Family: Carabidae
Subfamily: Cicindelinae
Length: 12-15 mm
The tops of the head and pronotum are metallic green to bluish, as are the edges of the elytra. On each elytron, there is no humeral (shoulder) spot, while the center line is very short, and there is a dash on the apex. A couple of other species may appear similar at first glance, but on those the head and pronotum match more closely the color of the elytra.
At the time Thomas J. Allen and Robert E. Acciavatti published their study of West Virginia Cicindelinae in 2002, Cicindela splendida was known from only three counties: Boone, Kanawha, and Wayne. Soon after, it surfaced in Randolph County, and the photo above added a fifth county record, Upshur, in 2006.
The Splendid Tiger Beetle is active very early in the season (the above photo was taken in March) and late in the season (September and October) but may be scarce or absent over most of the summer.
Insects of West Virginia
