Map Snapshot
11 Records
Status
The Ghost Tiger Beetle (Ellipsoptera lepida) is a widespread species found in deep sand habitats, including sand pits and coastal dune habitats across much of North America, though extant sites are often widely disjunct. The expanded maculations, pale appendages, and dense white setae make this species extremely cryptic on dry sand, and it is often said that when it is stationary, its shadow is more visible than the beetle. This species has declined in many places, and is vulnerable to plant succession, sand extraction, foot traffic, and vehicle traffic, and ATV use (Knisley & Schultz, 1997). In Maryland, it is restricted to Worcester Co., and is ranked as S1 (highly state rare).
Seasonality Snapshot
Source: Wikipedia
| Ellipsoptera lepida | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Cicindelidae |
| Genus: | Ellipsoptera |
| Species: | E. lepida
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| Binomial name | |
| Ellipsoptera lepida (Dejean, 1831)
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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Ellipsoptera lepida, the ghost tiger beetle, or the little white tiger beetle,[2] is a species of flashy tiger beetle in the family Cicindelidae.[1][3][4][5] It is found in Central America and North America.[1] It is a state threatened species in Minnesota.[2][6]
Description
[edit]The ghost tiger beetle is 9–11 mm (0.35–0.43 in) in length. The dorsal surface is white or cream, the head and thorax are green or reddish and covered with white setae, and the maculations are greatly expanded, leaving only small areas of white brown.
The species is active in the summer and it has a two-year life cycle.[7]
Habitat
[edit]Its habitat is in pure white to pale yellow dry sandy areas with sparse or no vegetation. It is commonly found on coastal shorelines or large lake shores.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Ellipsoptera lepida Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
- ^ a b "Species profile - Minnesota DNR - MN Department of Natural Resources". www.dnr.state.mn.us.
- ^ "Ellipsoptera lepida species details". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
- ^ "Ellipsoptera lepida". GBIF. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
- ^ "Ellipsoptera lepida Species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
- ^ Duran, Daniel P.; Gough, Harlan M. (2020). "Validation of tiger beetles as distinct family (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), review and reclassification of tribal relationships". Systematic Entomology. 45 (4). doi:10.1111/syen.12440.
- ^ USGS
Further reading
[edit]- Lobl, I.; Smetana, A., eds. (2017). Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera, Volume 1: Archostemata - Myxophaga - Adephaga. Apollo Books. ISBN 978-90-04-33029-0.