Common Beetles in Arkansas

Tiger Beetle (Cicindela repanda)

• The tiger beetle (Cicindela repanda) is brown, with red and copper tones and white spots. The beetle can be up to a 1/2 inch in length. The beetles can be found in a variety of habitats, but they usually are found close to water, such as on pond edges, river banks and shorelines. Their life span is about two years. They are active in the spring and fall and are more commonly found in southeast Arkansas along the border with Mississippi.

Tiger Beetle (Cicindela punctulata)

• Cicindela punctulata is another tiger beetle species found in Arkansas. They are dark brown or black with some bronze reflection. They have some white spots as well but much less so than Cicindela repanda. They live in dry and bare areas without much vegetation, such as sidewalks, yards and sand pits. They live for one year and are active in the summer. They can be seen in several parts of Arkansas, including central and southwest Arkansas.

Japanese Beetle

• The Japanese beetle is regarded as a pest in Arkansas because it quickly destroys grass and plants. First found in 1916 in New Jersey, they beetles spread to other states. They can be found in central and northwest Arkansas. Adult Japanese beetles start appearing in June, with their population peaking in late June and early July. They are about 9 1/2 millimeters long and are dark metallic-green, with dark tan wings that cover the second half of the body. The beetle's most distinguishing feature is the five tufts of white hair along each side of its abdomen.

Southern Pine Beetle

• Arkansas' pine forests are home to the Southern pine beetle. They are cylinder-shaped, short-legged and 2 to 4 millimeters long. Adults change color from yellowish-white to brown and finally to black. Like the Japanese beetle, they are considered a pest in Arkansas due to their destruction of pine trees. Southern pine beetles use pine trees as a host for their mating and larvae. The tunnels that they create in the tree eventually kills the tree. The newly formed adults fly off to another tree.