Cicindela duodecimguttata

There are many generalization

There are many generalizations about distinguishing C. duodecimguttata from C. repanda that are somewhat inaccurate. One is that the markings of duos are always reduced. This is not always the case. I have collected my share of duos with maculations rivaling those of C. repanda. However, ventral color is consistently much bluer and more limited red areas, and even their flight is very different. I am going to post a photo comparison.

… Mathew L. Brust, 23 January, 2020 - 10:38pm

None show the dorsal view of the thorax...

...which would be useful (*critical*) for distinguishing from repanda. The marginal line is well separated from the shoulder mark (usually closer in repanda), but the shoulder mark is complete (usually broken into 2 spots for duodecimguttata). I'm not sure this is enough to put it to duodecimguttata. Was a specimen retained? Both species co-occur in SC.

I agree with others that many of these photos could be deleted as they don't help the examination of the species.

… Charlene Wood, 22 January, 2020 - 1:25pm

Trust me, it is C. duodecimgu

Trust me, it is C. duodecimguttata. I find them commonly here, and never C. repanda. They tend to be more heavily-marked in the western Great Plains. To me it scarcely resembles C. repanda as it is too dark, has the middle band too upturned, has an incomplete marginal band, and has a blue ventral surface rather than green.

… Mathew L. Brust, 23 January, 2020 - 9:47pm

And I would say the "shoulder

And I would say the "shoulder mark broken into two spots" is not a consistent character. There is far more variation in this species than most field guides suggest, yet they are easy to tell from C. repanda if one pays attention to broader characters.

… Mathew L. Brust, 23 January, 2020 - 10:07pm

I am not sure if I actually c

I am not sure if I actually collected this specimen, but I have collected dozens at this site. C. tranquebarica kirby and C. pulchra are also found at this site, but I have never seen C. repanda there. The soil is a heavy crumbled shale (Belle Fource fomration) in a ditch and adjacent hillside; not the sort of habitat where C. repanda is likely to be found.

… Mathew L. Brust, 23 January, 2020 - 10:05pm

And yes, some photos could be

And yes, some photos could be deleted. I not sure how to do it, so I will trust the judgement of the admins on which they choose to delete.

… Mathew L. Brust, 23 January, 2020 - 9:48pm

Why is this not Cicindela repanda

Why is this not Cicindela repanda?

… Bill Dean, 6 August, 2018 - 4:31am

To me it scarcely resembles C

To me it scarcely resembles C. repanda; it has a much lower density of red speckles in the microsculpture, the marginal band is far too incomplete (although I have seen so duos with a nearly complete marginal band rivaling that of C. repanda - the new photo I added), the middle band is too sharply upturned, and the ventral color is much bluer than the bluish green of C. repanda. The habitat is not the sort of place one would expect C. repanda anyway. I find that there is far more variation in duos than most field guides suggest.

… Mathew L. Brust, 23 January, 2020 - 10:12pm

How is this...

not repanda?

… Matthew Kenne, 28 March, 2018 - 7:31pm

Definitely not, for a long li

Definitely not, for a long list of reasons. I have likely found over 100 duos at this site, along with C. tranquebarica kirbyi, C. pulchra, and the occasional C. purpurea audubonii, but never a single C. repanda.

… Mathew L. Brust, 23 January, 2020 - 10:14pm

I love your contributions...

but do we really need 11 images that show a very similar angle of the same individual? ;-)

… Blaine Mathison, 30 December, 2017 - 12:49pm