Sometimes called the Spy bug or more commonly THE TIGER BEETLE - or the proper latin name: Cicindela aurulenta.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/618ad6_07d2cdb004994b7a81e0f84af28b0372~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/618ad6_07d2cdb004994b7a81e0f84af28b0372~mv2.jpg)
Often seen skipping ahead of you on jungle and country paths.
These beetles are ferociously carnivorous, just look at the mouth parts of the beasty above.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/618ad6_c46db295d65e4a8c8ac11f4e3ab3fc55~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/618ad6_c46db295d65e4a8c8ac11f4e3ab3fc55~mv2.jpg)
Although they can fly, often in skipping short bursts, the fastest species of tiger beetle can run at a speed of 9 km/h (5.6 mph), or about 53.87 body lengths per second, which is incredibly fast when you think about it!
There are four commonly seen species of Tiger Beetle in Hong Kong.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/618ad6_72e15e853b6644e4b41f15eb126c091d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/618ad6_72e15e853b6644e4b41f15eb126c091d~mv2.jpg)
Tiger beetles are considered a good indicator species and have been used in ecological studies on biodiversity.