The Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle, an insect found within Utah's Kane County, remains a unique biological feature of the state's landscape despite past federal efforts to grant it protected status. The beetle, known scientifically as Cicindela albissima, is characterized by its striking physical appearance and a highly specific habitat within the shifting sands of southern Utah.
Physical characteristics of the beetle
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the adult Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle typically measures between 10.5 and 12.0 millimeters in length and 4.4 to 4.7 millimeters in width. The species exhibits notable physical variations between sexes, with females generally being larger than males.
Distinctive color and appearance
The insect possesses a distinct color palette that aids its visibility against the sand. Its thorax ranges from a brown to a dull bronze color, while the head is described as bright green to bronze. Most notably, the beetle's elytra, or wing casings, feature greatly reduced pigmentation, resulting in a dull white appearance.
Habitat and environmental conditions
The habitat for this species is inextricably linked to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park near Kanab, Utah. The park itself is characterized by a shifting sea of red sand, where wind activity can move sand dunes and hills as much as 50 feet per year.
Fire restrictions in the park
Because of the delicate nature of this ecosystem, the Utah State Parks department has implemented Stage 2 fire restrictions at the site. These regulations prohibit all forms of open fires, including those within established fire pits, charcoal grills, pellet grills, or any fuel that produces ash. The only exception for heat sources is properly shielded gas or liquid-fueled portable camp stoves with a shut-off valve, provided they are used in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren and free of flammable vegetation.
History of federal listing proposals
The legal status of the Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle has been a subject of federal review for decades. In an October 2, 2012, proposed rule, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service moved to list Cicindela albissima as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. At that time, the agency also proposed designating approximately 921 hectares, or roughly 2,276 acres, of critical habitat located in Kane County.
Withdrawal of proposed protections
However, subsequent federal actions have altered this trajectory. On October 2, 2013, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a withdrawal of the proposed rule to list the Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle and to designate the associated critical habitat.
The management of the species involves long-term conservation strategies. A Conservation Agreement and Strategy for the Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle was signed on September 28, 2009. This agreement, which had a duration of 10 years, involved the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and focused on habitat and land use within the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.
This strategy was part of an ongoing effort by the Utah Ecological Services Field Office and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 6 to manage the species' presence in the region.
While the Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle is not currently listed as an endangered or threatened species, its presence remains a focal point for regional conservation. The species continues to inhabit the specific range within Utah's Mountain Prairie Region, where its survival is tied to the stability of the sand dune ecosystems.
