Tiger beetles are known for being both ferocious predators and extremely fast runners, capable of reaching speeds of up to 9 km/h (5.6 mph; 2.5 m/s). They run so fast that they can’t visually process the world around them while in motion, relying instead on their antennae to avoid collisions. Consequently, most tiger beetles hunt on flat ground.
Art and fact by Tara Roth, Instagram @Stippledscience
[Edited by Nicole Rodrigues]
Reference:
Friedlander, B. (1998, January 16). When tiger beetles chase prey at high speeds they go blind temporarily, Cornell entomologists learn. Cornell Chronicle. Retrieved May 17, 2024, from https://news.cornell.edu/stories/1998/01/tiger-beetles-go-blind-chasing-prey-high-speeds