Dark Nightmare for Small Insects, Pt. 5 - _TNY_9633

On a small logging road, me and Daniel (my son) found two of these wood tiger beetles (Cicindela sylvatica), also known as the heath tiger beetle.

 

They really aren't fans of having their portrait taken so getting my shots meant we had to combine some serious ninja sneaking and some excellent spotting and running by Daniel when they took off and flew five meters and landed somewhere else on the road.

 

These beetles are predators and hunt by running faster than most other bugs and grabbing their prey with those large mandibles.

 

On top of the impressive mandibles and the very fuzzy legs, I also look like they are riddled with RGB lighting like they are the beetle equivalent of a gaming PC.

 

Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53917002544/

 

Part 2 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/54080575174/

 

Part 3 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/54172505329/

 

Part 4 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/54232185654/

Done