Cicindela albissima

Last updated

Cicindela albissima
Cicindela albissima.jpg
Status TNC G1.svg
Critically Imperiled  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Cicindelidae
Genus: Cicindela
Species:
C. albissima
Binomial name
Cicindela albissima
Rumpp, 1962

Cicindela albissima, commonly called the Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle is a species of tiger beetle endemic to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in southern Utah, United States. [1] It was originally described by Rumpp in 1962 as the subspecies Cicindela limbata albissima, but mitochondrial DNA, along with the species' morphological and geographical distinctiveness, have shown that it is a separate species. [2] [3] C. albissima can be distinguished from other Cicindela species by its restricted range and lack of pigmentation on its elytra. [1] [4]

Contents

Adults

Adults are 10.5 millimetres (0.41 in) to 12 millimetres (0.47 in) long and 4.4 millimetres (0.17 in) to 4.7 millimetres (0.19 in) wide, while females are generally larger than males. The thorax is brown to bronze in color, while the elytra have reduced pigmentation and are white in color. Adults primarily eat flies and other arthropods found on the dunes. They also scavenge on dead arthropods blown onto the dunes from surrounding habitats. [1]

Adults begin to emerge from the larval stage in March and reach their peak abundance in mid-April to early May. Adult populations decline through June and disappear by July. Mating and egg laying occur from the time adults emerge in mid-March until they die by July. [1] Some adults can be continue to be found from late August to early October. [5]

Adults are usually active on warm or sunny days. They dig burrows that they use at night and during unfavorable weather. Little evidence of parasitism has been observed on both adults and larvae. Throughout their lives, most adults move only small distances, typically less than 1,000 feet (300 m), although some have been observed to move up to 3,300 feet (1,000 m). [5]

Larvae

After first matings occur in early spring, first instar larvae begin to appear in late spring, usually completing the first instar by late May to June. Most individuals reach second instars by mid summer, and third instars are reached in fall. Larvae hibernate during the winter before emerging as adults the following spring. [1] Larvae are sedentary and live in permanent burrows and feed by using their mandibles to catch arthropods that pass by the mouth of their burrows. [5]

Distribution

Coral Pink Sand Dunes Big dune looking to the south (8078515369).jpg
Coral Pink Sand Dunes

Cicindela albissima is endemic to twenty percent of the 3,500-acre (1,400 ha) Coral Pink Sand Dunes, which are within Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in Kane County, Utah. Its occupied habitat is about 5,900 feet (1,800 m) long by 1,000 feet (300 m) wide. [6] The dunes are about 7 miles (11 km) west of Kanab, and their southern extent is less than 1 mile (1.6 km) north of the Arizona border. [1]

Conservation

Cicindela albissima has been proposed to be listed as under the Endangered Species Act. [1] It was previously considered a subspecies of Cicindela limbata, but it is over 370 miles (600 km) from any other populations of C. limbata. Its geographic isolation, mtDNA, and morphological differences, particularly the coloration of the elytra and body size, led it to be considered a distinct species. [3]

In 2012, the population of C. albissima was estimated to be 1786 individuals, up from 1116 in 2011. Since annual population surveys began in 1998, the population reached a peak of 2944 in 2002 and a minimum of 558 in 2005. [7] Rainfall is the primary factor controlling the population of C. albissima, and drought is the most severe threat to the species. Off-road vehicle activity has degraded the beetle's habitat, particularly the interdunal swales, which are the habitat where most larvae are found. Vegetation damaged by off-road vehicles can lead to degraded larval habitat and reduced prey abundance. [5] A 370-acre (150 ha) conservation area in which off-road vehicle use is prohibited has been established and covers approximately 80 percent of the beetle's suitable habitat. [5] [6] The conservation area encompassed 87 percent of the beetle's population in 2012, significantly more than in previous years, likely due to the establishment of the conservation area and increased protections within it. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiger beetle</span> Family of beetles

Tiger beetles are a family of beetles, Cicindelidae, known for their aggressive predatory habits and running speed. The fastest known species of tiger beetle, Rivacindela hudsoni, can run at a speed of 9 km/h, or about 125 body lengths per second. As of 2005, about 2,600 species and subspecies were known, with the richest diversity in the Oriental (Indo-Malayan) region, followed by the Neotropics. While historically treated as a subfamily of ground beetles (Carabidae) under the name Cicindelinae, several studies since 2020 indicated that they should be treated as a family, the Cicindelidae, which are a sister group to Carabidae within the Adephaga.

<i>Cicindela sexguttata</i> Species of beetle

The six-spotted tiger beetle, also known as the six-spotted green tiger beetle, is a common North American species of tiger beetle in the Cicindelinae subfamily. It is common in many areas of the states, and is well known. It is recognized for its bright green color and its flight pattern. The beetle is largely harmless to humans and may live as long as three years.

<i>Cicindela</i> Common tiger beetles

Cicindela, commonly known as common tiger beetles, are generally brightly colored and metallic beetles, often with some sort of patterning of ivory or cream-colored markings. They are most abundant and diverse in habitats very often near bodies of water with sandy or occasionally clay soils; they can be found along rivers, sea and lake shores, sand dunes, around dry lakebeds, on clay banks, or woodland paths.

<i>Neocicindela tuberculata</i> Species of beetle

Neocicindela tuberculata is a species of tiger beetle in the family Cicindelidae, endemic to New Zealand. Its common names include common tiger beetle, moeone, and papapa, and in its laval stage penny doctor, butcher boy, kapuku, kui, kurikuri, moeone, and muremure. Neocicindela tuberculata was the first carabid beetle described from New Zealand. The species can run as fast as 5 miles per hour and are considered to be the fastest running beetles. Adult species prefer clay banks in summer and are good predators when in comes to insects.

<i>Cicindela ohlone</i> Species of beetle

Cicindela ohlone, the Ohlone tiger beetle, is endemic to California. It was discovered in 1987 and named and described in 1993. C. ohlone is most closely related to Cicindela purpurea.

Cicindela columbica is a species of beetle in the tiger beetle family, Cicindelidae, known commonly as the Columbia River tiger beetle. It is endemic to Idaho in the United States.

<i>Cicindela puritana</i> Species of beetle

The Puritan tiger beetle is a tiger beetle found in North America. Puritan tiger beetles are found in sandy beaches and rocky cliffs along rivers in Massachusetts, Maryland, and Connecticut. Little is known about this species due to its small geographic range and quickly disappearing populations.

<i>Cicindela hirticollis</i> Species of beetle

Cicindela hirticollis is a species of tiger beetle that is commonly found in sand bars and sandy beaches of North America. It is medium-sized, is about 2–14 mm (0.08–0.55 in) long, and is active in the summer. The dorsal surfaces of the head, prothorax, and elytra are dark brown. The elytral markings are very light-colored cream or white. The species' common names are hairy-necked tiger beetle and moustached tiger beetle. Its population is in decline.

<i>Cicindela aurulenta</i> Species of beetle

Cicindela aurulenta, common name blue-spotted or golden-spotted tiger beetle, is a beetle of the family Cicindelidae.

Cicindela denikei, Laurentian tiger beetle is a species of tiger beetle in the Cicindelinae subfamily that can be found in Minnesota, Manitoba, and Ontario. The species have green coloured elytron and is 13–15 millimetres (0.51–0.59 in) long. It can be found in gravel and sand as well as coniferous forests where it preys on other insect species. When it comes to hunting, adults are either wait for their prey in an ambush or chase it. It larvae usually digs burrows in which they wait for their victim to come by. Once an unsuspected arthropod is in sight, it opens it jaws and eats it.

<i>Cicindela patruela</i> Species of beetle


Cicindela patruela, the northern barrens tiger beetle, is a species of tiger beetle found in eastern North America. Due to their specific habitat requirements as well as human involvement, populations of this species have declined significantly in several regions, including most of New England, Ontario, and Quebec.

<i>Cicindela arenicola</i> Species of beetle

Cicindela arenicola is a species of tiger beetle in the genus Cicindela. It was first described in 1967. Its common names include St. Anthony Dune tiger beetle and Idaho Dunes tiger beetle.

<i>Cicindela theatina</i> Species of beetle

Cicindela theatina, commonly known as the Great Sand Dunes tiger beetle, is a predatory beetle found in sparsely vegetated sandy habitats. The species' range encompasses only about 290 square kilometres (110 sq mi) in the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. Despite its small range, the species is relatively secure because its entire habitat is within a protected national park.

<i>Cicindela decemnotata</i> Species of beetle

Cicindela decemnotata, the badlands tiger beetle, is a species of flashy tiger beetle in the family Cicindelidae. It is found in North America.

<i>Habroscelimorpha dorsalis</i> Species of beetle

Habroscelimorpha dorsalis, commonly known as the eastern beach tiger beetle, is a species of flashy tiger beetle in the family Cicindelidae. It is found in Central America and North America.

Cicindela limbata, the sandy tiger beetle, is a species of flashy tiger beetle in the family Cicindelidae. It is found in North America.

<i>Cicindela formosa</i> Species of beetle

Cicindela formosa, the big sand tiger beetle, is a species of flashy tiger beetle in the family Cicindelidae. It is found in North America.

<i>Habroscelimorpha dorsalis dorsalis</i> Subspecies of beetle

Habroscelimorpha dorsalis dorsalis, commonly known as the northeastern beach tiger beetle, is the largest subspecies of eastern beach tiger beetle. In 2012, Cicindela dorsalis dorsalis was reclassified under the name Habroscelimorpha dorsalis dorsalis, but the names are used synonymously in recently published literature. Fitting to its common name, the northeastern beach tiger beetle dwells along the U.S. northeast coast in small sand burrows. The beetle is diurnal and can be spotted by its light tan coloring with dark lines and green hues on its thorax and head.

<i>Rivacindela hudsoni</i> Species of beetle

Rivacindela hudsoni is an Australian species of the family Cicindelinae or "tiger beetle" and is the fastest-running known insect. The genus Rivacindela is contentiously treated as a subgenus of the broader Cicindela and are typically found in saline habitats such as dry salt lakes and salt streams and are flightless. The species was discovered in South Australia and described in 1997, with an adult form of approximately 20–21mm in length and a running speed of 2.49 m/s, or 120 body lengths per second.

Cicindela senilis, or the senile tiger beetle is a species of tiger beetle found in western California. It lives in tidal mud flats and both coastal and inland salt marshes.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle (Cicindela albissima)". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Archived from the original on October 19, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  2. ↑ Rumpp, N.L. (1962). "Three new tiger beetles of the genus Cicindela from southwestern United States (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae)". Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences. 60: 165–187.
  3. 1 2 Morgan, M; Knisley, C.B.; Volger, A.P (2000). "New taxonomic status of the endangered tiger beetle Cicindela limbata albissima (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae): evidence from mtDNA". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 93 (5): 1108–1115. doi: 10.1603/0013-8746(2000)093[1108:ntsote]2.0.co;2 .
  4. ↑ Duran, Daniel P.; Gough, Harlan M. (2020). "Validation of tiger beetles as distinct family (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), review and reclassification of tribal relationships". Systematic Entomology. 45 (4): 723–729. Bibcode:2020SysEn..45..723D. doi: 10.1111/syen.12440 .
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Knisley, C. Barry; Hill, James M. (2001). "Biology and conservation of the Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle, Cicindela limbata albissima Rumpp". Western North American Naturalist. 61 (4): 381–394. Archived from the original on October 10, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Spotlight Species Action Plan" (PDF). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 20, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  7. 1 2 Knisley, C. Barry; Gowan, Charles. "Studies of the Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle, Cicindela albissima in 2012" (PDF). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2013.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.