Cylindera terricola continua - Parvindela terricola

Why not subspecies imperfecta?

Before viewing your post, I had just read the passage on C. terricola continua in Pearson, Knisley, & Kazilek(1), stating that the subspecies was "restricted to southwestern and western parts of the Central Valley of California in Ventura and San Bernardino Counties". That puzzled me, since those counties don't include any part of the Central Valley. Ventura County nearly abuts the southern end of the Central Valley (but it's south of the crest of San Emigdio Mountains...see here); while San Bernardino County, to the east, is totally disjunct from the Central Valley (see here).

I also read, on pg. 196 of (1), that C. t. continua had rarely been seen during the last 30 years and virtually nothing was known about its current status (at the 2006 publication date of (1)) . So I was glad to see your post from a locale not mentioned in (1).

But then I noticed the map on pg. 153 of (1) seems to indicate that Beatty lies in the range of subspecies imperfecta, and their description, quoted below, seems to fit your image:

"Above usually dark brown and blue or brown-green, with the first two thin maculations joined above the elytral edge. The long, branching middle maculation is diagnostic."

While the first two maculations here don't look particularly thin to me, they seem to be in fair agreement with those shown in Plate 22.3 of (1), though the middle maculation in your specimen isn't so branched...and the green pronotum is comparatively distinctive to my eye. But I haven't seen or studied series of this or other subspecies of C. terricola, and am no expert. I'm just a curious amateur trying to learn more about these interesting creatures.

… Aaron Schusteff, 16 September, 2012 - 1:50pm

Here is why

After the field guide was published, I published an article in the journal Cicindela where I described the subspecies susanagreae and corrected the taxonomic status of continua. I would be glad to email you a copy if you're interested.

As far as Cylindera terricola goes - you can not use color as a differentiator. One needs to look at the shape and length of the middle band as well as the humeral lunule.

As far as the guide goes, plate 22, figure 3b should not have been listed as imperfecta, this is based on broad geographic delineation of subspecies, it is infact continua. In addition, the map shows C. t. terricola extending south west into southwestern Colorado, not so.

… Mike Kippenhan, 23 September, 2012 - 7:47pm

Interesting

Thanks for your informative response...good to know the continua situation has been clarified. I'd love to have a copy of the Cicindela article, and to read it for a better understanding of C. t. continua, C. t. susanagreae, etc.

I actually looked (briefly & unsuccesfully) for tiger beetles at Klondike Lake in June, and afterwards Ceal Klingler mentioned to me your BG post from there, and also the mysterious C. terricola "subspecies A". Later, by a happy coincidence, I received an email from Jay Sheppard, who did a lot of tiger beetle collecting in the Owens Valley in the late 60's, and related finding a black C. terricola back then at Klondike Lake.

… Aaron Schusteff, 25 September, 2012 - 1:04am

Moved

Moved from Variable Tiger Beetle.

… Charley Eiseman, 18 April, 2012 - 10:33pm