The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources published guides to many threatened animals living in the state.  This guide gives information about the White Beach Tiger Beetle, including description, status, habitat, conservation challenges & recommendations, and measures of success

Ciegler, Janet C.

Holmes, Joey

South Carolina State Documents Depository

White Beach Tiger Beetle  
Cicindela dorsalis media 
Contributors:  Janet C. Ciegler and Joey Holmes 
 
DESCRIPTION  
 
Taxonomy and Basic Description 
 
For many years, tiger beetles were considered to be in a 
family by themselves, the Cicindelidae.  Recent research 
has shown, however, that they are more correctly placed in 
the subfamily Cicindelinae in the Carabidae, the ground 
beetles.  Cicindela is the largest genus in the subfamily, 
having more than one thousand species worldwide. 
 
Cicindela dorsalis was named by Thomas Say in 1817 and 
Cicindela media by John LeConte in 1857; currently, these two are considered subspecies of the 
same species. C. dorsalis media occurs along the southeast coast of the United States, including 
South Carolina and C. dorsalis dorsalis occurs along the northeast coast.  Two other subspecies, 
C. dorsalis saulcyi and C. dorsalis venusta, are found along the coasts of Florida, the Gulf of 
Mexico and Mexico (Boyd 1982). 
 
The white beach tiger beetle ranges from 10.5 to 13.5 mm (0.41 to 0.53 inches) in length.  Like 
all tiger beetles, its legs and antennae are long and slender and its jaws are large.  The elytra 
(wing coverings) are white with narrow sinuous bronze markings; the head and pronotum are 
bronze.  The pronotum and sides of the under surface are densely covered with white hairs.  The 
sides of the elytra of males are nearly parallel whereas females are somewhat more broadly 
rounded.  The pale coloration renders the beetle well camouflaged on the light sand where it 
lives. 
 
Status  
 
The northern white beach tiger beetle, C. dorsalis dorsalis, is on the federally threatened list 
because of extensive destruction of its habitat.  This subspecies historically ranged from 
Massachusetts to the Chesapeake Bay and is now found only in the Chesapeake Bay area.  Even 
there, the narrow beaches, 3 to 10 meters (9.8 to 32.8 feet) in width, are barely wide enough to 
support this beetle. The related subspecies in South Carolina, the southern white beach tiger 
beetle (C. dorsalis media), is being extirpated in parts of its range as well; however, there is no 
federal or state ranking for this species. 
 
POPULATION DISTRIBUTION AND SIZE  
 
This beetle historically ranged from southern New Jersey to Miami, but its range has been 
diminished at both extremes.  In South Carolina, it once occurred on all wide sandy beaches, but 
no longer is present where human development or severe erosion have destroyed appropriate 
habitat, such as in the city of Myrtle Beach (Knisley and Schultz 1997).  It still may be found on 
Cicindela dorsalis media 
Photo by Jan Ciegler 
 2
those beaches that are relatively undisturbed, including Waites Island, Cherry Grove Beach, 
Huntington Beach, Isle of Palms, Folly Island, Seabrook Island and Edisto Beach; the largest 
population is at Seabrook Island where the dunes are most extensive.  It occurred on Hunting 
Island as recently as 2002 but the beach has undergone severe erosion so its current status is in 
doubt. 
 
Population size for the white beach tiger beetle has not been determined in South Carolina. 
 
HABITAT AND NATURAL COMMUNITY REQUIREMENTS  
 
The adult white beach tiger beetle is a predator; the adults run actively on the sand to catch prey 
that includes small insects.  Larvae are also predators, hiding in burrows with only their jaws 
protruding to catch unwary insects or a variety of small animals of suitable size that come within 
their reach.  Therefore, larvae need a safe place for development above the high tide line; both 
stages require a large enough expanse of naturally shifting ocean beach so that sufficient prey is 
available. 
 
CHALLENGES 
 
Loss of habitat represents the most significant challenge to South Carolina’s white beach tiger 
beetle.  Building and road construction, deposition of dredge spoil, extensive driving on the 
beach and heavy foot traffic can destroy the natural qualities of a beach so as to make it 
uninhabitable by beach tiger beetles.  Erosion can narrow or eliminate the sandy beach and 
severely impact the beetles.  Construction of groins and bulkheads reduces natural movement of 
the sand and suitability for these tiger beetles (Knisley and Schultz 1997). 
 
Water quality offshore needs to be moderately clean and free from toxic substances (such as oil 
spills) so that aquatic and semi-aquatic animals are available as prey for tiger beetles and so that 
larvae are not poisoned in their burrows (Knisley and Schultz 1997).    
 
CONSERVATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS 
 
Efforts to save the endangered least terns on our public beaches also contribute to an 
environment suitable for tiger beetles.  This effort is largely fencing off tern nesting areas and 
informing the public about the necessity to protect the terns.  Actions to protect the dunes 
themselves, such as keeping people off the dunes, preventing sea oats collection and prohibiting 
structures such as groins and bulkheads all contribute to a good habitat for these beetles.   
 
CONSERVATION RECOMMENDATIONS 
 
• Conduct surveys for the white beach tiger beetle to track its continued decline and/or 
return to available habitat. 
• Work with appropriate state, local and non-governmental agencies and coastal 
municipalities and communities to reduce current and future impacts of development on 
beach environments. 
 3
• Educate the public about the importance of beach dune habitat and initiate participative 
projects such as dune vegetation plantings.  
• Encourage planned development projects in coastal zones, particularly on barrier islands 
to reduce associated impacts of development on the long-term health of sandy beach 
habitats in South Carolina. 
• Discourage building or repair of seas walls and groins on South Carolina’s beaches to 
allow more natural movement of sand and, ultimately, more natural beach renourishment. 
• When feasible, remove dams and reservoirs that block flow of sand and sediment from 
upland areas to allow for more natural beach renourishment. 
 
MEASURES OF SUCCESS 
 
As research and management needs are identified, projects will be initiated to address those 
needs. If the white beach tiger beetle makes a comeback in areas that were previously void of the 
species, we will consider this a success. 
 
LITERATURE CITED 
 
Boyd, H.P.  1982.  Checklist of Cicindelidae: The tiger beetles.  Plexus Publishing, Inc. New 
Jersey. 31 pp. 
 
Knisley, C.B. and T.D. Schultz.  1997. Tiger beetles and a guide to the species of the South 
Atlantic states.  Virginia Museum of Natural History, Martinsville.  209 pp. 
 


White Beach Tiger Beetle

https://dc.statelibrary.sc.gov/bitstream/10827/11044/1/DNR_Species_White_Beach_Tiger_Beetle_2005.pdf

White Beach Tiger Beetle

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