The Six-spotted Tiger Beetle is a brilliant metallic green beetle with (usually) six white spots on its elytra, though the spots are sometimes absent. It is one of the fastest-running insects in the world relative to its body size and is a voracious predator of ants and small insects. It is frequently seen running along forest paths in dappled sunlight.
Best time to see a Six-spotted Tiger Beetle
The best time to see a Six-spotted Tiger Beetle is April–May, when about 67% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 46,829 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Six-spotted Tiger Beetle? What bug is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Six-spotted Tiger Beetle sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
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