Chaetodera regalis ( Dejean 1831 )

Mawdsley, Jonathan R., 2011, Taxonomy, identification, and phylogeny of the African and Madagascan species of the tiger beetle genus Chaetodera Jeannel 1946 (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), Insecta Mundi 2011 (191), pp. 1-13 : 8

Chaetodera regalis ( Dejean 1831)

Figures 11-15 , 17

Cicindela regalis Dejean (1831: 251-252) .

Synonyms. Chaetodera regalis veneranda Rivalier (1952: 213) ; Chaetodera regalis bremeri Mandl (1982: 70-71) .

Type material. Of Chaetodera regalis (Dejean) , type locality “dans les parties supérieures du Sénégal,” type material in Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris. Of C. regalis veneranda Rivalier , type locality “de l’Ouaddai (Iriba et environs d’Iriba, Bakauore, massif de Kapga),” type series in Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris. Of C. regalis bremeri Mandl , 2 paratype males, labeled “ Sudan, Prov. Darfur/ El Geneina/ 7.VIII.1977 ” and “ad lucem” ( DEIC and TMSA, examined). Mandl (1982) misspelled the type locality of C. regalis bremeri as El Gemeina.

Diagnosis. Length 13.5-18.5 mm. Dorsal coloration as shown in Figures 11-15 . The only species of Chaetodera found in most of sub-Saharan Africa, C. regalis can be easily recognized by its distinctive elytral color pattern and by the iridescent blue coloration on the elytra in most specimens (although individual specimens will occasionally have black elytral markings rather than iridescent blue markings).

Notes on subspecific taxonomy. Specimens from portions of Niger, Chad and western Sudan have greatly expanded yellow markings on the elytra ( Figure 13 ). Rivalier (1952) described specimens of this color form from Ouaddai, Chad, as C. regalis veneranda , while Mandl (1982) described specimens of this color form from El Geneina, Sudan as C. regalis bremeri . Rivalier (1952) noted the relative constancy in elytral coloration across the series of 28 specimens he examined from Chad. In contrast, Mandl (1982) noted a wide range of color forms in the El Geneina population, ranging from four specimens with the standard C. regalis elytral markings to a larger number of specimens with almost entirely yellow elytra, with a series of intermediate color forms also present. It is not clear from the limited information available whether the forms with expanded yellow markings are sufficiently abundant within enough populations to constitute a distinct geographical subspecies. Additional material from Chad and Sudan is needed in order to clarify the subspecific status of the populations with expanded markings. Should these populations form a valid subspecies, the name C. regalis veneranda has priority over C. regalis bremeri .

Material examined. BOTSWANA: 4 km E Francistown, Tati River , 29-30.XII.1987 (4 males, 7 females, CMNH) ; Nata , 13-15.I.1978 (4 males, 1 female, NMNH) ; 3 km W Nata, Nata River , 25.XII.1988 (19 males, 16 females, CMNH) ; 4 km W Nata, Nata River , 25.XII.1987 (16 males, 20 females, CMNH) ; 10 km E Nata, Nata River , 25.XII.1987 (1 male, CMNH) ; Tuli Lodge, Limpopo River , 1-3.IV.1988 (50 males, 41 females, CMNH) . BURUNDI: Bujumbura, Lake Tanganyika , 26.I.1984 (3 males, 2 females, NMNH) ; 18. VI.1992 (1 male, 1 female, CMNH), same locality at 700 m, 24. VI.1992 (2 males, 2 females, CMNH), same locality at 750 m, 6.VII.1992 (3 males, 1 female, CMNH) . CAMEROON: 10 km E Gouna , 3.IV.1972 (1 male, NMNH) . CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Bangui-Bimbi , VIII.1978 (16 males, 16 females, CMNH) . DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: Faradje , XI.1912 (1 female, AMNH) ; Kalemi, Lake Tanganyika , XII.1973 (1 male, CMNH) ; Kinchassa , 25.X.1896 (1 male, DEIC) ; Kisangeni , XII.1979 (1 female, CMNH) . ERITREA: Cheren (1 male, DEIC), XI (2 females, DEIC) . ETHIOPIA: Harrar, Eren (2 males, DEIC) . KENYA: Kacheliba, W Suk , IV.1961 (1 female, NMNH) ; 10 km N Malindi at Sabaki River , 25.IV.1978 (3 males, CMNH) ; Tana - Galla (1 male, 1 female, DEIC) ; Tana River, 1892-1893 (2 males, 1 female, NMNH; 1 female, AMNH) ; Yatta Ettui , XI.1960 (1 male, NMNH) . MALAWI: Utale, Zomiza District , I.1903 (1 male, TMSA) . MOZAMBIQUE: Boroma, Zambesi (1 male, FMNH) ; Luabo , 12.XII.1954 (1 female, TMSA) ; Massangana , 1-8.II.1964 (2 males, 2 females, NMNH) ; Senna, Zambezi River , 1904 (1 female, NMNH) . NIGERIA: Benue State, 15 km E Makurdi, Abinsi, Benue River, 1.XI.1998 (16 males, 24 females, CMNH). Federal Capital Territory, at river near Abuja International Airport , 25.IX.1998 (5 males, 10 females, CMNH), 4 miles N Lapai, Guara Falls , 18.X.1998 (1 female, CMNH) . REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: Kintele , XI.1972 (14 males, 15 females, CMNH), 16.XII.1976 (1 male, 1 female, CMNH), 30.VIII.1977 (1 female, CMNH), 30.X.1977 (1 male, CMNH), 30.XI.1977 (1 female, CMNH), XI.1978 (1 male, CMNH) ; Odziba , XII.1978 (1 female, NMNH) . SENEGAL: (2 males, DEIC) . SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape Province: Beacon Bay , 20.III.1981 (1 male, TMSA) ; Kei Cuttings, 13.I.1985 (2 females, TMSA). Gauteng Province: Pretoria (1 female, NMNH). Kruger National Park : Letaba , 8.III.1966 (1 female, KNPC), 1978 (2 males, 2 females, TMSA) ; Letaba Camp , 14-18.XI.1961 (1 male, NMNH) ; Letaba River , 25 km S Letaba Camp, 24.XI.1999 (3 males, 3 females, DWBC) ; Mahlengeni , on road, 29.XI.1996 (1 female, SANC) ; Olifants Camp , XI.1967 (2 males, 1 female, TMSA), 19.II.1968 (1 male, CMNH; 1 male, 1 female, KNPC; 6 males, 6 females, NMNH) ; Olifants River at Road S- 90, 10 km S of Olifants Camp, 24.XI.1999 (3 males, 3 females, DWBC) ; Pafuri , 9.III.1966 (1 male, KNPC) ; Punda Maria , XI.1932 (2 males, 2 females, TMSA) ; Shingwedzi , 19-20.XI.1961 (1 female, NMNH; 1 male, 6 females, TMSA) ; Skukuza , 7-22.XII.1972 (1 male, SANC) ; Skukuza , malaise trap, 21.XI-5.XII.1972 (1 male, 1 female, SANC) ; Skukuza , 370 m, 5.XII.1977 (1 female, TMSA) ; Skukuza Research Camp, ultraviolet light and trap, 22.I.1995 (1 male, TMSA), 19.II.1995 (1 male, 1 female, TMSA). KwaZulu-Natal Province: Dukuduku Forest Station , lake shore, 4.IV.1974 (2 males, 3 females, TMSA) ; Empageni University , IX.1975 (1 male, TMSA) ; 80 miles N Empageni , XII.1927 - I.1928 (1 female, NMNH) ; Greytown , XII.1897 (2 females, NMNH) ; Hluhluwe Game Reserve, Nzimane River (near Hippo Pool ), 30.XI.1998 (3 males, 3 females, DWBC) ; Jozini Dam, Lebombo Mountains , 11-14.XII.1961 (1 female, TMSA) ; near Jozini , I.1985 (3 males, SANC) ; Mtunzini , at light at night, I.1998 (1 female, SANC) ; Natal (1 female, AMNH) ; Pongola , at river, 8.IV.1974 (1 male, 1 female, TMSA) ; Tugela, Mvoti , XI.1897 (1 male, NMNH) ; White Umfolozi , 2.I.1923 (1 male, 1 female, SANC) ; locality not specified (1 female, AMNH), 11.I.1955 (1 male, SANC). Limpopo or Northern Province: D’Nyala Nature Reserve, Ellisras District , 10-14.XI.1986 (1 male, SANC), 18-20.XII.1987 (1 male, SANC), 23-26.II.1987 (3 males, 2 females, SANC) ; Ellisras , 20.VII.1962 (1 female, TMSA), 16.XII.1964 (1 male, TMSA), 1.I.1971 (1 male, TMSA), 27.XII.1973 (1 male, TMSA) ; Farm Scrutton , 29. V.1976 (1 male, TMSA) ; Letaba Estates , I.1977 (1 male, SANC), 6.I.1978 (1 female, SANC), 10.I.1978 (1 male, SANC) ; Highway R36 – Makhutswi River (S Ofcolaco ) (3 males, 3 females, DWBC) ; Mica, Olifants River , 3.I.1972 (1 male, CMNH) ; Mogol Nature Reserve, Ellisras , 19-23.XI.1979 (3 males, 3 females, SANC), 19.I.1983 (2 males, SANC), 27-29.II.1984 (1 male, 1 female, SANC), 28.II.1984 (1 male, 2 females, SANC) ; Nylsvlei , II.1903 (2 males, TMSA) ; Route 36 and Olifants River , 15.XII.2004 (2 males, 2 females, DWBC) ; Pont Drift, Limpopo River , 23.XII.1973 (1 female, CMNH) ; 63 km S Tzaneen , 29.XII.1977 (1 male, 1 female, TMSA) ; Vaalwater , IV.1963 (1 male, TMSA), 2.III.1980 (1 male, TMSA) ; Zomerkomst, Politzi , III.1964 (1 male, SANC) ; 20.III.1965 (1 male, SANC). Mpumalanga Province: 10 km E Hazyview, Sabie River , 18.IV.1992 (1 female, CMNH) ; Komatipoort , light trap, XII.1959 (1 female, SANC), I.1960 (1 female, SANC) ; Lydenburg District , 1896 (1 male, TMSA) ; Nelspruit , XII.1973 (1 male, NMNH) ; Strydam Tunnel, 31. V.1976 (1 male, 1 female, TMSA). Western Cape Province: Cape Town, Lions Head , III.1959 (1 male, 1 female, CMNH; 2 males, 2 females, TMSA) . SUDAN: Prov. Darfur, El Geneina , 7.VIII.1977, at light (1 male, DEIC, and 1 male, TMSA, Paratypes of Cicindela regalis bremeri Mandl ) . TANZANIA: Dar es Salaam (1 male, NMNH; 1 female, CMNH) ; Kassanga (1 male, 1 female, NMNH) ; Lake Nyassa (1 female, NMNH) ; Madibira , XI.1908 (1 male, FMNH) ; Mhonda (1 male, 1 female, DEIC; 1 male, NMNH) ; Ruaha National Park , 18.I.1972 (1 male, CMNH) ; Ungoni (1 male, AMNH) ; Wiedhafen , 1906 (1 male, FMNH; 1 female, NMNH) ; Zanzibar (1 female, AMNH) . UGANDA: Budonga Forest (1 male, NMNH) . ZIMBABWE: Birchenough Bridge , 7.I.1947 (1 female, TMSA) ; Gwanda , 1906 (1 male, 1 female, SANC) ; Hot Springs , 7.XI.1973 (1 female, DEIC), 18.XI.1975 (1 male, TMSA) ; Kariba , 13.I.1973 (1 male, 2 females, TMSA), 14.I.1973 (1 male, TMSA), 5.II.1973 (1 female, TMSA) ; Highway A-8, Lukosi River, SE- Hwange , 1.XII.1999 (3 males, 3 females, DWBC) ; Lukosi Mission , 700 m, 30.XI-1.XII.1990 (3 males, 2 females, SANC) ; Mukumbata , 24.XII.1972 (1 male, TMSA) ; Sawmills , 17.XI.1917 (1 male, TMSA), 24.XI.1918 (1 female, SANC) .

Figures

Figures 1-15. Dorsal habitus images of Afrotropical Chaetodera species. 1) C. antatsima, syntype male, Madagascar Sud, Bassin du Mandraré. 2) C. antatsima, syntype female of C. antatsima var. fotsy, Mananpatra, Madagascar. 3) C. perrieri, male, Analaleva, Madagascar. 4) C. perrieri, syntype male, Madagascar. 5) C. andriana, syntype female, Madagascar (Sud), Bassin du Mandraré. 6) C. andriana, female, Ambositra, Madagascar. 7) C. maheva, syntype male, without locality label. 8) C. maheva, female, Majunga, Madagascar. 9) C. maheva, female, Maevatanana, Madagascar. 10) C. blanchardi, syntype male, Ouarsanguelis, Somalia. 11) C. regalis, male, Senegal. 12) C. regalis, female, Tana-Galla, Kenya. 13) C. regalis, paratype male of C. regalis bremeri Mandl, El Geneina, Darfur, Sudan. 14-15) Adult males of C. regalis photographed on sandbars of the Sabie River, Kruger National Park, South Africa.

Figures 16-17. Distribution of Chaetodera species in Africa and Madagascar. 16) Distribution of C. antatsima (dark circles), C. perrieri (dark triangles), and C. blanchardi (dark squares). 17) Distribution of C. andriana (open circles), C. maheva (open stars), and C. regalis (dark stars).