Cicindela nebraskana Casey Cicindela nebraskana Casey
Cicindela longilabris Say (ventral surface for comparison) Distribution in North Dakota
Identification: Medium body size, about 12 to 14 mm in length. Dorsal surfaces of head, prothorax and elytra black. Elytra either unmarked or with very weak middle band and apical dot. Elytra impunctate. Ventral surface of abdomen black and not iridescent. Labrum tridentate and noticeably elongate. Outer teeth of labrum often rounded so that the labrum appears unidentate. Labrum often black, although sometimes tan or white. Clypeus glabrous. Frons and genae glabrous. Antennal scape with 4 sensory setae and several accessory setae.
Remarks: The only other tiger beetle in North Dakota similar to C. nebraskana is C. purpurea. C. nebraskana can be readily distinguished from C. purpurea by the absence of setae on the frons and by the weakly developed middle band if it is present at all. Another similar species, C. longilabris, occurs in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Montana, Wyoming, and the Black Hills of South Dakota but has not yet been recorded from North Dakota. C. longilabris usually has better developed elytral maculations, has a white labrum, and has the ventral surface of the abdomen iridescent blue.
Habitat: Heavy clay soils on short grass or sparsely vegetated mid-grass prairies.
North Dakota Distribution: Found primarily in the north-central and northwestern parts of the state.
Season: A spring/fall species. Adults may be active as early as mid-April and remain active until late May and then again from late August through September.