Sparsholt College have successfully bred the green tiger beetle (
Cicindela campestris) for the first time in captivity. The beetles arrived in spring last year and were moved into a dedicated breeding enclosure where several larvae have been produced. They have successfully survived their first winter and should emerge as adult beetles next year.
This breeding trial is taking place with the hope of establishing the methods for breeding tiger beetles; this will then allow a breeding programme for the heath tiger beetle (
Cicindela sylvatica) to begin. The heath tiger beetle is one of Britain's rarest insects and is found on only a handful of sites in southern England. Rather than risk taking heath tiger beetles from the wild when so little is known of their breeding and development behaviour, the more common green tiger beetle wass used to gain experience.
The breeding programme for the heath tiger beetle will be run as a cooperative between Sparsholt College and the Species Recovery Trust.
More information can be found in the link below:
Green Tiger Beetles Successfully Bred in Captivity for the First Time | Biaza