Like all beetles, Tiger Beetles have chewing mouthparts and hardened front wings (elytra) that meet in a straight line down the back of the abdomen when closed.  Tiger beetles closely resemble their relatives the Ground Beetles (Carabidae), but can be distinguished by their overlapping sickle-shaped jaws.  Most Kentucky species are shiny, metallic blue, green, copper, or orange.

Like all beetles, tiger beetles have "complete" metamorphosis with egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages.  Female tiger beetles place eggs into small holes dug into soil.  Upon hatching, larvae find dry soil and constuct vertical tubes where they will later pupate.  Adults emerge from the tubes in summer.

Tiger beetles are predators that feed on small insects, spiders, and other athropods. They are fast, agile flyers, and are able to catch insects in the air. Tiger beetle larvae are also predators, and have a lifestyle very similar to antlion larvae. Tiger beetles live in vertical tunnels in sandy soil where they wait for ants, spiders, other other small creatures. When prey gets close enough, the larva pops out and grabs it.