12 Records

The Ghost Tiger Beetle (Ellipsoptera lepida) is a widespread species found in deep sand habitats, including sand pits and coastal dune habitats across much of North America, though extant sites are often widely disjunct. The expanded maculations, pale appendages, and dense white setae make this species extremely cryptic on dry sand, and it is often said that when it is stationary, its shadow is more visible than the beetle. This species has declined in many places, and is vulnerable to plant succession, sand extraction, foot traffic, and vehicle traffic, and ATV use (Knisley & Schultz, 1997). In Maryland, it is restricted to Worcester Co., and is ranked as S1 (highly state rare).