Tricondyla (Stenotricondyla) elongata Horn, 1906

Anichtchenko, Alexander & Wiesner, Jürgen, 2024, Tiger beetles of the genus Tricondyla Latreille, 1822 (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) of the Philippines, with some considerations of the taxonomy of the genus, Zootaxa 5397 (3), pp. 351-376 : 364-365

Tricondyla (Stenotricondyla) elongata Horn, 1906

Loc. typ.: “Mindanao”. Lectotype and paralectotype male in SDEI.

Tricondyla cyanipes elongata Horn, 1906: 32 .

Tricondyla (Stenotricondyla) gracilis Naviaux, 2002: 76 , syn. nov.

Loc. typ.: “Mindanao”. Holotype male in NHMW, allotype female in SHNAO.

Material. LUZON : 2m: “ November 2017, Dingalan, Aurora, E. Luzon, Philippines ” ( WJc) ; 1m: idem but December 2016 ( WJc) ; 1m: idem but August 2018 ( WJc) ; 1m: “ June 2017, Aurora, E Luzon, Philippines ” ( WJc) ; 1m: “ May 2019, Lagonoy, Bicol, S. Luzon, Philippines ” ( WJc) . MINDANAO: 1m: “ Agusan del Sur, Mindanao , Feb. 2014 ” ( DUBC) ; 2m: “ Kapatagan , Davao del Sur, Sept. 2022 ” ( DUBC) ; 2m, 1f: “ Mt. Gampoy, Zamboanga del Norte, Mindanao , May 2015 ” ( DUBC) ; 1m: “ Mindanao , Misamis Oriental, xii.2013 ” ( DUBC) ; 1m, 1f: “ Mindanao, Mt. Kalatungan , 1000m, 8.vii.2014 ” ( DUBC) ; 1m: “ Mindanao, Lanao del Sur, Bumbaran , 500-900m, iv.2014 ” ( DUBC) ; 3m, 1f: “ Mindanao, Bukidnon, Intavas , viii.2014 ” ( DUBC) ; 2f: “ Philippines, Mindanao, S Cotobato, Lake Holon , 6.099484, 124.877119, 5- 10.10.2019, Anichtchenko A. leg.” ( AAc) ; 1f: “ Philippines, Mindanao, Sultan Kudarat, Masiag, Bagumbayan , Guano Cave E 124°29’35.63, N 6°28’32.99, 12-13.v.2023, Anichtchenko A. leg.” ( AAc) ; 2m, 1f: “ Philippines, Mindanao, Davao del Sur, Apo Mt. Rng. , Karilongan Mt. , 7.126816, 125.357420, 15- 17.3.2022, Anichtchenko A. leg.” ( AAc) ; 1m, 1f: “ Philippines, Mindanao, Misamis Or., Claveria rd. , 1200m, 8°42’00.7N 124°59’59.0E, 29- 30.3.2022, Anichtchenko A. leg.” ( DUBC) ; 1m: “ Philippines, Mindanao, Aliwagwag falls, Cateel riv. , Davao Oriental, 7.740266, 126.301608, 200m, 4-7.v.2023, Anichtchenko A. leg.” ( AAc) ; 1f: “ Philippines, Mindanao, Davao prov., Mt. Talomo , 1200-1300m, 7°04’40.9N, 125°20’08.3E, 27- 28.4.2019, Anichtchenko A. leg.” ( AAc) ; 1f: “ Davao del Sur, Apo mt.rng. , Mabanlas , 1500m, 7°7’2810N, 125°18’7580E, 21- 24.3.2022, Anichtchenko A. leg.” ( DUBC) ; 1f: “ Mindanao, Marilog distr., Eagle’s Ridge , 7.453556, 125.233521, 26-28.iii.2018, Anichtchenko A. leg.” ( AAc) . SAMAR: 1m: “ October 2021, Lope de Vega , N Samar Is., Philippines ” ( WJc) .

Material (ex gracilis ): MINDANAO : 1f: “ Davao del Sur, Apo mt.rng., Mabanlas, 1500m, 7°7’2810N, 125°18’7580E, 21- 24.3.2022, Anichtchenko A. leg.” ( AAc); 1m: “ Mindanao , Marilog distr., Eagle’s Ridge, 7.453556, 125.233521, 26-28.iii.2018, Anichtchenko A. leg.” ( AAc); 1f: Philippines, Mindanao, Aliwagwag falls , Cateel riv., Davao Oriental , 7.740266, 126.301608, 200m, 4-7.v.2023, Anichtchenko A. leg.” ( AAc); 1m, 1f: “ Philippines, Mindanao, Sitio Bitaugan, Kawa-Kawa river , 24-26.iii.2018, A. Anichtchenko leg.” ( AAc); 1m: “ Philippines, Mindanao, S Cotobato , Lake Holon , 6.099484, 124.877119, 5- 10.10.2019, Anichtchenko A. leg.” ( AAc); 1m: “ Philippines, Mindanao, Davao del Sur, Apo Mt. Rng ., Karilongan Mt. , 7.126816, 125.357420, 15- 17.3.2022, Anichtchenko A. leg.” ( AAc); 1f: “ Philippines, Mindanao, Gingoog, Eureka Mt. , 730m, 8°41.4970N, 125°14.2710E, 31.3- 3.4.2022 Anichtchenko A. leg.” ( AAc); 1m: “ Philippines, Mindanao , Davao Oriental, San Isidro, Bitaogan, 25.iii.2018, A. Barsevskis leg.” ( DUBC); 1m: “4.1974, Philippines, Mindanao , Mt. Apo ” ( JWc); 1m: “10.2010, Philippines, Mindanao , Mt. Apo, Noel Mohagan leg.” ( JWc); 2m: “1.2011, Philippines, Mindanao , Mt. Apo , Noel Mohagan leg.” (JWc). NEGROS: 1m: “ Philippines, C Visayas , Negros , VII.2013 ” ( DUBC) .

Differential diagnosis. Habitus ( Figs 66–71 ), body size 17–20 mm, dorsally black or with bluish satiny appearance; pronotum long, slightly stronger in front; elytra slightly ampler, less gibbose from side view; sculpture deeper and covering the entire surface but decreasing at apex; Aedeagus ( Figs 117–120 ) like in T. conicicollis . Endophallus ( Figs 72–85 ), extremely similar with endophallus of T. conicicollis . Protuberances: VB relatively small; pair of laterally protruding BL; DB relatively large and weakly biforked at apex; median part of endophallus short in comparison with other species of subgenus; V small, directed towards the apex of endophallus; VA relatively large, directed towards the base of endophallus, and overlap with V; A vary in shape and size (perhaps it depends on the degree of inflation of the endophallus), usually transverse, with 2 apices; DA long; flagellum long and thin.

Comments. Small specimens of T. elongata were described by Naviaux as T. gracilis Naviaux, 2002 : “Resembles T. elongata but smaller and narrower, black with more shiny appearance; pronotum less obviously conical in shape; gibbosity and concavity more obviously marked; elytral sculpture not so regularly distributed, the posterior half almost smooth; aedeagus like T. elongata , but smaller and with the distal point less acute.” A variable species, extreme forms of variability can indeed be mistaken for different species, but all transitional forms and all combinations of characters exist. This makes it impossible in many cases to distinguish these taxa. Only genetic research will help to finally understand them, and until then we propose to consider T. gracilis as synonym of T. elongata .

Distribution. Philippines (Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, Panay, Romblon, Samar).

Figures

FIGURES 66–85. Variability of Tricondyla (Stenotricondyla) elongata Horn, 1906. Habitus: 66—Bataugan, Mindanao (male); 67—Mabanlas, Mindanao (female); 68—Marilog, Mindanao (male, as gracilis syn. nov.); 69—Dingalan, Luzon (male); 70– 71—Misamis Or., Mindanao (male). Aedeagus and endophallus: 72–75—Lake Holon, Mindanao (as gracilis syn. nov.); 76– 77—Dingalan, Luzon (as gracilis syn. nov.); 78–80——Kalatungan, Mindanao; 81–83—Cateel, Mindanao; 84–85—Samar.

FIGURES 112–129. Aedeagus of Tricondyla species. 112—T. aptera (Samar); 113—Holotype of T. johnsoni sp. nov.; 114—T. ovicollis (Ditumabo); 115—Holotype of T. aptera lumawigi syn. nov. = T. ovicollis; 116—T. ventricosa (Sta Ana); 117—T. elongata (Kalatungan); 118—T. elongata (Misamis Or.); 119—T. gracilis syn. nov. = T. elongata (Lake Holon, Mindanao); 120 - T. gracilis syn. nov. = T. elongata (Bataugan, Mindanao); 121—T. conicicollis (Mindanao); 122—Paratype of T. cyanipes fuscilabris Mandl, 1964 syn.; 123—Holotype of T. huloti syn. nov.; 124—Holotype of T. cavifrons syn. nov. = T. cyanipes; 125—T. cavifrons (Negros); 126—Holotype of T. genieri; 127—T. planiceps; 128—Holotype of T. oblita; 129—Paratype of T. beccarii cassolai.