Cicindela cursitans LeConte Distribution in North Dakota
Identification: Body size small, almost always < 9 mm in length. Dorsal surfaces of head and prothorax dark green to dark brown. Prothorax long and cylindrical. Dorsal surface of elytra dark green to dark brown with metallic green punctures. Elytral maculations light colored and incomplete. Middle band often broken and terminating as a distinct dot. Labrum with a single distinct tooth. Clypeus glabrous. Frons and genae glabrous. Antennal scape with one sensory seta.
Remarks: C. cursitans is the smallest tiger beetle occurring in North Dakota and can readily be identified by its size alone. It is flightless and runs very fast when disturbed.
Habitat: C. cursitans occurs in moist, shady areas on sandy and loamy soils. In North Dakota, C. cursitans occurs in moist prairie areas and vegetated sand dunes in oak savannah.
North Dakota Distribution: C. cursitans is found primarily in southeastern North Dakota, although a series of 10 individuals was collected from Oliver County in 1971. Most of the North Dakota museum specimens were collected from the Sheyenne National Grasslands in Ransom and Richland Counties.
Season: A summer species, adults are active from mid-July throught August.