Cicindela oregona oregona
05/23/2008 Mouth of the Elwha River, Port Angeles, Washington
05/23/2008 Mouth of the Elwha River, Port Angeles, Washington
05/30/2008 Mouth of the Elwha River, Port Angeles, Washington
05/30/2008 Mouth of the Elwha River, Port Angeles, Washington
5/12/2007 Mouth of the Elwha River, Port Angeles, Washington
5/12/2007 Mouth of the Elwha River, Port Angeles, Washington
5/31/2008 Salt Creek Recreation Area, Washington
8 - Cicindela oregona oregona mating. Note the male withdrawing the sperm-transfer tube. Normal speed followed by 1/10 speed.
In all the Oregon Tiger Beetle populations I’ve observed, I’ve seen pairs mating. During mating and mate guarding, the male grips the female between the thorax and elytra with his jaws.
In the video, the the male withdraws the aedeagus after mating (slide 8). Note that the aedeagus swings through about 180˚, then withdraws into the male’s abdomen. According to A Field Guide to the Tiger Beetles of the United States, the aedeagus also rotates 90˚ on its axis when withdrawing into the abdomen.