Cicindela obsoleta santaclarae Bates, 1890

Mawdsley, Jonathan R., 2009, Geographic variation in U. S. populations of the tiger beetle Cicindela obsoleta Say (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), Insecta Mundi 2009 (94), pp. 1-10 : 6-7

Cicindela obsoleta santaclarae Bates

Figure 5-9

Cicindela obsoleta var. santaclarae Bates (1890: 493) Syntype female in NMNH labeled “ Santa Clara / Chihuahua / Höge ” (examined; Figure 5 ).

Cicindela vulturina var. anita Dow (1911: 271) Syntype male in AMNH, labeled “Ft. Wingate / N. Mex”, AMNH type # 1205 (examined).

Diagnosis. A very large (length 15-20 mm) green, black, brown, or blue tiger beetle found in grasslands in southern and eastern Arizona, western and northern New Mexico, southwestern Colorado, and western Texas. The elytra have large, round or rectangular white or yellow markings, including humeral and post-humeral maculae, a more or less complete median band (which may, however, be broken into lateral and discal maculae), and subapical and apical maculae ( Figure 5-8 ). In certain individuals some or all of the maculae may be joined along the elytral margin, forming a narrow or broad marginal band ( Figure 7, 9 ).

Notes. Bates’ description of C. obsoleta var. santaclarae refers to the green color morph of this subspecies while Dow’s description of C. vulturina var. anita refers to the black color morph. Both forms are commonly found in U.S. populations, as are brown and blue morphs. A large series in AMNH and NMNH from Fort Wingate, New Mexico, (the type locality of C. vulturina var. anita Dow ) has 31 black and 25 green individuals. I do not judge it necessary to designate a lectotype for C. obsoleta var. santaclarae , as the identity of this form is well established.

Material examined. 488 adult specimens from the following localities. AZ: Apache Co., 4 miles S Springerville, 5.5 miles W Eager, 9 miles NW Springerville, White Mountains; Cochise Co., 0.5 miles S of entrance Chiricahua National Monument, 1.5 miles E entrance Chiricahua National Monument, 10.4 miles NE Chiricahua National Monument, 16 miles SE Dos Cabezas, 4 miles SE Willcox, 9 miles W Montezuma Pass, 29 miles SE Willcox, 35 miles SE Willcox, 36 miles SE Willcox, Bear Canyon, Chiricahua Mountains, Chiricahua National Monument, Huachuca Mountains, mouth of Pinery Canyon, Palmerlee, Pinery Canyon 5040’, Pinery Canyon 5200’, Pinery Canyon 5250’, Pinery Canyon mouth, west side Chiricahua Mountains; Gila Co., Payson, Sierra Ancha Mountains; Pima Co., Santa Rita Mountains; Yavapai Co., Hassayampa District, Humboldt; Pinal Co., Peppersauce Canyon, 8 miles SE Oracle. CO: Archuleta Co., Pagosa Junction; La Plata Co., Allison, Durango. NM: Catron Co., 6 miles W Red Hill, Lupa; Cibola Co., Mt. Taylor; Colfax Co., Koehler, Koehler Junction, Raton; Grant Co., Silver City; Hidalgo Co., 1 mile N Rodeo, 2.3 miles NW Rodeo, Cloverdale; Lincoln Co., 2 miles N Angus, 30 miles N Capitan, 40 miles E Corona, Lincoln, Ruidoso; McKinley Co., Fort Wingate; Mora Co., Optimo; San Miguel Co., 4 miles E Las Vegas, near Las Vegas hot springs; Sandoval Co., Bandelier National Monument, Jemez Mountains, Jemez Springs; Santa Fe Co., 1 mile S junction NM 344 and 472, 2 miles E Barton, 2.7 miles N Moriarty, 11 miles S Galisteo; Torrance Co., Mountainair, Willard. TX: Brewster Co., Alpine; Jeff Davis Co., 6.5 miles W Fort Davis, 18 miles W Fort Davis.

Figures

Figure 1-9. Adult habitus photographs of pinned specimens of Cicindela obsoleta in NMNH. 1) Cicindela obsoleta obsoleta Say, male, Silver City, NM. 2) Cicindela obsoleta obsoleta, female, Carrizo Creek Picnic Area, Baca Co., CO. 3) Cicindela obsoleta obsoleta, male, Silver City, NM. 4) Cicindela obsoleta obsoleta X Cicindela obsoleta santaclarae, female, Silver City, NM. 5) Cicindela obsoleta santaclarae Bates, syntype female, Santa Clara, Chihuahua, México. 6) Cicindela obsoleta santaclarae, male, Ft. Wingate, NM. 7) Cicindela obsoleta santaclarae, female, Ft. Wingate, NM. 8) Cicindela obsoleta santaclarae, female, Ft. Wingate, NM. 9) Cicindela obsoleta santaclarae, male, Ft. Wingate, NM.