TIGER BEETLES OF CONNECTICUT

Species Accounts

Cicindela puritana, a federally threatened species, is known from 7-8 localities within the state, only two of which currently have extant populations. Of 47 specimens databased the earliest record for this species in CT is 1850 after which it was not collected until 1901 & 1902. The species was next documented in 1924 and 1939. After 50 years without records, in 1989 efforts to find this species in CT succeeded and now these populations are protected and annually censused by The Nature Conservancy. The species is known from 7 states (NY, NH, MA, CT, NJ, MD, VA) (Boyd 1982) but no longer occurs in NY, NH, NJ, or VA. There are few regions of the CT River that have not been surveyed for this species.

Synonymies: none

Conservation status: Federal: Threatened. State: Endangered. Proposed Heritage ranking: S1

Diagnosis: Cicindela puritana might be confused with C. repanda, a common species that co-occurs with C. puritana. One subtle but important distinction is the general body shape, C. puritana have narrower, more parallel-sided elytra than C. repanda. Also, the shoulder lunules of C. puritana are thinner, longer, more posterior-facing and are sharply recurved towards the head. Larvae: (after Knisley 1991) The larvae are easily distinguished from C. repanda larvae because they bear more than twice as many setae on the pronotum as C. repanda. Also, the pronotum of C. repanda is broader and bronze-brown in color, whereas the pronotum of C. puritana is black.

Biology: In Connecticut the adults have been most commonly found during August (table 9).

Material examined: 47 specimens.

For detailed information on these specimens contact the Connecticut Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, 55 High St., Middletown, CT 06457, or the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.

Collection events (n=19) of Cicindela puritana over time, 1850-1996. Data lumped into five-year intervals.