tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6629602865933201771.post6614026088098652270..comments2023-05-08T21:42:05.380-04:00Comments on Blue Jay Barrens: Eastern Red-Bellied Tiger BeetleSteve Willsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02098584432333519732noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6629602865933201771.post-3501435333770744632010-07-01T21:24:22.895-04:002010-07-01T21:24:22.895-04:00Thanks, TGIQ. If they're up there, I'm su...Thanks, TGIQ. If they're up there, I'm sure you'll find them. I'll be watching for your success.Steve Willsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02098584432333519732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6629602865933201771.post-90067624789467728832010-06-30T23:09:53.393-04:002010-06-30T23:09:53.393-04:00Lovely photos, and great info, Steve. Ted's g...Lovely photos, and great info, Steve. Ted's got me on the lookout for tigers up here in the north, hopefully I'll have the same luck you did!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6629602865933201771.post-43752494113040262642010-06-28T21:48:38.928-04:002010-06-28T21:48:38.928-04:00Thanks, Ted. I'll keep an eye on that hole. ...Thanks, Ted. I'll keep an eye on that hole. <br /><br />I agree that these beetles were fun to watch. There was a lot of chasing and what looked like posturing and a bobbing of the abdomen that I assumed to be some type of communication. I'll keep watching.Steve Willsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02098584432333519732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6629602865933201771.post-33374799181073188622010-06-28T10:49:05.997-04:002010-06-28T10:49:05.997-04:00Also, the leafhopper is probably too big a prey it...Also, the leafhopper is probably too big a prey item. They're not as picky about the type of prey as the size, so something smaller like an ant or small spider would've probably elicited an attack. Once you get an individual comfortable with your presence, you can watch them forage around and see the types of prey that they go for.<br /><br />These beetles have about as much behavioral charisma of any insect group I've studied. They are just plain fun to watch.Ted C. MacRaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07468976060347412389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6629602865933201771.post-23883080679867829382010-06-28T10:37:49.517-04:002010-06-28T10:37:49.517-04:00Hi Steve,
Nice find, and very nice photos. You&#...Hi Steve,<br /><br />Nice find, and very nice photos. You've done a great job describing some of the more interesting aspects of this species and tigers in general.<br /><br />That burrow is almost certainly a larval tiger beetle burrow, although not necessarily the same species. It probably ducked down when it saw you coming. You have to be patient with these guys to see them - I've been known to sit still watching a burrow for 5 or more minutes waiting for it to come back up after spooking it. The best way to see the larvae is to notice holes suddenly appearing in the dirt - that's when they've dropped down, so you know they are active, and then wait them out. Waiting at a hole that you didn't actually see anything happen could be a long wait :)Ted C. MacRaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07468976060347412389noreply@blogger.com