Tiger Beetles

Rodger Gwiazdowski, a PhD student in both OEB and the Division of Entomology studies the Conservation Biology of endangered species of Tiger Beetles (Order Coleoptera, Family Carabidae). Taxonomists recognize approximately 2,300 arboreal and terrestrial species which occur world wide with the exception of Antarctica, areas north of 65 deg. latitude and some remote oceanic islands, in habitats as diverse as rainforests, deserts and beaches. Despite these striking differences in habitat types, adults and larvae of all species are all voracious predators and share similar life histories.

Several species of Tiger Beetles are currently on the U.S. Endangered species list and many more are likely to be added due to habitat loss and other factors we cannot yet explain. Rodger has developed methods to breed thousands of endangered tiger beetles in the laboratory. He works closely with Insect population biologists, State and Federal Fish and Wildlife agencies as well as Zoos and Aquariums to release beetles into the wild and help prevent their extinction. By studying Tiger Beetle behavior and survival in both the lab and the wild, Rodger looks to understand more about Tiger Beetle population biology to experimentally identify causes for their decline.

Learn more about Tiger Beetles and Rodgers' work:
http://bcrc.bio.umass.edu/tigerbeetle/
Contact Rodger