Some are large and black and active only at night. The best time of year to see tiger beetles depends on where you look. The insects are active from February to April in Sedona and along the Mogollon Rim near Payson. In July, they can be found in the White Mountains. In southern Arizona, tiger beetles are active at the start of the summer monsoons.
Tiger beetles vary in size.
The smallest lives in Borneo and measures 6 millimeters, about the length of a housefly. The largest lives in southern Africa. It measures up to 45 millimeters, about the width of a tea bag. Tiger beetles come in many colors. Some are plain black, but others are stunningly decorated in metallic green, brown, maroon, or purple, often with stripes or spots.