Northeastern Beach Tiger Beetle vs African Blister Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Northeastern Beach Tiger Beetle African Blister Beetle
Scientific Name Habroscelimorpha dorsalis dorsalis Mylabris oculata
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Cicindelidae Meloidae
Size 1-1.4 cm 15-30 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Farmland
Diet Predators Parasitoids
Regions United States East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia)
Conservation Endangered Least Concern

Northeastern Beach Tiger Beetle

A tiger beetle of Atlantic coast beaches from New England to Virginia. It nests in sandy beach habitat that is increasingly disturbed by human recreation.

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Did You Know?

Beach-nesting tiger beetles time their larval emergence to avoid high tides and storm surges.

African Blister Beetle

A conspicuous beetle with orange-red and black banded elytra. It contains cantharidin, a potent toxin that can cause severe skin blistering on contact.

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Did You Know?

Its cantharidin is so toxic that even a small amount can kill a horse if ingested with contaminated hay or alfalfa.