Amblycheila cylindriformis
Encyclopedia
Amblycheila cylindriformis is a species of flightless tiger beetle
. It shares its genus with at least five other species in the United States
, with a few more found in Mexico
.
The beetle is nocturnal and flightless, and lives in grassland
areas of the Great Plains
; far-southwestern South Dakota
seems to be the northernmost limit of its habitat. A. cylindriformis can be found walking along bare ground at night, and can be collected in pitfall traps.
Tiger beetle
The tiger beetles are a large group of beetles known for their aggressive predatory habits and running speed. The fastest species of tiger beetle can run at a speed of 9 km/h , which, relative to its body length, is about 22 times the speed of former Olympic sprinter Michael Johnson, the...
. It shares its genus with at least five other species in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, with a few more found in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
The beetle is nocturnal and flightless, and lives in grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
areas of the Great Plains
Great Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
; far-southwestern South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
seems to be the northernmost limit of its habitat. A. cylindriformis can be found walking along bare ground at night, and can be collected in pitfall traps.
External links
- Tiger Beetles of South Dakota
- BugGuide - photos of Amblycheila