Alpine Tiger Beetles Cicindela species.

[nomad]

Alpine Tiger Beetles Cicindela species.

I found these Alpine Cicindela species running around the stony paths at high Altitude above the Simplon Pass in Switzerland. The first image may be Cicindela gallica not sure about the second-the mating pair. Boy can these beetles move, I had to carefully stalk these beetles in the hot sunshine to get these images. Hopefully entomofou  can give a positive ID here.

[wollastoni]

Nice ! And not easy to shoot !

The second picture shows a pair of Cicindela campestris.

[nomad]

Thanks. Cicindela campestris seems to have a wide range, it is here on lowland Heaths, although I have never seen it yet in the UK. I feel pretty certain the other is Cicindela gallica.

[entomofou]

The first one seems to be gallica (what is the altitude ?).
The 2nd one seems to be campestris (but it could be maroccana ssp. pseudomaroccana)...

[nomad]

Thank you, the Cicindela gallica was seen at about 2100 meters running along the rocky paths. The other at 2000 meters in the same habitat.

[isidro]

Given the habitat and location, I guess it's the common campestris of Europe and not maroccana, that is the only species common in my zone.