Unknown Tiger Beetle from California - Cicindela tranquebarica

Moved

Moved from Cicindela tranquebarica vibex.

… Dennis Haines, 18 June, 2013 - 3:26pm

Moved

Moved from Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle.

… Aaron Schusteff, 24 June, 2012 - 1:15am

Moved

Moved from Common Tiger Beetles.

… Ken-ichi Ueda, 25 April, 2012 - 4:46pm

Very cool find! I would say

Very cool find!
I would say C. tranquebarica vibex. Markings too heavy for C. joaquinensis I think but I have sent your picture to a guy in CA who will know.

… Todd Lawton, 25 April, 2012 - 8:59am

This is what I heard from Den

This is what I heard from Dennis Haines:

This is Cicindela tranquebarica "vibex". C. t. vibex is a dumping ground for every maculated population north of viridissima. This green form is found from the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley north to the San Francisco Bay. It is associated with a wide range of habitats from riparian to marsh, while C. t. joaquinensis is restricted to the playas of the alkali sink.

… Todd Lawton, 25 April, 2012 - 4:34pm

While these do get...

dumped into C. t. vibex, they aren't the "real" thing. We're gathering DNA from various populations of C. tranquebarica to try and gain a better understanding of the species and subspecies involved.

… Dennis Haines, 18 June, 2013 - 3:37pm

gracias!

Awesome, thanks Todd, and thanks to Dennis as well. Do you know what sets this species apart from other local tiger beetles with similar maculation? Lack of marginal band seems like one thing. It also seems like numerous pics show the abdomen extending a bit beyond the elytra.

… Ken-ichi Ueda, 25 April, 2012 - 4:48pm

C. tranquebarica's common nam

C. tranquebarica's common name is the "Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle". The long shoulder mark angles away from the edge of the elytra. The mark is a little reduced in C. t. vibex, not as obvious as in other subspecies.

… Todd Lawton, 25 April, 2012 - 7:20pm