Puritan Tiger Beetle LbNA #38270
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Add Location| Owner: | Katy  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Mar 14, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Kennedyville |
| County: | Kent |
| State: | Maryland |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | Otis' Friends |
|---|---|
| Last found: | May 17, 2008 |
| Status: | Fa |
| Last edited: | Mar 14, 2008 |
Puritan tiger beetles (Cicindela puritana) are on the federal list of threatened species and on the endangered list of species in Maryland. At one time this species was reported in 7 states, but currently is known only in 4 locations - in Calvert County and here at the mouth of the Sassafras River. The beetle inhabits sandy beaches and eroding sandy cliffs along freshwater sources - areas that are prime for development, contributing to its decline. For a lot more information on this beetle, you can check out this website:
http://www.esasuccess.org/reports/northeast/ne_species/puritan-tiger-beetle.html
The hike begins in the same parking lot of the Sassafras Natural Resource Area as my Washington College letterbox. You will be walking essentially the same path until you get to the burnt lodge, so you probably want to go ahead and print those clues out, too. Also, this area adjoins the Turner's Creek Park, so I'll put a shameless plug for my Year of the Rat box in here, too.
From the parking lot, head north through the corn field. I promise the scenery improves. At the first two intersections, keep heading north along the road. At the fork in the path, by the really big tree, head left. At the lodge, take the trail that heads roughly NW past the two sheds. You'll find yourself paralleling the cliffs, with many opportunities for scenic look-outs along the way. The path is good now, but I suspect it gets overgrown easily by greenbriar, so I would advise wearing pants.
Eventually, you will realize you are approaching the level of the water. The trail will end in a lopsided T; head left towards the river. You can get to this box two ways - one is to continue to the beach and then head back SE along the beach until you see a dead tree just before the cliffs. The other way is to count 20 steps from the T and then head left down a small game trail to that same dead tree. The beetle is nestled under some dead wood at the base of the tree.
Adult puritan tiger beetles are greenish-copper or greenish-brown with paler markings, so that's the color ink or marker I would recommend bringing along.
Please be sure to screw the lid back on tightly!
If you head back to the T and continue on the path away from the cliffs, you'll come out near the fork with the really big tree.
As a warning, this area seems to get used frequently for trail rides; also there are hunters using it during the various hunting seasons. Enjoy the hike!
http://www.esasuccess.org/reports/northeast/ne_species/puritan-tiger-beetle.html
The hike begins in the same parking lot of the Sassafras Natural Resource Area as my Washington College letterbox. You will be walking essentially the same path until you get to the burnt lodge, so you probably want to go ahead and print those clues out, too. Also, this area adjoins the Turner's Creek Park, so I'll put a shameless plug for my Year of the Rat box in here, too.
From the parking lot, head north through the corn field. I promise the scenery improves. At the first two intersections, keep heading north along the road. At the fork in the path, by the really big tree, head left. At the lodge, take the trail that heads roughly NW past the two sheds. You'll find yourself paralleling the cliffs, with many opportunities for scenic look-outs along the way. The path is good now, but I suspect it gets overgrown easily by greenbriar, so I would advise wearing pants.
Eventually, you will realize you are approaching the level of the water. The trail will end in a lopsided T; head left towards the river. You can get to this box two ways - one is to continue to the beach and then head back SE along the beach until you see a dead tree just before the cliffs. The other way is to count 20 steps from the T and then head left down a small game trail to that same dead tree. The beetle is nestled under some dead wood at the base of the tree.
Adult puritan tiger beetles are greenish-copper or greenish-brown with paler markings, so that's the color ink or marker I would recommend bringing along.
Please be sure to screw the lid back on tightly!
If you head back to the T and continue on the path away from the cliffs, you'll come out near the fork with the really big tree.
As a warning, this area seems to get used frequently for trail rides; also there are hunters using it during the various hunting seasons. Enjoy the hike!