Here’s a full natural history overview of the Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela campestris), one of Europe’s most striking and agile predatory beetles:

**Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela campestris)**

Taxonomy & Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Carabidae (ground beetles)
Subfamily: Cicindelinae (tiger beetles)
Genus: Cicindela
Species: C. campestris

General Description

One of the most recognizable beetles in Europe, known for its brilliant metallic green coloration and fast hunting style.

Size: 10–15 mm in length.
Coloration:
- Dazzling metallic green body with iridescent hues of blue, purple, or bronze depending on light.
- Elytra (wing cases) decorated with small pale yellow or white spots.
Head & Jaws: Large, protruding eyes and long, sickle-shaped mandibles used to seize and crush prey.
Legs: Long and slender, adapted for rapid running.
Antennae: Thin, threadlike, sensitive to vibrations and smells.

Behavior & Lifestyle

Activity: Diurnal, active on sunny days.
Hunting:
- Voracious predators, feeding on ants, caterpillars, spiders, and other small arthropods.
- Ambush hunters: run in short bursts, then pause to scan for prey before pouncing.
Flight: Can fly readily, though they prefer to chase prey on foot.
Reproduction:
- Mating occurs in spring.
- Eggs laid individually in burrows dug into sandy or loose soil.
Larvae:
- Ambush predators living in vertical burrows.
- Wait at burrow entrance with jaws open; when prey passes, they snap shut and drag it inside.
- Development lasts 1–2 years depending on climate.

Habitat

Prefers open, sunny habitats with sandy or dry soils, such as:
- Grasslands
- Heathlands
- Sandy banks, dunes, and paths
- Open woodland clearings
Requires warm, exposed ground for hunting and burrowing.

Geographic Range

Widespread across Europe, extending east through Asia into parts of Siberia.
Absent from the far north and from some intensively farmed lowland areas.

Ecological Role

Predator: Controls populations of ants, flies, and small insects.
Prey: Food source for birds, reptiles, and larger arthropods.
Soil Indicator: Presence reflects healthy, undisturbed sandy or grassland habitats.

Special Adaptations

Exceptional Speed: One of the fastest running insects relative to size.
Keen Vision: Large compound eyes provide wide field of view to detect movement.
Powerful Mandibles: Capable of overpowering prey almost as large as themselves.
Larval Ambush Strategy: Burrow-dwelling larvae can survive long periods with little food.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List: Not globally threatened, listed as Least Concern.
Regional Declines: In parts of northern and western Europe due to:
- Habitat loss (intensive farming, afforestation).
- Trampling of nesting grounds.
- Climate and land-use changes.
Protected in some countries where populations are shrinking.

Interesting Facts

Their hunting style resembles that of big cats, which is why they’re called “tiger beetles.”
Can run so fast that their eyes temporarily can’t process visual input—they must stop briefly to reorient before chasing again.
Fossil relatives of tiger beetles date back over 125 million years, showing ancient predatory adaptations.
A single larva may remain in the same burrow for up to two years before pupating.