C. Barry Knisley

Translocation of Threatened Tiger Beetle Cicindela dorsalis dorsalis (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) to Sandy Hook, New Jersey

Abstract The two key objectives of the recovery plan for the Federally threatened tiger beetle Cicindela dorsalis dorsalis Say are to protect populations within the Chesapeake Bay and to establish by reintroductions new populations in the U.S. northeast (New Jersey to Massachusetts). This article reports on the development and implementation of translocation work to establish a population of C. d. dorsalis at Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook, NJ, by using larvae from Chesapeake Bay populations. Previous experimental translocation trials in Virginia by using adults were unsuccessful because the adults dispersed from the translocation sites within 1–2 wk. Experimental translocations were conducted to test methods with larvae from several Virginia sites to Sandy Hook in September 1994 and 1995. The translocated larvae readily dug burrows, many survived the winter, and some emerged as adults the following summer. Additional translocations of >475 larvae each year were conducted in early May 1997, 1999, and 2000. Peak numbers of emerging adults counted each year in July increased from 178 in 1997 to 749 in 2001. Adults exhibited normal behaviors in the field (foraging, thermoregulation, and mating) and recruited larvae each year. A population seemed to be successfully established, but adult numbers declined sharply after the 2001 peak to 142 in 2002, 43 in 2003, and six in 2004. We have little evidence for the cause of this sharp decline in adult numbers, but it may have resulted from predation by gulls, dispersal triggered by the high gull densities where beetles occurred, or perhaps from coastal storm impacts causing a progressive decline in survival and recruitment of the beetle population. The initial success of this translocation suggests that efforts using these methods should be continued, but closer monitoring at the translocation site is needed to determine the fate of the population. These methods also may be applicable to the recovery of other threatened or endangered tiger beetles.

Anthropogenic disturbances and rare tiger beetle habitats: benefits, risks, and implications for conservation

This review summarizes the literature and some primary data on the effects of anthropogenic disturbances on tiger beetle habitats, including how this may help or harm populations of rare species, and how understanding these effects is important in tiger beetle conservation and management. The main focus is on U.S. species but relevant literature from other regions of the world is included. First I discuss tiger beetle habitats and the importance of open patches, then review how human disturbances may be essential for creating these open areas of habitat but may also negatively impact populations and act as limiting factors. The factors discussed are: (1) vehicles, bicycles and pedestrian foot traffic; (2) livestock grazing and other animal activities; (3) soil movement and deposition; (4) irrigation and cultivation; and (5) dams, diversions and shoreline structures. Finally, I review the threat of encroaching vegetation from natural succession and invasive species into rare tiger beetle habitats and how implementing disturbance regimes may counter this threat and be used in conservation and management of rare tiger beetles.

Apparent Extinction of the Tiger Beetle, Cicindela hirticollis abrupta (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Cicindelinae)

Abstract The results of this study indicate the historic range of Cicindela hirticollis abrupta Casey was limited to only five sites within the Sacramento Valley of California. Extensive searches within and beyond its historic range along the Feather and Sacramento Rivers in 2001–2004 failed to find any individuals of this tiger beetle and very little suitable habitat. Another tiger beetle, C. o. oregona Dejean, which occurs in a much greater array of water edge habitats, was common at some sites. The cumulative effects from the Oroville and Shasta Dams, including loss and deterioration of sandy edge river habitats and prolonged high water levels, probably caused the extirpation of C. h. abrupta in the late 1980s to early 1990s.

Water relations of tiger beetle larvae (Cicindela marutha): correlations with habitat microclimate and burrowing activity

Rates of water loss/gain for third instar larvae of the tiger beetle Cicindela marutha Dow were measured at various temperatures and humidities. The larvae occupy burrows in exposed hot, dry sand ridges. They are active at the surface at midday during spring and fall, but plug their burrows during the summer day and become active only at night. Water loss rates increase moderately with increasing temperatures (25 to 40°C) and show a consistent decline with increasing relative humidity (0 to 97·5%). The larvae do not absorb sufficient atmospheric moisture at any of the high humidities to offset water lost via transpiration; however, they ingest moist sand while burrowed and absorb the water from their digestive tract. This uptake mechanism supplements water obtained from prey, whose availability is limited, and also enables them to remain in positive water balance during times that microclimatic conditions prevent them from feeding on the surface.

Molecular genetics of Cicindela (Cylindera) terricola and elevation of C. lunalonga to species level, with comments on its conservation status

Cicindela (Cylindera) terricola Say is one of the most widespread and variable species of Nearctic Cicindelidae with six recognized subspecies. Cicindela t. lunalonga Schaupp (1884) is known from few museum specimens collected prior to 1979. The goal of this study was to resolve the uncertain taxonomic status of C. t. lunalonga using mitochondrial DNA analysis of cytochrome b and cytochrome oxidase subunit I and determine its conservation status. In phylogenetic reconstruction using distance and parsimony methods, all members of the terrricola group were recovered as monophyletic and embedded within outgroup species of the subgenus Cylindera, while C. lunalonga was recovered as sister to all other members of the C. terricola clade. Cicindela lunalonga exhibited an exceptionally high (mean of 6.36%) pairwise sequence divergence for both genes against all C. terricola surveyed. For the cytochrome oxidase subunit I alone the pairwise divergence was 3.9–4.8% (4.58% avg.). The lowest divergences were between C. lunalonga and C. terricola subspecies of the American southwest (C. t. cinctipennis and C. t. kaibabensis), rather than with the closest geographic neighbors (C. t. imperfecta). We conclude that based on strict monophyly and pairwise sequence divergence, C. lunalonga is a distinct species. Our study of museum specimens and extensive field surveys suggest this species has been extirpated from all sites in the San Joaquin Valley and perhaps all but one of the historic sites throughout its range. Thus, it should be considered for Federal listing as an endangered species.

Habitat Preference and the Effects of Beach Nourishment on the Federally Threatened Northeastern Beach Tiger Beetle, Cicindela dorsalis dorsalis: Western Shore, Chesapeake Bay, Virginia

Abstract This study examines the habitat preference of the US federally threatened northeastern beach tiger beetle, Cicindela dorsalis dorsalis, and the effect of beach nourishment on existing habitats along two western Chesapeake Bay beaches. Winter Harbor Beach and Smith Point Beach, located approximately 100 km to the north, historically have supported large populations of C. d. dorsalis. Grain size distributions, sediment compaction at two depths, temperature, moisture, and beach width habitat parameters were analyzed by analysis of variance and Tukeys honestly significant difference multiple comparison test and related to the distribution and abundance of C. d. dorsalis. The results from this study indicate that this species prefers beaches at least 6 m wide, with moderately well–sorted sands having a mean grain size of 0.5 to 0.6 mm, and relatively compacted sediment with averages of 69 psi and 110 psi at depths of 10 and 15 cm, respectively. In addition, the two nourishment projects had a positive short-term effect on the beetle habitat despite differences in deposition location. At Smith Point Beach, deposition occurred on top of the subaerial beach with a minimal increase in beach width. At Winter Harbor Beach, nearshore deposition caused a 50-m increase on average in beach width. Within weeks of deposition, adults of C. d. dorsalis rapidly moved onto the nourished sections of both beaches and produced large numbers of larvae. Winter Harbor Beach experienced the greatest increase in beetle numbers, most likely because of the additional habitat created by nearshore deposition. However, continued erosion from natural and anthropogenic sources could produce a chronic threat to productive habitats. These findings will assist coastal engineers and developers in determining effective measures designed to aid both economic and ecologic interests.

Observations of Oviposition Behavior Among North American Tiger Beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Cicindelinae) Species and Notes on Mass Rearing

ABSTRACT Although the larvae of a large number of North American tiger beetle species have been described, little information exists on the oviposition behavior of female tiger beetles at the species level. In this study, we found that the oviposition behavior varied widely among species, with some species utilizing more than one method. We found that, contrary to many references, several tiger beetle species did not oviposit from above the soil surface by inserting the ovipositor into the soil. Instead, several species oviposited by tunneling over 20 mm below the soil surface. In addition, we outline recently used successful protocols for rearing larvae rapidly and in large quantities.

Distribution, abundance and conservation of the highly endemic Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle, Cicindela albissima Rumpp

The Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle, Cicindela albissima Rumpp, occurs only within a small area of the Coral Pink Sand Dunes in southwestern Utah. Even within this dune field, most of the population is limited to a small core area about 2 × 0.5 km2 in size (adjacent areas sometimes contain beetles, but these appear to be demographic sinks). The core habitat is a transition zone of transverse dunes located between more dynamic dunes to the south (crests of these move upwards of 3 m/y) and more stabilised ones to the north. A candidate species since 1994, the beetle was recently proposed for listing as a threatened species by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. A conservation agreement in 1997 established two off-highway-vehicle-free conservation areas, one of these supporting most of the population within the core habitat (A) and the other a potential site for establishing a second viable population (B). Annual population estimates of adults from 1999 to 2013 fluctuated significantly from a low of 558 to high of 2944. Despite a progressive increase in recent years, our studies including two population viability analyses confirmed the species remains at risk of extinction because of its localised distribution, fluctuating abundance apparently limited by reduced rainfall and the failure to establish a second population in Conservation Area B. The fate of the species is tied to the five inter-dunal swale rows that support most of the adults and larvae. Consequently, there are few options for conservation of the species. Proposed listing of C. albissima as a threatened species was recently withdrawn by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in lieu of a revised conservation agreement which modestly expands protection in Conservation Area A.

Distribution and Conservation Status of Omus submetallicus G. Horn and Its Confusion with Omus californicus lecontei G. Horn (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

We conducted studies to determine the distribution, abundance, and conservation status of Omus submetallicus G. Horn. From pitfall traps and visual searches, we found 286 O. submetallicus adults at six sites in far western Fresno County, California where larval burrows were abundant and widespread. The same survey methods produced 975 Omus californicus lecontei G. Horn, mostly from seven sites in San Benito County, but others from two sites, one within 300 m of one of the O. submetallicus sites. Contrary to previous reports, we conclude that O. submetallicus does not occur in Monterey County (including Priest Valley) or in Kings County, but ranges east of the designated Warthan Canyon type locality where the habitat is generally drier and less densely vegetated than most of the rest of the canyon. Omus submetallicus is primarily associated with blue oak woodland and bull (digger) pine, but not with poison oak as previously reported. We predict that the actual range of O. submetallicus extends several miles north and south of the sites where we found it along Hwy. 198 because similar habitat is present in various small canyons there. This area is mostly private property, roadless, and accessible only on foot, so thorough surveys are difficult. All populations were on private lands used for low intensity cattle grazing which does not seem to pose a significant risk to the species. Because this area is unlikely to be developed in the near future, the species does not seem to be in danger of extinction at this time, despite its extremely limited geographic range.ABSTRACT We conducted studies to determine the distribution, abundance, and conservation status of Omus submetallicus G. Horn. From pitfall traps and visual searches, we found 286 O. submetallicus adults at six sites in far western Fresno County, California where larval burrows were abundant and widespread. The same survey methods produced 975 Omus californicus lecontei G. Horn, mostly from seven sites in San Benito County, but others from two sites, one within 300 m of one of the O. submetallicus sites. Contrary to previous reports, we conclude that O. submetallicus does not occur in Monterey County (including Priest Valley) or in Kings County, but ranges east of the designated Warthan Canyon type locality where the habitat is generally drier and less densely vegetated than most of the rest of the canyon. Omus submetallicus is primarily associated with blue oak woodland and bull (digger) pine, but not with poison oak as previously reported. We predict that the actual range of O. submetallicus extends sev...

Conservation status of United States tiger beetles

This study evaluates the conservation status of all of the United States species and subspecies of tiger beetles on the basis of the published literature, unpublished reports, museum and private collections, our personal field work and contact with collectors. We provide a brief summary of the status of the four species already listed and the two candidates for listing by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We indicate three taxa believed to be extinct and evaluate 62 others that we deem sufficiently rare to be considered for listing as endangered or threatened. We used a 1, 2, 3 grading system that is generally comparable to the terminology of critically imperiled, imperiled, and vulnerable designations, respectively, used in NatureServe Explorer. Fifty-two of these taxa are from the western states and Texas and most of them are named subspecies with extremely limited distributions and habitats. We assigned seven taxa a 1+ grade, our highest level of rarity and/or threats; of these there is presently sufficient information available to consider two of them-- Cicindelidia floridana Cartwright and Cicindela tranquebarica joaquinensis Knisley and Haines-- as the U. S. forms most in danger of extinction. Future prospects for conservation and listing of tiger beetles seem bleak because of the limited budget and personnel available for Endangered Species in the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the current economic and political climate in the United States.