Friday, July 30, 2010

Tiger Beetle Larve

One of my fondest memories as a child was my father teaching me how to hunt for tiger beetle larve. They are interesting creatures that inhabit the smooth round holes you see in your yard about half the size of a pencil.

I use the catch & release method just wanting to see it for a moment. My father's favorite method for catching them was to break a straw off of the broom from the house and drop it into the hole and wait. Soon the larve would start pushing the straw up out of the hole. While it is moving up you quickly pull it out and he comes out with it.

He has wicked looking pincers in his head and a wart looking thing near his rear end. Quite an interesting little fellow and fun to catch, watch and let him go back into his hole tail first. They are plentiful here in NC. If you happen to see their home check them out but be kind and return them. Have fun.



4 comments:

  1. I've never seen this type of beetle. What is their claim to fame? Do they eat mosquitos? Ants? Interesting, but nasty to look at!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have never heard of them before. My son use to love bugs:) Bugs Life was huge at our house years ago. Fond memories.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Eeuw. I usually like bugs. But this is a nasty looking one.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've never even heard of this kind of insect before...and certainly never noticed those kinds of holes in my yard! I'll have to be on the lookout, the boys LOVE bugs!

    ReplyDelete