The Occurrence of the Endemic Tiger Beetle Cicindela (Ifasina) Waterhousei in Bopath Ella, Ratnapura
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J.Natn.Sci.Foundation Sri Lanka 2011 39 (2): 163-168 SHORT COMMUNICATION The occurrence of the endemic tiger beetle Cicindela (Ifasina) waterhousei in Bopath Ella, Ratnapura Chandima Dangalle 1* , Nirmalie Pallewatta 1 and Alfried Vogler 2 1 Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, Colombo 03. 2 Department of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom. Revised: 04 January 2011 ; Accepted: 21 January 2011 Abstract: The occurrence of the endemic tiger beetle Cicindela species are found in the Oriental region of the world in (Ifasina) waterhousei from Bopath Ella, Ratnapura is recorded countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan and China for the first time. The study reveals a population of 276 beetles (Pearson, 1988). Fifty-six species have been recorded from the sandy bank habitat of Bopath Ella. A site description from Sri Lanka of which thirty-five species are said to be is given stating the abiotic environmental factors of climate and endemic to the island (Cassola & Pearson, 2000). soil. Morphology of the species is described using diagnostic features of the genus, and in comparison with reference specimens at the Department of National Museums, Colombo Cicindela (Ifasina) waterhousei Horn is endemic and the type specimen at the British Natural History Museum, to Sri Lanka and has been recorded along watercourses London. According to the findings of the study, at present, within dark, moist forests of Labugama (Colombo the species is recorded only from Bopath Ella and is absent District, Western Province), Avissawella (Colombo from its previously recorded locations at Labugama, Kitulgala, District, Western Province), Kitulgala (Kegalle District, Karawanella and Avissawella. The habitat conditions in Bopath Sabaragamuwa Province) and Karawanella (Kegalle Ella with shady, riverine areas, temperatures ranging from 32 District, Sabaragamuwa Province) (Naviaux, 1984; to 35 ºC and yellow brown sandy moist soil are considered as Acciavatti & Pearson, 1989). The subgenus Ifasina is the suitable for the occurrence of C. waterhousei . The presence largest with seven species in Sri Lanka, of which five of other tiger beetle species, Cicindela (Ifasina) willeyi and are endemic. The paper reports the occurrence of one of Cicindela (Ifasina) labioaenea , in the previously recorded the species; Cicindela waterhousei from a site previously locations of Cicindela waterhousei , that may compete for food, thermal resources, oviposition sites and larval resources, not recorded, and its absence from previously recorded is likely to have caused C. waterhousei to become locally locations including Labugama, Avissawella, Kitulgala displaced from its previous locations. and Karawanella. Keywords: Cicindela (Ifasina) waterhousei , conservation, METHODS AND MATERIALS displacement, environmental factors, habitat suitability. A country-wide study in Sri Lanka was carried out in INTRODUCTION Bopath Ella in 2003-2007 with regard to the habitat preferences and occurrence of tiger beetles. The study Tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) are a group also included localities where the beetles have been of predatory insects that have a worldwide distribution recorded previously. Bopath Ella (6º48΄06N, 80º22΄04E) (Pearson, 1988). A total of 2,559 species have been is a well known waterfall located in the Ratnapura described globally from a range of habitats such as District in the Sabaragamuwa Province of Southwestern river edges, open beaches, sand dunes, forests and Sri Lanka (Figure 1). grasslands (Pearson & Cassola, 2005). Most species are habitat specialists being restricted to one or two habitat Six visits were made to four sections of the study types due to the requirements of both adults and larvae site for surveying adult tiger beetles. These sections are: (Barraclough et al ., 1999). The majority of tiger beetle Section A, which falls to a depth of 30 m; Section B, * Corresponding author ( [email protected] ) 164 Chandima Dangalle et al. which is about 150 m from section A; Section C, left Previous localities from where Cicindela waterhousei river bank along the Kuru Ganga, which is a tributary has been recorded, Labugama (sites near the Labugama of the Kalu Ganga and Section D, which is a wide right reservoir, river banks of Wak Oya and Heen Ela, Waga), river bank site in the Kuru Ganga. Section A, B, C and D Avissawella (river banks of Asvathu Oya and Ranwala were thoroughly observed and searched for the presence Ferry, Avissawella), Kitulgala (river banks of the Kelani of tiger beetles and the sections where beetles were River near Kitulgala) and Karawanella (river banks of found were subjected to detailed studies. Stretches of the Seethawaka River and the Maha Oya, Dehiowita) land of 100 – 150 m were selected in five sandy banks were also surveyed and subjected to detailed studies. of the sections from where beetles were examined for 3 The tiger beetle species occurring in these localities hours, between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on each day of the 6 d were recorded. The habitat variables of climate and soil, visits. Specific habitats and their immediate surroundings required by tiger beetles (Eusebi et al. , 1989; Morgan et were searched. Tiger beetles encountered were rapidly al. , 2000; Brust et al. , 2005) were measured and recorded counted using a tally counter and a sample was collected for all localities investigated using standard methods. using a standard insect net. The temperature, solar radiation, relative Taxonomic keys of the Cicindela of the Indian humidity and wind speed of the habitats were recorded subcontinent by Acciavatti & Pearson (1989) and using a portable integrated weather station (Health descriptions of Horn (1904) and Fowler (1912) were used EnviroMonitor, USA). to identify the specimens, and confirmed by comparisons with reference specimens at the Department of National Soil variables of the habitat such as the soil group Museums, Colombo and type specimen at the British based on the Soil Map of Sri Lanka; soil type based Natural History Museum, London. on the “soil textural triangle”; soil colour based on the Figure 1: Location of Bopath Ella, Ratnapura District June 2011 Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 39 (2) salinity meterwerealsomeasured. & Belavadi (1986) and soil salinity using a hand-held soil moisture based on the method used by Ganeshaiah thermometer; soil pH using a portable soil Munsell pH soil colour meter; chart; soil temperature using a soil Occurrence ofendemictigerbeetleatRatnapura Occurrence Journal oftheNational ScienceFoundationofSriLanka Table 1: Climate and soil parameters of present and past localities of Cicindela waterhousei (August 2003 - August 2004) Recorded Species Temp. Solar Relative Wind Soil Soil colour Soil Soil Soil pH Soil localities occurring (ºC) radiation humidity speed type temp. moisture salinity currently (w/m 2) (%) (ms -1 ) (ºC) (%) (ppt) Bopath Ella, 34.2 ± 105.4 ± 65.3 ± 0 ± 0 sand dark 31.5 ± 3.83 ± 6.1 ± 2.6 0 ± 0 39 Ratnapura C. waterhousei 2.49 12.92 6.85 yellowish 1.26 0.97 (2) (current) June 2011 brown Labugama 36.4 ± 195.6 ± 59.7 ± 0 ± 0 sand strong 33.1 ± 4.85 ± 5.9 ± 0.87 0 ± 0 (previous) C. labioaenea 1.65 16.67 3.16 brown 1.46 0.86 of dorsal and ventral body features surfaces, such elytral as maculae, body length; mandible length; two-way colour (SPSS ANOVA 13.0 package).Morphological waterhousei Cicindela of localities the of values parameter soil and climate The Avissawella 33.1 ± 214.1 ± 66.4 ± 1.2 ± sand yellowish 31.8 ± 3.20 ± 6.4 ± 1.4 0 ± 0 (previous) C. labioaenea 2.14 19.84 4.56 0.85 brown 1.93 1.06 Kitulgala 35.0 ± 178.0 ± 53.8 ± 1.34 ± sand dark 31.8 ± 5.12 ± 5.8 ± 1.3 0 ± 0 (previous) C. labioaenea 2.76 6.78 2.17 0.67 and brown 1.06 1.26 mud Karawanella 34.1 ± 232.6 ± 60.7 ± 0 ± 0 sand dark 30.6 ± 2.89 ± 6.6 ± 0.28 0 ± 0 using statistically compared were (previous) C. willeyi 1.47 16.15 3.79 yellowish 1.65 0.83 brown Significant differences (p < 0.05) were not found between the habitat parameters of the different localities. 165 166 Chandima Dangalle et al. Conspicuous eyes Large conical pronotum First ovate elytral spot Second ovate elytral spot Third circular elytral spot Figure 2: Cicindela ( Ifasina ) waterhousei adult (× 10) mandibles, labrum and legs; pattern of elytral markings; dot that was in line with the three spots); mandibles the shape of the labrum and the number of labral setae; brown in colour, left mandible 1.72 ± 0.38 mm in length distribution of setae and pits on body were recorded for (n = 15); labrum brown in colour and conical in shape identification and confirmation of the species. with 10 labral setae; white setae on ventral surface of body and legs; shallow blue-green pits on the basal half of RESULTS the dorsal surface of elytra; legs blue-green (Figure 2). Preliminary reconnaissance visits to the waterfall area C. waterhousei was not found in previously revealed that tiger beetles are absent in sections A, B recorded localities in Labugama, Avissawella, Kitulgala and C but present in exposed sandy banks in the shallow and Karawanella. Two other species of tiger beetles parts of section D. Here, 276 tiger beetles of the species were encountered in these locations. Cicindela (Ifasina) C. waterhousei were encountered on a sandy bank, 600 m 2 labioaenea was found at Heen Ela, Waga in Labugama; in extent and at 16.46 m elevation. This sandy bank was Asvathu Oya, Avissawella; Seethawaka River bank near situated away from the waterfall adjacent to a part of the Karawanella and Kelani River banks near Kitulgala. Kuru Ganga that flows slowly (0.5 ms -1 ). The vegetation Cicindela (Ifasina) willeyi was found at Maha Oya, in the immediate surroundings consisted of large trees Dehiowita in Karawanella.