Tiger beetles (Cicindelidae)

These beetles are swift and ferocious predators. The adults have large, prominent eyes, strong mandibles (jaws) and long legs.  A tiger beetle can inflict a sever bite with its fearsome jaws if handled carelessly. Many of the tiger beetles are brilliantly metallic-coloured, but there are uniformly black forms too. They are mainly active during the hottest time of the day and may be seen running about open sandy areas such as roadsides and edges of ponds, at any time of the year. The female lays her eggs in the soil. The grubs excavate little burrows and lie in wait for passing insects to catch. The larva may take up to a year or more to reach full size, as its growth rate is dependent on how many victims fall prey to it. When fully grown, the larva makes a cell beside its tunnel and changes into a pupa. About a month later the adult beetle emerges.     

Cicindela sp.

Mantichora sp.