Cicindela formosa formosa Dejean Cicindela formosa generosa Say
Distribution in North Dakota
Identification: Body size large, about 15 mm to 17 mm in length. Dorsal surfaces of head, prothorax, and elytra either metallic dark red (C. f. formosa) or dark brown to black (C. f. generosa). Both subspecies have light elytral markings. All elytral markings are complete and connected. Labrum tridentate. Clypeus glabrous or with a few setae. Frons and genae setose. Antennal scape with four or five sensory setae.
Remarks: This is North Dakotas largest tiger beetle. Two subspecies occur here: C. f. formosa Dejean and C. f. generosa Say. The two can be separated by elytral coloring. C. f. formosa has metallic dark red elytra while C. f. generosa has dark brown to black elytra. Some C. f. generosa have deep burgundy elytra. It should be noted that the North Dakota populations of C. f. generosa probably belongs to C. f. manitoba which was formerly recognized as a distinct subspecies but is now included in C. f. generosa. Some authors still recognize C. f. manitoba as a separate subspecies. The only other tiger beetle species that can be confused with C. formosa is C. lengi. C. lengi superficially resembles C. f. formosa in elytral coloration and markings, but is slightly smaller and has a distinctly longer labrum than C. f. formosa.
Habitat: Sparsely vegetated sand dunes, road cuts, and other open areas with sandy soils. Usually not found around water.
Distribution: C. f. formosa occurs in western North Dakota, although a large series of specimens was collected in Eddy Co. in 1968. C. f. generosa have also been collected from Eddy Co. C. f. generosa occurs in eastern North Dakota in the northern tier of counties along the Canadian border and in the southeastern part of the state.
Season: A spring/fall species. In North Dakota, adults are most active in late May and June and again in August and September, although they can be found throughout the season.
Key to the adults of North Dakota C. formosa (adapted from Gaumer 1977):
1 Punctures of elytra same color as elytral ground color; elytral ground color brick red .................................................................... C. formosa formosa Say
1' Punctures of elytra a different color as elytral ground color; elytral ground color dark brown to black ........................................... C. formosa generosa Dejean