In the United States they are predominantly found in sandy open habitats, including river sandbars, ocean beaches, mudflats, dunes, rocky outcroppings, and even along woodland paths. As their name implies these are active, agile insects, quick to take flight, possessing good vision, and in many cases, having colorful patterns which are quite attractive. Many collectors readily acquire most species in a relatively short period of time. Description Adults of Florida Megacephala are nocturnal. During daylight hours they may be found hiding under surface objects, dried algal mats on mud flats, boards, rocks, even in cracks in the ground.
Adults are extremely rapid runners.
Collection of these species is most easily done with headlamp and hand collecting, or with pitfall traps in suitable habitat. Florida Cicindela are more diverse in behavior and habitat selection. This species has the unique characteristic of giving off an odor quite similar to Juicy Fruit Gum. Other Cicindela species occur in Florida on river sandbars, sand scrub dunes, coastal beaches, salt marsh mudflats, coral outcroppings in the outer Florida Keys, lakeshores, wooded paths, and on clay banks. Tiger beetles are predators, feeding on insects they are able to capture with their mandibles.