Some quick focus stacks of live tiger beetles

[MarkSturtevant]

I would like to do more of these. They were fun! The festive tiger beetle (Cicindella scutellaris) is beautiful, even by tiger beetle standards, and they become periodically rather common along the footpaths of what I call the Magic Field. Most of these were taken with the assistance of the Helicon Fb tube, taking pictures in burst mode.
Festive tiger beetle by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Festive tiger beetles by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Festive tiger beetle by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

They are variable. Some are mostly green.
Festive tiger beetle by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

The trick is to get down on the ground where they are, and just wait for them to come to you.
Thanks for looking!

[Pau]

Excellent images, even more when knowing how fast are these animals

At the two first ones, are they fighting or trying to mate?

[MarkSturtevant]

Excellent images, even more when knowing how fast are these animals
At the two first ones, are they fighting or trying to mate?

Mating. Males have slightly longer mandibles to grip the females. I've seen that they are often not copulating, but what is going on then is 'mate guarding', where the male is trying to keep the female from mating again.