What Large Eyes You Have
Enormous, bulging eyes help a tiger beetle spot prey or predators approaching from nearly any direction.
Bitey Beetle
Powerful, pinching jaws are used to snatch and dispatch caterpillars, ants, beetles, and spiders.
It’s All a Blur
At top speeds, a tiger beetle’s vision becomes blurry, and it must stop running to regain its sight. This is why they often dart then stop then dart again.
Wing Wrappers
Shiny shell-like wing covers, called elytra (el-ih-truh), hide and protect the beetle’s wings when they’re not in use.
Six Spots?
Most six-spotted tiger beetles have six white spots on their wing covers. But some don’t have any spots, and others have up to eight.
Speed Demons
Thanks to long, strong legs, tiger beetles are among the fastest runners in the world. Some species can cover 120 body lengths per second!
Also In This Issue

Join Xplor for a guided tour of wet, wild, and wonderful wetlands.

Motivational messages from a three-toed box turtle.
And More...
This Issue's Staff
Photographer – Noppadol Paothong
Photographer – David Stonner
Designer – Marci Porter
Art Director – Cliff White
Editor – Matt Seek
Subscriptions – Marcia Hale
Magazine Manager – Stephanie Thurber