The largest tiger beetle species in North America, Amblycheila cylindriformis has been found in South Dakota only in Fall River County, in the Angostura Reservoir area. It seems to occur only in sand sage habitats. Unlike other South Dakota tiger beetles, this species is flightless and strictly nocturnal. A. cylindriformis is a regional endemic, found only in in the southern and western plains north to southwestern South Dakota. Dr. Paul Johnson, South Dakota State University, is conducting research on the reproduction of this species at this northern limit of its existence.
Collection sites of Amblycheila cylindriformis in South Dakota
