TL;DR: A new tiger beetle species, Lophyra (Lophyra) praetermissa n.
Abstract: A new tiger beetle species, Lophyra (Lophyra) praetermissa n. sp. (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae), obviously a close relative of L. (L.) histrio (Tschitscherine, 1903), is described from the environs of Erigavo, Somaliland (northern Somalia). Its discovery thus brings to 73 the number of the species of this genus presently known worldwide (39 species of which – 29 from Africa – belong to the typonominal subgenus).
TL;DR: Divergence time estimation suggested that these worldwide Cicindelina groups diverged in the early Oligocene, and the Sophiodela group, which is found in the Oriental and Sino-Japanese zoogeographic regions, in the mid Miocene.
TL;DR: An annotated catalogue of the species and subspecies of tiger beetles hitherto known from Angola is given, as well as some considerations on the distribution and conservation status of these beetles in Angola.
Abstract: An annotated catalogue of the species and subspecies of tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Cicindelinae) hitherto known from Angola is given. A total of 89 forms (74 species and 15 subspecies) is recorded from this southwestern country of Africa. Within this assemblage there are 31 endemic forms (33.3%). Some species are represented by only the holotype specimen (some without locality) or the type series. Others were recorded based on a single specimen. Records for six species previously unknow from Angola are given: Foveodromica sp. n. 1, Foveodromica sp. n. 2, Ophryodera rufomarginata bradshawi Peringuey, 1888, Elliptica muata parallelestriata (W. Horn, 1923), Lophyra differens (W. Horn, 1892) and Myriochila jucunda (Peringuey, 1892). A historical review, as well as some considerations on the distribution and conservation status of these beetles in Angola are also presented.
TL;DR: Key environmental factors of climate and soil were examined and linked to habitat preferences of tiger beetle species.
Abstract: The reservoir ecosystems of Sri Lanka are ancient man-made riparian habitats. Adequate food supply and suitable climatic and soil parameters make these habitats ideal for tiger beetles. Twenty-six reservoirs were investigated for the presence of tiger beetles, and four species were recorded: Calomera angulata (Fabricius, 1798), Myriochila (Monelica) fastidiosa (Dejean, 1825), Cylindera (Oligoma) lacunosa (Putzeys, 1875) and Lophyra (Lophyra) catena (Fabricius, 1775). Calomera angulata is the most common species, occurring in the majority of reservoir habitats. Key environmental factors of climate and soil were examined and linked to habitat preferences of tiger beetle species.
TL;DR: Habitat parameters of the locations and the length of the body and mandible between H. biramosa and L. catena indicated that habitat selection of the species was not based on prey utilization, but may depend on the intensity of solar radiation and the level of soil salinity of the sites.
Abstract: The species of tiger beetles inhabiting coastal habitats of Sri Lanka have not been studied for nearly three decades. We report the tiger beetle species currently occupying the coastal habitats of the island, their distribution, microhabitats and habitat preferences. Species and distributions reported nearly three decades from similar previous studies are also recorded. Southern, North-Western and Western coastal belts (n=22) of Sri Lanka were investigated for the presence of tiger beetles. Three species, Hypaetha biramosa , Lophyra ( Lophyra ) catena , Myriochila ( Monelica ) fastidiosa , were recorded from eleven locations. M. ( Monelica ) fastidiosa was reported for the first time, in a single location of the Southern coastal belt. Habitat parameters of the locations and the length of the body and mandible between H. biramosa and L. ( Lophyra ) catena , were statistically compared to determine specific habitat preferences of the two species. Analysis of Variance using Minitab 16.0 revealed that H. biramosa occupy habitats with high solar radiation (438-1023 w/m 2 ) and soil salinity (0.0-0.1ppt) while L. ( Lophyra ) catena occupy habitats with low solar radiation (132-402) and non-saline soils (0.0 ppt). Similar length of mandibles of these two species indicated that habitat selection of the species was not based on prey utilization, but may depend on the intensity of solar radiation and the level of soil salinity of the locations.