"Everything that happens, happens at the only possible time it can happen, and it is always at exactly the right time."
― Wu Wei
― Wu Wei
On the final day of spring 2026, I decided to visit Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area to see if Ghost Tiger Beetles (Ellipsoptera lepida) had emerged yet. Regular readers know the background: located in southeastern Sauk County between Baraboo and Sauk Prairie, this unique property sits along the southern border of Devil's Lake State Park. It covers a portion of the old 7,354-acre Badger Army Ammunition Plant, with about 3,400 acres open to the public — a massive expanse for birders and naturalists alike.
Here are my Ghost 'FOY' dates for Sauk Rec:
Jun 29, 2025
Jun 26, 2024
Jun 18, 2023
Jun 27, 2022
Jun 18, 2021
Jun 26, 2020
Jun 26, 2024
Jun 18, 2023
Jun 27, 2022
Jun 18, 2021
Jun 26, 2020
Since my visits are limited to weekend adventures, they're spaced a week apart, giving me just snapshots of activity. This means my Ghost Tiger Beetle first-of-year dates don't necessarily pinpoint their exact emergence day. Still, June 20th seemed plausible, especially with temperatures reaching 78 degrees and two previous records on June 18th.
There's the spot — time look around ...
Bingo! A median emergence of June 20th fits the phenology perfectly. It's an example of how field observations shape data and why intuition might get closer to the biological truth than spreadsheet numbers alone. In southern Wisconsin, explore sand blows on a sunny day near the end of June.
No matter how many times I encounter this species, I'm always impressed by their small size (compared to other tiger beetles) and how well they blend into their surroundings.
Portrait time!
Since I only spotted a few Ghosts during this outing, they're likely just getting started. I plan to return in early July when their numbers should be at or near peak. By August, they'll all be gone. Once emerged, their clock ticks down quickly — the adult phase lasts only three to four weeks. Their biological imperative is to eat and find a mate before their brief time on the surface is up.
There were also several Festive Tiger Beetles ...
And Big Sand ...
Above, a Mottled Sand Grasshopper (Spharagemon collare) and a Three-banded Robber Fly (Stichopogon trifasciatus) below ...
This robber fly species often perches on stones to ambush passing prey, looking menacing as all get-out.
Hmmm ... what's that on the milkweed?
Holy smokes ... a Juniper Hairstreak!
Is it luck, experience, or both? I initially walked over to the milkweed plant just to photograph its flowers, and only then did I spot the butterfly. Well, there are cedars nearby. Truth be told, spotting a Juniper Hairstreak doesn't require some mystical, expert skill — a kid with sharp eyes could easily find one and just call it a cool green butterfly. Visual detection is really just basic pattern recognition. The part about knowing what it is comes from having spent time flipping through field guides or studying online insect sources so that when that sudden flash of green appears on milkweed, you possess the mental database to name it. It isn't magical — it's simply naturalist literacy.
Such a gorgeous insect!
Anyway, I got my flower photo ...
In the past, I've used the blooming of Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria) to time the emergence of Ghost Tiger Beetles. This year, the script flipped: I found Ghosts first, which prompted me to check a nearby spot for the flower — and right on cue, there they were. It's a fascinating confirmation of local phenology. Even when the detection sequence is reversed, the correlation remains rock-solid, proving that both insect and flower are moving in lockstep with the exact same seasonal micro-climate triggers. Perhaps one beats the other by a day or two, but it certainly must be close.
All images © 2026 Mike McDowell