicindela sexguttata” or “Six-spotted Tiger Beetle”; http://bugguide.net/node/view/925425/bgimage

Taxonomically:
» Class, “Insecta” (Insects)
»» Order, “Coleoptera” (Beetles)
»»» Suborder, “Adephaga” (Ground and Water Beetles)
»»»» Family, “Carabidae” (Ground Beetles)
»»»»» Subfamily, “Cicindelinae” (Tiger Beetles)
»»»»»» Tribe, “Cicindelini” (Flashy Tiger Beetles)
»»»»»»» Genus, “Cicindela” (Common Tiger Beetles)
»»»»»»»» Species, “sexguttata” (Six-spotted Tiger Beetle)

1 year ago (“Natural dissection”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-05-20
2 years ago (“Amtrak Superliner: Texas Eagle #21”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-05-20
3 years ago (“‘Comcast Building,’ in Philadelphia”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-05-20

[Lydia]

Beautiful bug!

[Lindy]

Great macro. I love the contrast of that wood.

[Rick Schies]

Yeah, I agree, I see eight