TIGER BEETLES OF CONNECTICUT

Species Accounts

Cicindela repanda, one of Connecticut's most common Cicindela species, is known from over 40 localities within the state. Of 390 specimens databased, the earliest collection record that I have found for this species in CT is 30 August 1904 and the latest is 27 September 1996 (this species was not surveyed post 1996). Cicindela repanda occupies virtually any habitat in which Cicindela occur (except those of the shade-tolerant species C. sexguttata), including soils that are wet, muddy, clay-like and with humus. In CT this spcecies is common in old sand pits and on beach sands of rivers and lakes or ponds. This species usually co-occurs with the state's rarer species, for example C. puritana, and thus care should be taken to recognize this species. Cicindela repanda is known from 22 states (WI, MI, ON, PQ, NB, NS, PE, NY, VT, NH, ME, MA, CT, RI, IL, IN, OH, PA, NJ, MD, DE, DC.) (Boyd 1982) but this report lacks information on the current status of populations outside Connecticut.

Synonomies: Cicindela hirticollis Gould 1834:49; Cicindela baltimorensis Herbst 1806:181; Cicindela unijuncta Casey 1897:299; Cicindela hoosieri Mares 1921:310; Cicindela duncani Knaus 1924:126; Cicindela maehleri Robinson 1948:27

Conservation status: Not federally listed. Not state listed. Proposed Heritage ranking: S5

Diagnosis: Cicindela repanda is so abundant in CT that much variation exists in size and elytral markings. However, most specimens can be quickly identified by noting the break in the marginal line just posterior to the humeral lunule. Unfortunately, some specimens do not have this break. In such cases one may refer to the humeral lunule itself which, if compared to the 4 other species with such lunules (C. formosa, C. hirticollis, C. puritana, & C. tranquebarica), is easily differentiated. Larvae: (after Hamilton 1925) U-shaped ridge on caudal part of frons with 2 distinct setae; setae on dorsal aspect of head and pronotum white (not brown), other setae brown; median hooks with 1 or 2 setae (if 3 then one is much smaller); inner hooks with the spinelike projection never more than 1/6 the entire length of the hook.

Biology: (from Hamilton 1925): The adults oviposit in May or June. The young reach the last instar by late August or early September and close their burrows by early October. The larvae overwinter, feed and then pupate during the following spring such that the adults emerge during the summer. These adults then overwinter and during the following year's spring mate, oviposit and die.

The larvae of this species build some of the shallowest burrows of the CT species. These burrows are usually less than 4 inches deep and thus easily excavated.

Distribution in Connecticut:

Material examined: 390 specimens:

USA: Connecticut, Litchfield Co., Woodbury, 11 May 1985 (coll. D. G. Furth) -- 1 adult; . Barknamsted, Farm R. nr. Rt 318, 1 Aug 1991 (coll. R. Packauskas) -- 1 adult; Salisbury, 30 Aug 1904 (coll. W. E. Britton) -- 4 adults; (coll. WE Britton) -- 2 adults; Twin Lakes[ Salisbury] Twin Lakes, 11 Jul 1932 (coll. ) -- 1 adult; Winchester, 12 Sep 1933 (coll. ) -- 3 adults; Hartford Co., Avon, Avon Old Farms, 27 Jun 1929 (coll. C. H. Curran) -- 1 adult; East Hartford, 13 Aug 1906 (coll. BH Walden) -- 1 adult; Enfield, 18 May 1933 (coll. M. P. Zappe) -- 1 adult; Glastonbury, Keeney Cove, beach, CT R., 29 Sep 1989 (coll. K. Metzler & B. Lapir) -- 3 adults; Glastonbury,G. Ferry, beach nr. Rt 160, 11 Jun 1991 (coll. R. Packauskas) -- 10 adults; Hartford (coll. ) -- 8 adults; Hartford Co. Simsbury, 4 Jun 1973 (coll. J. Blake) -- 1 adult; Hartford Co. South Windsor, jct. 5 & 291, 27 Apr 1990 (coll. Les Mehrhoff) -- 1 adult; Manchester, Wickham Park, 8 Jul 1973 (coll. M. I. Shealy) -- 2 adults; Wethersfield, Meadows, 26 May 1960 (coll. JE) -- 2 adults; 11 Aug 1960 (coll. JE) -- 1 adult; 14 May 1961 (coll. JE) -- 2 adults; 10 Sep 1961 (coll. JE) -- 3 adults; Windsor, 21 May 1934 (coll. M. P. Zappe) -- 1 adult; Windsor; Conn. River, 29 Aug 1925 (coll. ) -- 5 adults; [ New Hartford], Pleasant Valley, 16 May 1966 (coll. S. M. Fullerton) -- 2 adults; [ Windsor Locks], Warehouse Pt, Conn R., 26 Aug 1925 (coll. L. B. Woodruff) -- 1 adult; Tolland Co., 41.843°N, 72.591°W, 2 Oct 1982 (coll. R. E. Nelson) -- 1 adult; Mansfield, 0.5km N Eagleville, rt.32,, 2 Jun 1996 (coll. D.S.Sikes&P.Naskrecki) -- 8 adults; Mansfield, 1.25mi S of Eagleville, rt.3 (coll. D.S.Sikes & P.Naskrecki) -- 3 adults; Mansfield: Mans. Hollow S. Pk, 19 May 1996 (coll. D.S.Sikes) -- 1 adult; S. of Mansfield Depot, Gravel Pit, 12 Jun 1996 (coll. D. S. Sikes) -- 1 adult; S. Willington, gravel pit (rt 32),, 15 Jun 1996 (coll. D. S. Sikes) -- 3 adults; Tolland, gravel pit E of Weigold Rd (coll. D. S. Sikes) -- 6 adults; 19 Aug 1996 (coll. D. S. Sikes) -- 3 larvae; Coventry, 27 Apr 1964 (coll. S. Lipton) -- 1 adult; Coventry Twp nr. Eagleville Dam, 25 Apr 1972 (coll. ) -- 3 adults; 29 Apr 1972 (coll. M. M. Primiani) -- 12 adults; 30 Apr 1972 (coll. J. R. Gordon) -- 1 adult; Mansfield, 3 May 1960 (coll. R. Darrow) -- 1 adult; 5 May 1960 (coll. ? Eluga?) -- 1 adult; Mansfield Twp Gurleyville, 16 Sep 1972 (coll. C. B. Fuller) -- 1 adult; Mansfield Twp nr. Chapin's Pond (coll. ) -- 3 adults; Mansfield Twp nr. Chapins Pond, 29 Apr 1972 (coll. L. R. Schechter) -- 2 adults; 6 Jul 1974 (coll. ) -- 1 adult; Mansfield, Mansfield Hollow Dam, 12 May 1972 (coll. L. R. Schechter) -- 1 adult; 13 May 1972 (coll. L. R. Schechter) -- 1 adult; Storrs, 15 Aug 1933 (coll. Wheeler) -- 1 adult; 17 May 1944 (coll. L. Ogawa) -- 3 adults; 1 May 1954 (coll. Cobleigh) -- 1 adult; 2 May 1968 (coll. K. Stontsenberger) -- 1 adult; Tolland, Fenton River, 17 Apr 1977 (coll. G. Roland) -- 1 adult; Windham Co., Ashford, 17 Sep 1994 (coll. D. J. Comboni) -- 2 adults; Canterbury, Packerville Rd,, 20 May 1995 (coll. D & R Wagner) -- 2 adults; rt 101, sand pit,, 2 Jun 1996 (coll. D.S.Sikes & P.Naskrecki) -- 8 adults; rt 14A, 0.75km E of Oneco (coll. D. S. Sikes) -- 3 adults; S. Windham, sand pit off rt32,, 15 Jun 1996 (coll. D. S. Sikes) -- 1 adult; [Sterling], Oneco, 2 mi W, old sand pit, 29 Apr 1990 (coll. Wagner) -- 5 adults; New London Co., 1 mi. E. of Voluntown, 3 May 1980 (coll. C. T. Maier) -- 2 adults; Lebanon: Lake Williams, 24 Jun 1990 (coll. D. J. Comboni) -- 1 adult; Lebanon: Lk Williams (coll. D & H Comboni) -- 1 adult; Vic. Voluntown dump off Rte. 138, 3 May 1980 (coll. D. F. Schweitzer) -- 3 adults; [Griswold], Hopeville Pond State Park, 12 Jul 1971 (coll. K. W. Brown) -- 2 adults; Colchester, Salmon River, 20 Jun 1990 (coll. M. Ardwin) -- 1 adult; Conn. R., beach above Hadlyme, N. Cove, 5 Sep 1990 (coll. R. J. Pupedis) -- 14 adults; Whalebone Creek [ Lyme, Hadlyme], 24 Aug 1990 (coll. R. Packauskas) -- 4 adults; Middlesex Co., Portland Twp., Portland Farmers Fish and, 26 Aug 1989 (coll. T. D. Schultz) -- 1 adult; 3 Sep 1989 (coll. T. D. Schultz) -- 1 adult; 7 Jul 1990 (coll. T. D. Schultz) -- 1 adult; Conn. Riv. W bank opp. Gildersleeve Isl, 5 Sep 1990 (coll. R. J. Pupedis) -- 27 adults; Cromwell: CT river-tidal bank, 17 Jul 1990 (coll. D & H Comboni) -- 1 adult; East Haddam, sandbar nr Rich Is Conn. R, 29 Aug 1990 (coll. Raymond J. Pupedis) -- 22 adults; East Hampton, Hurd St. Park nr Conn R., 7 May 1987 (coll. Chris T. Maier) -- 7 adults; East Hampton, Hurd State Park, 3 Jul 1985 (coll. C. Maier) -- 1 adult; Geo. Dudl. Seym. State Park, 26 Sep 1990 (coll. Ardwin & Packauskas) -- 1 adult; North Cromwell, 17 Aug 1990 (coll. Wagner & Mehrhoff) -- 16 adults; Portland: Cromwell, CT river, beach,, 19 Aug 1996 (coll. D. S. Sikes) -- 1 larva; Portland: CT River, 17 Jul 1990 (coll. D & H Comboni) -- 4 adults; 4 Aug 1990 (coll. D & H Comboni) -- 2 adults; 17 Aug 1990 (coll. D & H Comboni) -- 2 adults; Salmon River, above Leesville Dam, 30 Aug 1990 (coll. R. J. Pupedis) -- 1 adult; [Haddam], Geo. Dudl. Seym. St. Pk., 26 Sep 1990 (coll. Ardwin & Packauskas) -- 1 adult; Kilingsworth, 31 Aug 1989 (coll. L. J. Mehrhoff) -- 1 adult; Portland, 5 Jun 1914 (coll. M P Zappe) -- 1 adult; New Haven Co., Brandford, -Landfill and Pond, 7 May 1987 (coll. T. D. Schultz) -- 1 adult; 7 Sep 1987 (coll. T. D. Schultz) -- 1 adult; Hammonasset Beach St. Park, Meigs Pt., 3 Sep 1987 (coll. T. D. Schultz) -- 1 adult; Rt. 17 between Northford and Rt 77, sand, 8 May 1988 (coll. T. D. Schultz) -- 1 adult; Wallingford. Rt. 5 opposite parking for , 24 May 1988 (coll. T. D. Schultz) -- 1 adult; 2 mi. E. Seymour, 6 May 1964 (coll. BVogel) -- 3 adults; Ansonia, 27 Apr 1986 (coll. D. J. Comboni) -- 1 adult; Guilford, north end of Menuckatuck Res., 28 Jul 1991 (coll. Chris T. Maier) -- 1 adult; Guilford, nr. Jacobs Beach, 16 May 1987 (coll. Chris T. Maier) -- 5 adults; Guilford, salt marsh, 12 Sep 1970 (coll. S. A. Hessel) -- 1 adult; Hamden, near Lake Wintergreen, 22 Apr 1987 (coll. Chris T. Maier) -- 5 adults; Hamden, West Rock Ridge St. Pk, 15 Sep 1987 (coll. Chris T. Maier) -- 4 adults; Hammonasset Beach St. Park, 4 Sep 1982 (coll. C. L. Remington) -- 5 adults; Lake Wintergreen, 28 Sep 1986 (coll. T. W. Culliney) -- 2 adults; N. Haven, W of Wharton Brk St. Pk., 14 Aug 1996 (coll. D. S. Sikes) -- 3 adults; North Haven Rt. 5, 3 Sep 1989 (coll. D & H Comboni) -- 2 adults; North Haven, Rt 5, 28 Apr 1990 (coll. D & H Comboni) -- 1 adult; North Haven, Stillman Road,, 7 May 1987 (coll. Chris T. Maier) -- 1 adult; North Haven, Valley Service Rd., 30 Jul 1989 (coll. D. J. Comboni) -- 1 adult; North Haven: Valley Service Rd., 14 Aug 1996 (coll. D. S. Sikes) -- 2 adults; Seymour-Naugatuck R., 16 May 1987 (coll. D. J. Comboni) -- 1 adult; Seymour: Naugatuck River (coll. D. J. Comboni) -- 5 adults; Wallingford, N. jct. rtes. 15&68, 16 May 1982 (coll. D. F. Schweitzer) -- 1 adult; Wallingford, Quinnipiac River,, 13 Jun 1996 (coll. R. J. Pupedis & N. Ehlers) -- 15 adults; Wallingford, shore of Quinnipiac Riv, 27 Sep 1996 (coll. O'Donnell & R. J. Pupedis) -- 5 larvae; West Haven: Sandy Pt., 30 Sep 1989 (coll. D & H Comboni) -- 1 adult; West Rock State Park, 23 Jul 1986 (coll. D. J. Comboni) -- 1 adult; 30 Jul 1986 (coll. D. J. Comboni) -- 1 adult; Wharton Brook State Pk., 17 May 1986 (coll. D & H Comboni) -- 6 adults; 23 Aug 1986 (coll. D & H Comboni) -- 1 adult; 30 Aug 1986 (coll. D & H Comboni) -- 1 adult; 11 Apr 1987 (coll. D & H Comboni) -- 1 adult; 23 Aug 1988 (coll. D & H Comboni) -- 1 adult; 27 Aug 1988 (coll. D & H Comboni) -- 1 adult; Woodbridge, 9 Sep 1961 (coll. E. E. Remington) -- 6 adults; Saltonstall Lake [ East Haven], 8 Oct 1939 (coll. ) -- 1 adult; Saltonstall Lake [. East Haven], 28 Jun 1930 (coll. ) -- 2 adults; Saltonstall [ East Haven], 7 Jun 1940 (coll. ) -- 1 adult; Saltonstall [. East Haven], 5 Sep 1937 (coll. ) -- 1 adult; Wallingford, 7 Sep 1906 (coll. E.D.H.) -- 2 adults; Wallingford, Wharton Brook St. P., 14 Apr 1987 (coll. Chris T. Maier) -- 1 adult; West Haven, 11 May 1905 (coll. W E Britton) -- 1 adult; 27 Jun 1905 (coll. HL Viereck) -- 1 adult; [ Wallingford], Yalesville, 20 Aug 1920 (coll. M P Zappe) -- 2 adults; Fairfield Co., (coll. ) -- 1 adult ; Trumbull, Pequonnock Valley, 2 mi NW jct, 2 Jul 1989 (coll. T. D. Schultz) -- 1 adult. Lake Mohegan, 8 Jun 1984 (coll. D & H Comboni) -- 1 adult; Long Hill, Pequonnock Valley, 1 Jul 1989 (coll. D & H Comboni) -- 1 adult; Long Hill: Trumbull, 13 Jul 1947 (coll. D. J. Comboni) -- 1 adult; 20 Jul 1947 (coll. D. J. Comboni) -- 1 adult; 28 Apr 1948 (coll. D. J. Comboni) -- 1 adult; 30 Apr 1989 (coll. D. J. Comboni) -- 1 adult; Long Hill: Trumbull, Pequonnock Valley, 8 Sep 1990 (coll. D & H Comboni) -- 1 adult; Monroe, Great Hollow Lake, 30 May 1994 (coll. D & H Comboni) -- 1 adult; 2 Oct 1994 (coll. D & H Comboni) -- 1 adult; New Milford, 9 Sep 1995 (coll. D J Comboni) -- 1 adult; Newton, 11 Jun 1983 (coll. D. J. Comboni) -- 1 adult; Newton-Botsford, 6 Oct 1989 (coll. D & H Comboni) -- 1 adult; Newtown, 29 Aug 1982 (coll. D. J. Comboni) -- 6 adults; 1 May 1983 (coll. D. J. Comboni) -- 1 adult; 8 Jun 1984 (coll. D. J. Comboni) -- 1 adult; 8 Sep 1984 (coll. D. J. Comboni) -- 7 adults; 27 May 1985 (coll. D. J. Comboni) -- 2 adults; Newtown: Botsford, 16 Apr 1990 (coll. D & H Comboni) -- 2 adults; Westport, Sherwood Isl. St. Prk, 26 Jun 1996 (coll. D. S. Sikes) -- 1 adult.

Collection events (n=145) of Cicindela repanda over time, 1850-1996. Data lumped into 5 year intervals.