Scientific: Cicindela ohlone Spanish: Escarabajo tigre de Ohlone
Diet: Arthropods Habitat: Grasslands on coastal prairie terraces Status: Endangered
Named after the Indigenous culture of the area, the Ohlone tiger beetle is a federally endangered species that exists in only a handful of locations, all in Santa Cruz County. Adults are active on sunny days between January and May, and use bare ground for mating, basking, hunting, and larval development within burrows. Because of this, they tend to be found on trails, making them susceptible to trampling, especially by cyclists travelling at more than 5 mph along trails, too fast for the beetle’s ability to react and fly out of the way.
