Green Tiger Beetle - Cicindela campestris

A large (15 mm) tiger beetle that is iridescent green with yellow markings.

It is usually found in areas with bare ground or sparse vegetation such as gravelly or sandy hillsides and sandy heath.

April to September. Adults are active in early summer and favour sunny spots. They will often take to the wing when disturbed.

Both adults and larvae are predators on other invertebrates. The larvae dig a burrow in the ground, often on or near paths to pitfall-trap unwary insects.

Widespread in Britain but never common.

Very local and uncommon in many areas of Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 45 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.