TIGER BEETLES 163 
appearance from white sand in the far north. Tiger beetles have a uniform dull white 
colour and the brevilunata pattern of dark marks. 
52 53 54 a5 56 «#87 
Figs. 52-57. Sand and tiger beetles. 52. Marsden Pt. Specimen with “brevilunata’ 
pattern. 26.11.1988. 2. 53. Taipa, east of Karikari Pen. Tiger beetles absent. 54. 
Rarawa Beach. Specimen with “giveni” pattern. 23.111.1988. 2. 55. Kapowairua, 
Spirits Bay. Specimen with “giveni” pattern. 23.11.1988. 2. 56. Mitimiti. Specimen 
with “perhispida” pattern. 4.11.1988. 2. 57. South side Waikato R. Heads. Specimen 
with “campbelli” pattern. 4.1V.1988. &. 
Coastal sand-dunes and sand appearance 
In the areas of the North I coast-line where tiger beetles have been collected the 
beaches are usually backed by a line of fore-dunes up to ca. 10 m high, occasionally 
higher. 
On the southern west coast where ocean drift has brought black ironsands from 
further south, winds may have driftted sands inland. While the beaches may be very 
black, sand on the surface of dunes may be lighter with the ironsands in windrows, 
patches or hollows. The beach on the south side of the Waikato River mouth (Fig. 58) 
extends along a sandspit with low dunes and patches of lighter and darker sands. At 
Muriwai Beach a line of fore-dunes is much darker at the south end and the sands 
gradually become paler northwards, with the ironsands patchy. Beyond ca. 12 km 
from the south end, sands are distinctly lighter in colour being a more uniform dark 
grey. However, the sand inland is whiter. The part of Muriwai Beach ca. 8.5-10.7 km 
north is west of Woodhill and is the area described by Walker (1904) as being of “clean 
white sand”. Most of this area behind the beach is now covered in pine forest. 
