Tigers in Texas
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Tigers in Texas Ross Winton Texas Master Naturalist Annual Meeting Invertebrate Biologist Rockwall, Texas Nongame & Rare Species Program October 18-20, 2019 Texas Parks & Wildlife Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Tigers in Texas Texas Parks and Wildlife Mission To manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Nongame & Rare Species Program The Nongame and Rare Species Programs focus is Texas' rich diversity of nongame animals, plants, and natural communities. Our biologists collect, evaluate, and synthesize significant amounts of data to better inform conservation decisions and formulate management practices. By taking a proactive approach, we work to prevent the need for future threatened and endangered species listings and to recover listed species. Photo: Alliance Texas for America’sWildlife &Fish Tigers in Texas Coleoptera: Carabidae: Cicindelinae Predatory Ground Beetles Sight predators Larvae burrow and wait for prey Identification: Sickle-shaped mandibles with teeth 11-segmented antennae Eyes and head wider than the abdomen Long thin legs Tunnel-building behavior of larvae Very charismatic group that gains a great deal of attention from collectors Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Tigers in Texas Collecting Methods: Net Pitfall Trap Debris Flipping Extraction from nightly burrows “Fishing” Observation Methods: Naked Eye Binoculars Digi-scoping Know Habitat Associations Anticipating Emergence Great Guide Books Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter, Arizona State University Morphology Segments of the body Thorax characters Elytral maculation Setae Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter, Arizona State University Life Cycle: 1-5 years, larvae to adult Activity Period: spring, summer, fall Notes: Nocturnal Found on Sand Dunes Quick to Fly or Flightless Tiger Beetle The “Giant” Tiger Beetles Amblycheila Life Cycle: Up to 5-year Activity Period: Spring/Fall, Nocturnal Notes: - Utilize Mammal Burrows - Largest of the Texas Cicindelines - Flightless - Do not come to lights Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter The “Giant” Tiger Beetles Amblycheila South Texas Giant Tiger Beetle Plateau Giant Tiger Beetle Amblycheila hoversoni Amblycheila picolominii Great Plains Giant Tiger Beetle Amblycheila halffteri ? Amblycheila cylindriformis Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter The “Giant” Tiger Beetles Amblycheila South Texas Giant Tiger Beetle Great Plains Giant Tiger Beetle Plateau Giant Tiger Beetle Source: Knisley et al. 2006 The “Dromo” Tiger Beetles Cicindela (Dromochorus) Life Cycle: 2-year Activity Period: Summer, Late in Day or Cloudy Notes: - Often Flightless or Not Quick to Fly Photo: Dan Duran, D.P. Duran et al. 2019 The “Dromo” Tiger Beetles Cicindela (Dromochorus) Loamy-ground Tiger Beetle Dromochorus belfragei Frosted Tiger Beetle Dromochorus pruininus Cajun Tiger Beetle Dromochorus pilatei Velvet Tiger Beetle Dromochorus velutinigrens Photo: Dan Duran, D.P. Duran et al. 2019 The “Dromo” Tiger Beetles Cicindela (Dromochorus) Chaparral Tiger Beetle Dromochorus chaparralensis Gulf Prairie Tiger Beetle Dromochorus welderensis Juniper Grove Tiger Beetle Dromochorus knisleyi Pygmy Dromo Tiger Beetle Dromochorus minimus Photo: Dan Duran, D.P. Duran et al. 2019 The “Dromo” Tiger Beetles Cicindela (Dromochorus) Dromochorus belfragei Dromochorus pruininus Dromochorus pilatei Dromochorus velutinigrens Dromochorus chaparralensis Dromochorus welderensis Dromochorus knisleyi Dromochorus minimus Source: Duran et al. 2019 The “Big-headed” Tiger Beetles Tetracha Life Cycle: 3 to 4-year Activity Period: Summer Notes: - Flightless or Not Quick to Fly - Some species nocturnal - Some species come to lights Photo: Mike Quinn The “Big-headed” Tiger Beetles Tetracha Pan-American Big-headed Tiger Beetle Tetracha carolina Upland Big-headed Tiger Beetle Tetracha affinis Virginia Big-headed Tiger Beetle Tetracha virginica Photo: Mike Quinn The “Big-headed” Tiger Beetles Tetracha Pan-American Big-headed Tiger Beetle Upland Big-headed Tiger Beetle Virginia Big-headed Tiger Beetle Source: Knisley et al. 2006 The “Temperate” Tiger Beetles Cicindela Life Cycle: 3 to 4-year Activity Period: Spring, Summer & Fall Notes: - Typically Quick to Fly - Many species partition by soil type - Very popular with collectors - Some species with multiple subspecies Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Life Cycle: 2+ years Activity Period: Spring, Fall Big Sand Notes: F – sand associate, Splendid S- red clay soils on roads Tiger Beetle Tiger Beetle Cicindela formosa Cicindela splendida Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Life Cycle: 2-year Activity Period: Spring(s,r), Fall(r) Six-spotted Notes: S- Forest paths, Tiger Beetle R-Waters edge in sandy Bronzed Tiger Beetle Cicindela sexguttata substrates. Cicindela repanda Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Life Cycle: 2+ years Activity Period: Spring, Fall Notes: F – salt flats, D – silty Twelve-spotted Crimson Saltflat & sandy soils near water Tiger Beetle Tiger Beetle Cicindela Cicindela fulgida duodecimguttata Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter, Ken Allen Life Cycle: 2-years Activity Period: Spring, Fall Notes: Sandy soils in open and forest. Festive Cicindela s. scutellaris Cicindela s. flavoviridis Cicindela s. rugata Tiger Beetle Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter, Mike Quinn Life Cycle: 2-3 years Activity Period: Spring, Fall Notes: Sandy to sandy-clay Cow Path Hairy-necked soils. H-waters edge, P- Tiger Beetle open paths and trails Tiger Beetle Cicindela hirticollis Cicindela purpurea Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Life Cycle: 2-years Activity Period: Spring, Fall Notes: D-grassy clay Beautiful prairies, P-compact sandy Green Claybank Tiger Beetle soils Tiger Beetle Cicindela pulchra Cicindela denverensis Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter The “Tribon” Tiger Beetles Cicindela (Tribonia) Life Cycle: 2 to 3-year Activity Period: Spring & Fall Notes: - Typically Quick to Fly - Many species partition by soil type - 5 species in the subgenus, 2 in Texas - Some species with multiple subspecies Life Cycle: 2-years Activity Period: Spring, Fall Notes: T-widespread, L- Oblique-lined sandy soil in open areas Blowout Tiger Beetle Tiger Beetle Cicindela tranquebarica Cicindela lengi Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter The “American” Tiger Beetles Cicindela (Cicindelidia) Life Cycle: 2-year Activity Period: Spring, Summer & Fall Notes: - Typically Quick to Fly - Many species partition by soil type - Several species with red-brown to bright orange - Small eyes and often shorter legs - Several are only active in the summer * Life Cycle: 2-year Activity Period: Spring, SUMMER & Fall Notes: N-sandy soil in Williston’s grass in summer at Black Sky Tiger Beetle waters edge, W-clay at Tiger Beetle Cicindela willistoni waters edge Cicindela nigrocoerulea Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter * Life Cycle: 2-3 years Activity Period: Summer, Fall Notes: Gravel-loam to clay Horn’s soils with salinity, hide under Large Grassland Tiger Beetle debris at mid-day Tiger Beetle Cicindela hornii Cicindela obsoleta Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Life Cycle: 2-year Activity Period: Summer Notes: Hard packed sand, Punctured clay, loam near waters Thin-lined Tiger Beetle edge. Tiger Beetle Cicindela punctulata Cicindela tenuisignata Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter * ? Life Cycle: 2-year Activity Period: Summer, Fall Notes: P-Found on rock Limestone outcrops, Limestone scrub Cazier’s Tiger Beetle Tiger Beetle Cicindela politula Cicindela cazieri Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Eastern Red-bellied Life Cycle: 1-2 year cycle Tiger Beetle Activity Period: Summer Cicindela rufiventris Notes: Summer active and comes to lights, R- Western Red-bellied rocky outcrops, slow Tiger Beetle flyer. S-mudflats and Cicindela playas sedecimpunctata Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter, Tom Murray Life Cycle: 1-year Activity Period: Summer Notes: Mud & alkali flats, Ocellated ocean beaches Wetsalts Tiger Beetle Tiger Beetle Cicindela ocellata Cicindela hemorrhagica Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Life Cycle: 1-2 years Activity Period: Summer Notes: S – attracted to lights, Saline limestone at Schaupp’s the edge of vegetation, T- S-banded Tiger Beetle coastal dunes and shore. Tiger Beetle Cicindela schauppii Cicindela trifasciata Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter The “Habro” Tiger Beetles Cicindela (Habroscelimorpha) Life Cycle: 1 - 2 year Activity Period: Summer Notes: - Typically Slow to Fly but very fast runner - Tropical to sub-Tropical species - Often coastal or playa associated - Some attracted to lights * Life Cycle: 1-2 year Activity Period: Summer Notes: Moist muddy salt Cream-edged flats. Attracted to lights. Glittering Tiger Beetle Tiger Beetle Cicindela circumpicta Cicindela fulgoris Photo: Denver Museum of Nature & Science / Chris Grinter Life Cycle: 1-2 years Activity Period: Summer Notes: Attracted to lights. Eastern Beach Found on coastal dunes Gulfshore Tiger Beetle and shorelines. Tiger Beetle Cicindela dorsalis Cicindela pamphila Photo: Denver Museum