The tiger with six spots

We’re walking along the River Potomac in Virginia, in Scott’s Run Nature Preserve. It’s hot and humid:

Along the path are the most intensely metallic green beetles. They are Six Spot Tiger Beetles, Cicindela sexguttata.

They have huge eyes and overlapping sickle-shaped jaws. They land in front of us on the path and fly readily as we approach.

They sparkle as they disappear.