Six-spotted tiger beetles live in woody places, and they like shady openings such as dirt paths and fallen logs to hunt their prey which is usually caterpillars, ants and spiders. Sometimes many beetles may be seen in one fallen log. The females lay eggs in sandy patches, and the larva can be predators of small arthropods as well. The larva live in a vertical burrow. Their flat heads are flush with the ground. From this hiding place they grab insects and other invertebrates that pass by. In the United States the tiger beetle is found over much of the eastern and Great Plains states. It is found on dirt paths in grassy areas, but seldom far from the woods. Its occurrence in Fontenelle Nature Center is not known but these beetles were photographed at Fontenelle Forest. It is also found hunting along sidewalks and roads. It is usually seen in May and June.

It eats a variety of other insects especially ants but also spiders and other invertebrates. It is very active during the day, it moves rapidly in short bursts. Tiger beetles are among the fastest runners in the insect world. This one is probably the species of Tiger Beetle most often noticed by the general public. To avoid predators this insect relies on its speed, agility, and ability to secrete a noxious chemical. Both the common name and the species name refer to the number of small white spots on the beetle’s metallic-green to metallic-blue elytra which usually number six.