Based on the literature and new faunistic records, the diversity and distribution of the tiger beetles in Tunisia are summarized and discussed. In total, 15 species (one with two subspecies) are reported from the country. However, the occurrence of Cicindela maroccana maroccana is questionable, and should be confirmed by newer data. Checklists of tiger beetles are also provided for each Tunisian governorate. The highest diversity was recorded in the region adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea coastline. The area is mainly up to 100 m a.s.l. with salt marshes, strands of sandy sea beaches and river banks as main types of habitats occupied by Cicindelinae (14 species or 94 % of tiger beetle fauna). Mountainous and desert regions are characterized by much lower diversity (six species or 38% of fauna and two species or 13% of fauna, respectively). Cicindelinae occurring in these areas inhabit predominantly river banks and oases. In chorotype classification, Tunisian tiger beetles fall into six different groups including West Mediterranean species (50% of fauna), Maghreb endemics (19%), Mediterranean, North-African, Mediterranean-Westturanian and Afrotropico-Indo-Mediterranean species (each of them 6% of fauna). According to their phenology, the Tunisian tiger beetles may be divided into three main groups: 1) spring-active species (Cicindela campestris atlantis and all Neolaphyra taxa), 2) spring-summer-active species (Calomera littoralis littoralis, C. lunulata lunulata, Cassolaia maura cupreothoracica, Lophyra flexuosa flexuosa, Myriochila melancholica melancholica, Grammognatha euphratica euphratica), and 3) summer-active species (Calomera aulica aulica, Cylindera trisignata sciliensis and Cephalota spp.).
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1 September 2015
Tiger Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Cicindelinae) of Tunisia: Distribution, Phenology, Taxa List and New Records
R. Jaskuła,
T. Rewicz
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African Entomology
Vol. 23 • No. 2
September 2015
Vol. 23 • No. 2
September 2015
biodiversity
checklist
Cicindelinae
Coleoptera
distribution
Maghreb
NORTH AFRICA