Dromica (s. str.) helleri (W. Horn, 1897)

Schuele, Peter, Putchkov, Alexander & Markina, Tetiana, 2021, Larval descriptions of three Dromica species with some bionomical remarks (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae), ZooKeys 1044, pp. 511-525 : 511

Dromica (s. str.) helleri (W. Horn, 1897)

Instar I.

Measurements: FL - 0.85; FW - 1.48; PNL - 0.95; PNW - 1.58. Head. Head and appendages light brown (only A3 and A4 are darkened). Most setae on clypeus transparently white with reddish hue, setae of occiput (especially near eyes) dark brown. Lateral part of head (near eyes) brown with slight metallic luster. Most setae of head thin and acuminate, (only some setae apically slightly flattened). Outer margin of lateral plates of clypeus slightly curved. A1 glabrous, A2 and A3 with two setae, A4 with two long and several short setae on apex. Galea distinctly shorter than maxillary palpus. LP1 with three bristles; LP2 with one seta before middle. Epicranial suture absent.

Thorax. Disk of PN brown, PNa light yellow. Setae of PN1 dark brown (but lateral and posterior setae transparent white). PN 1.66 × wider than long. Anterior margin of PN almost even, slightly longer than small apices of PNa (Fig. 3D ). Maximum width of PN on level of PNa. Tops of PNa directed forwards. Callous elevations of PN1 and swellings of PNa distinct. PN1 with four setae. Anterior pair of legs brown, other light brown. Abdomen. Sclerotized areas of abdomen indistinct, light reddish. T3 with 3, AT5 with 5-7, CTL5 with one and CT5 with nine setae (3E). MH curved moderately. Their tops reaching middle of AT5 (Fig. 3E ). Lateral bristles of IH not in a straight line but slightly displaced asymmetrically. PY with four setae dorsally. Apex of PY with ten setae (four of them stouter on dorsal side).

Distribution and ecology.

Dromica helleri is recorded from the Republic of South Africa, Mozambique, and Eswatini [Swaziland] ( Cassola 2002). In Eswatini, the first author found this species in the low field savanna area of the Siphiso Valley nearby the Mlawula river (riverine floodplain) in an open forest on alluvial soil. The larva of Dromica helleri were hatched ex ovo.

Figures

Figure 3. Morphological features of Dromica larvae, I instar A hump of D. kolbei (right part, dorsal view) B segment IX and pygopod of abdomen of D. kolbei (left half, dorsal view) C segment IX and pygopod of abdomen of D. kolbei (left half, ventral view) D pronotum of D. helleri (right half, above) E hump of D. helleri (right part, dorsal view) F pronotum of D. alboclavata (right half, above) G hump of D. alboclavata.