Neocicindela tuberculata
| Neocicindela tuberculata | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Adephaga |
| Family: | Cicindelidae |
| Genus: | Neocicindela |
| Species: | N. tuberculata
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| Binomial name | |
| Neocicindela tuberculata (Fabricius, 1775)
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| Synonyms | |
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Neocicindela tuberculata is a species of tiger beetle endemic to New Zealand and is sometimes referred to as Tuberculate tiger beetle or Common tiger beetle. It was first described in 1775 by Johan Christian Fabricius from specimens collected during Captain Cook's first voyage, making it the first ground beetle to be described from New Zealand. The species has been suggested to be roughly 0.92 million years old. Adult species prefer clay banks in summer and are good predators when in comes to insects. Neocicindela tuberculata are found throughout New Zealand and can be seen on hot sunny days on clay tracks or sandy areas. As well as running it can also fly. The adult beetle is approximately 2.5 cm long, and is greenish in colour with yellow markings on the side of the elytra.
Taxonomy
[edit]This tiger beetle was first described as Cicindela tuberculata in 1775 by Johan Christian Fabricius in his first major publication, Systema entomologiae.[1][2] The type specimens were collected by naturalists during Captain Cook's first voyage, which was the first time naturalists collected specimens in New Zealand.[3] As such, this species is regarded as the first description of a ground beetle from New Zealand.[4] The type specimens are stored in the Natural History Museum of London.[3]
The species was featured in another taxonomic revision in 1846, although little new information was presented.[5] In 1877, Thomas Broun described the species again as Cicindela huttoni, named after entomologist Frederick Hutton. It was named as a different species because Broun considered it to be less robust in form.[6] This was later recognized as a synonym in 1936.[7]
In 1963, the species was transferred to the newly created Neocicindela, which contained all of New Zealand’s tiger beetle fauna initially. N. tuberculata became the type species of this genus.[8] This genus was demoted to subgenus in 2001 and the species was reassigned to Cicindela by André Larochelle and Marie-Claude Larivière. The common name of "Tuberculate tiger beetle" was also suggested for the species (although "Common tiger beetle" is also used).[4][9] It was most recently revised in 2013 by Larochelle and Lariviere, who reassigned it to the Neocicindela genus.[9]
Phylogeny
[edit]A 2011 study examined the genetic relationships of New Zealand's tiger beetles. The combined sequences of cytochrome oxidase I, cytochrome b and 16S rRNA suggested that Neocicindela formed a clade (group of organisms that comprise all descendants of a common ancestor) that was distinct and separate from Zecicindela (which was at the time, identified as Neocicindela). It found that within the dataset, N. tuberculata is most closely related to Neocicindela latecinta, from which it diverged around 0.92 million years ago.[10]
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Description
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As adults, Neocicindela tuberculata are best distinguished from all other species of Neocicindela by the combination of a single setiferous pore (one pore with a long hair sticking out of it) on antennae segment one and the colour pattern of the abdomen.
The beetle is about 9–12mm (0.35–0.47 in) in length with a dark brown head and pronotum. The antennae and femora are dark, whilst the tibia and tarsi are pale. The first antennal segment also has anywhere between five or nine setiferous pores. The elytra (wing coverings or hardened for wings) colour background is dark brown with some tinges of velvet black and moderately wide. The dark areas of the elytra are shiny, somewhat metallic and are covered in small green metallic punctures. The elytra have numerous distinctive pale yellow markings. The humeral lunule (marking at the upper corner of the elytra) is fused with marginal line (marking along the middle margin of the elytra). The middle band of the yellow marking distinctly sticks out and is angled towards the apical lunule (part of the yellow marking sticking out near the tip of the abdomen). The marginal line is separated from the apical lunule. The shape of the elytra also begin to widen behind the middle.[9]
Larvae
[edit]Larvae are 20mm in length when in their final instar before moulting. The head and prothorax form a single circular flattened shape. The mandibles are sickle shaped. The labrum of the larvae is well developed and projects from the head of the insect. The tarsi of the legs are two jointed and have double claws. The larvae slowly widens after segment five and segment 9 have a pronounced dorsal hump.[11]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]Neocicindela tuberculata are found endemic to New Zealand where they are found across all regions of the North Island and are also found in the Marlborough and Tasman regions of the South Island. It is most often found in lowland areas of these regions. These beetles are found in most habitats but generally prefers open areas such as tussock grasslands and dry clay banks, but also includes modified habitat such as roadsides and gardens. N. tuberculata are diurnal (active in daylight/sunshine) insect and are most active in direct sunlight.[4]
Biology
[edit]The adults occur from September to July, with mating occurring during February. The larvae are known to mature into adults around December to February.[9] The larvae of N. tuberculata prefer to dig their burrows in on dry soil, particularly exposed sand or peaty soil as well as clay banks. The burrows are vertical and can be up to 15cm deep.[4] Neocicindela tuberculata are preyed upon by birds such as kiwi and magpie. They are also preyed upon by robber flies. To protect themselves from predators, the adult can emit a musky smell when disturbed. In addition to this, they are fast runners and can jump 2-3 metres (6.56-9.84 feet) in distance.[4]
Diet and foraging
[edit]Both the adult and the larvae of Neocicindela tuberculata are predators of other insects. The adults of N. tuberculata eat mainly caterpillars and flies. Food data and mouthpart morphology of the tiger Beetle genera, shows that they are opportunistic predators that can feed on a variety of small prey. The larvae are known to feed on flies.[4]
In Māori culture
[edit]This species has been referred to as several Māori names. One such term is "moeone", which may refer to the adult or larvae. Other terms exist such as muremure, pāpapa, kapuku, kurikuri and hāpuku.[12] In Māori tradition, moeone larvae are reportedly pests of kumara crops. However, since these larvae are predatory, it is possible this term includes other larvae that are the true pests of kumara.[13][12]
References
[edit]- ^ Fabricius, Johann Christian; Metcalf Collection (North Carolina State University). (1775). Systema entomologiae : sistens insectorvm classes, ordines, genera, species, adiectis synonymis, locis, descriptionibvs, observationibvs / Io. Christ. Fabricii. Flensbvrgi et Lipsiae: In Officina Libraria Kortii. p. 225. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.36510.
- ^ "Johan Christian Fabricius". Dansk biografisk leksikon (in Danish). Vol. 5 (1st ed.). Projekt Runeberg. 1891. pp. 24–30.
- ^ a b Radford, Winifred P. K. (1980). "The Fabrician types of the Australian and New Zealand Coleoptera in the Banks collection at the British Museum (Natural History)". Records of the South Australian Museum. 18 (8): 155–197.
- ^ a b c d e f Larochelle, A. & Larivière, M.-C. (2001). Fauna of New Zealand Number 43: Carabidae (Insecta: Coleoptera): catalogue. Lincoln, Canterbury: Manaaki Whenau Press, Landcare Research.
- ^ White, Adam; Butler, Arthur Gardiner (1846). The zoology of the voyage of the H.M.S. Erebus & Terror, under the command of Captain Sir James Clark Ross - Insects. London: E. W. Janson. p. 1. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.7364. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
- ^ Broun, T. (1877): Description of a new species of the genus Cicindela. Transactions and proceedings of the New Zealand Institute: 9:374-375
- ^ Brouerius van Nidek, C.M.C. 1965: Cicindelidae of New Zealand with descriptions of a new species and subspecies. New Zealand journal of science. Wellington: 8(3):352-358
- ^ Rivalier, É 1963: Démembrement du genre Cicindela L. (fin). V. Faune australienne. Revue Française d’Entomologie 30: 30-48.
- ^ a b c d Larochelle, A. & Larivière, M.-C. (2013). Fauna of New Zealand Number 69: Carabidae (Insecta: Coleoptera): synopsis of species, Cicindelinae to Trechinae (in part). Lincoln, Canterbury: Manaaki Whenau Press, Landcare Research.
- ^ a b Pons, J; Fujisawa, T; Claridge, E M; Savill, A R; Barraclough, T G; Vogler, A P (2011). "Deep mtDNA subdivision within Linnean species in an endemic radiation of tiger beetles from New Zealand (genus Neocicindela)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 59 (2): 251–262. Bibcode:2011MolPE..59..251P. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2011.02.013.
- ^ Hudson, G V (1934). New Zealand beetles and their larvae: an elementary introduction to the study of our native Coleoptera. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn ltd. p. 30.
- ^ a b Mercier, O. Ripeka; Palmer, Symon; King-Hunt, Alan (2022-11-24). "Hōhā Riha: Pest Insect Control in Māori Tradition". Waka Kuaka. 131 (3): 261–288. doi:10.15286/jps.131.3.261-288. ISSN 2816-1599.
- ^ Grant, Elizabeth Anne (2014). Bronze as a non-customary intervention in the interpretation of insects from the natural world of Māori : an exhibition report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Fine Arts at Massey University, Palmerston North, Aotearoa, New Zealand (Thesis). Massey University. p 68
External links
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