Revision of the genus Apterodela Rivalier, 1950 (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae).

A revision of the genus Apterodela Rivalier, 1950 is presented. The new subgenus Protoapterodela subgen. nov. with Apterodela shirakii (W. Horn, 1927) as its type species is established. The lectotype and the paralectotype of Cicindela ovipennis Bates, 1883 and Cicindela shirakii W. Horn, 1927 as well as the neotype of Cicindela lobipennis Bates, 1888 are designated. Apterodela (s. str.) bivirgulata (Fairmaire, 1889), stat. rest. is extracted from the synonym of Apterodela (s. str.) lobipennis (Bates, 1888) and is considered as a separate species. Two new species and one new subspecies from China are described as well: Apterodela (s. str.) alopecomma sp. nov.from Sichuan Province, Apterodela (s. str.) latissima sp. nov.from Yunnan Province, and Apterodela (s. str.) bivirgulata occidentalis ssp. nov.from Qinghai, Gansu, Shaanxi, Henan, Shanxi, Sichuan Provinces, and Inner Mongolia Autonomus Region. A key to identifying the species of the genus Apterodela is provided, and its taxonomic status is examined.

Revision of the Therates fruhstorferi complex (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae).

The taxonomic structure of the Therates fruhstorferi species complex (sensu lato) within the batesi-species group is revised. The lectotypes and paralectotypes of Therates fruhstorferi W. Horn, 1902 and Therates fruhstorferi sauteri W. Horn, 1912 are designated. Therates biserratus Tan, Mo, Liang, 1991 and T. vitalisi ida Mandl, 1954 are restored from the synonyms of T. vitalisi W. Horn, 1913 as the separate species and subspecies, respectively while T. sauteri is considered as a separate species, but not as a subspecies of T. fruhstorferi. Three species and two subspecies are described as new: T. fruhstorferi australis ssp. n.-from southern Vietnam; T. pseudovitalisi sp. n.-from northern Laos; T. pseudovitalisi tibetana ssp. n.-from eastern Tibet, China; T. hunanensis sp. n.-from the Chinese Province Hunan; T. ziyardamensis sp. n.-from northern Myanmar. An identification key and distribution map of the species of Therates fruhstorferi complex are provided.

First record of tiger beetles (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae) from Rovno amber, with the description of a new genus and species.

A new fossil tiger beetle species, Goriresina fungifora gen. n., sp. n. (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae), is described from Eocene Rovno amber. The new genus belongs to the subtribe Iresiina, tribe Cicindelini, due to the glabrous head, the labrum with six submarginal setae (latero-basal setae very long) and two apical teeth with notch between them, the glabrous and globular pronotum, the lack of setae on the metepisternum and metepimeron, as well as on the visible parts of abdominal sternites, the single long seta each on the fore- and mesotrochanter. The new species is characterized by the long and moderately convex labrum, two clypeal setae, the elongate and apicad converging elytra with an angularly, but smoothly rounded apex, the small and sharp sutural spine, the probable presence of an apical portion of the elytral humeral spot, a slightly sinuate, transverse medial fascia with an extended and downward directed apical portion, and a slightly transverse basal portion of the apical spot. This is the first record of a tiger beetle in Rovno amber and only a fourth well-preserved Cicindelidae from fossil resins.

The preimaginal stages of Galerita ruficollis Dejean, 1825 and the position of the tribe Galeritini in the classification of ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae).

The complete development cycle of Galerita (Galerita) ruficollis Dejean, 1825 was studied for the first time. In laboratory, at a temperature of 22 °C and long-day conditions, the development from egg to adult lasted 58-60 days. The development of the third instar larva lasted particularly long (on average, 19 days), and the most intense increase in biomass (from 20 to 100 mg) was observed at that phase as well. The extended embryonic development (11-20 days) and the relatively short development time of the third instar larva were found to be characteristic of G. ruficollis. The bifurcated protrusion of the anterior edge of the head was proven to represent an outgrowth of the frontal sclerite (frontale), but not of the nasale, as believed previously. The chaetotaxy of Galerita larvae is described in detail for the first time. Based on larval features, the monophyly of the Galeritini + Dryptini group is confirmed. Based on the morphology of the larvae and pupae, this group can be suggested as occupying a separate position within the Truncatipennia, possibly being related to the assemblage that includes Pterostichini, Harpalini, Licinini, Chlaenini, and Platynini. The monophyly of Zuphiitae (sensu Erwin and Sims 1984; Erwin 1985) and the Zuphiitae clade (sensu Ober and Maddison 2008) is confirmed.

Revision of the Palearctic Cicindela campestris species complex-Part 1: On the taxonomy, identification and ecology of Cicindela herbacea Klug, 1832 and Cicindela javetii Chaudoir, 1861 (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae).

We revise the taxonomically problematic Palearctic Cicindela campestris species complex, a group of green tiger beetle species, using an integrative approach combining morphology, morphometry and biogeography. In this first part, an identification key to all subgroups of these green tiger beetles (Cicindela herbacea-subgroup, Cicindela javetii-subgroup, Cicindela desertorum-subgroup, Cicindela campestris-subgroup, Cicindela turkestanica-subgroup and Cicindela asiatica-subgroup) based on large series taken from private and museum collections as well as on literature sources is provided and diagnostic characters are illustrated by detailed photographs. The Cicindela herbacea- and Cicindela javetii-subgroups are revised and illustrated and identification keys as well as distribution maps for both are given. Four new synonyms are established: Cicindela herbacea herbacea Klug, 1832 = Cicindela herbacea aleppensis Deuve, 2012, syn. n.; Cicindela herbacea turkestanicoides W. Horn, 1938 = Cicindela herbacea perreaui Deuve, 1987, syn. n. = Cicindela herbacea colasi Deuve, 2011, syn. n.; Cicindela javetii javetii Chaudoir, 1861 = Cicindela thughurica Franzen, 2007, syn. n.

Taxonomic revision of Cylindera Westwood, 1831 subgenus Parmecus Motschulsky, 1864 stat. rest., stat. nov. (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Cicindelinae) with the description of one new species from Yunnan Province, China.

Within the Asiatic tiger beetle fauna, Parmecus Motschulsky, 1864 stat. rest., stat. nov., is reestablished as a subgenus of Cylindera Westwood, 1831 with Cylindera (Parmecus) dromicoides (Chaudoir, 1852), as its type species, and the lectotype and paralectotypes of Cicindela dromicoides Chaudoir, 1852 are designated as well. Two other species are included, Cylindera (Parmecus) armandi (Fairmaire, 1886), from the Himalayan Region, and Cylindera (Parmecus) mosuoa, sp. nov., from Yunnan, China. Cylindera (Parmecus) as a subgenus is characterized, a key to identify its species is provided, and its species composition is discussed. Cylindera (Parmecus) dromicoides (Chaudoir, 1852) is newly recorded from Pakistan and the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, while Cylindera (Parmecus) armandi (Fairmaire, 1886) is recorded for the first time from the Chinese province of Sichuan. The records of C. armandi from Bhutan, as well as C. dromicoides from Yunnan Province (China) are rejected due to erroneous identifications.

The tiger beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Cicindelinae) of Israel and adjacent lands.

Based on field studies, museums collections and literature sources, the current knowledge of the tiger beetle fauna of Israel and adjacent lands is presented. In Israel eight species occur, one of them with two subspecies, while in the Sinai Peninsula nine species of tiger beetles are now known. In the combined regions seven genera from two tribes were found. The Rift Valley with six cicindelids species is the most specious region of Israel. Cylindera contorta valdenbergi and Cicindela javeti azari have localized distributions and should be considered regional endemics. A similarity analysis of the tiger beetles faunas of different regions of Israel and the Sinai Peninsula reveal two clusters of species. The first includes the Great Rift Valley and most parts of the Sinai Peninsula, and the second incorporates most regions of Israel together with Central Sinai Foothills. Five distinct adult phenological groups of tiger beetles can be distinguished in these two clusters: active all-year (three species), spring-fall (five species), summer (two species), spring-summer (one species) and spring (one species). The likely origins of the tiger beetle fauna of this area are presented. An annotated list and illustrated identification key of the Cicindelinae of Israel and adjacent lands are provided.

Using demographic data to better interpret pitfall trap catches.

The results of pitfall trapping are often interpreted as abundance in a particular habitat. At the same time, there are numerous cases of almost unrealistically high catches of ground beetles in seemingly unsuitable sites. The correlation of catches by pitfall trapping with the true distribution and abundance of Carabidae needs corroboration. During a full year survey in 2006/07 in the Lake Elton region (Volgograd Area, Russia), 175 species of ground beetles were trapped. Considering the differences in demographic structure of the local populations, and not their abundances, three groups of species were recognized: residents, migrants and sporadic. In residents, the demographic structure of local populations is complete, and their habitats can be considered "residential". In migrants and sporadic species, the demographic structure of the local populations is incomplete, and their habitats can be considered "transit". Residents interact both with their prey and with each other in a particular habitat. Sporadic species are hardly important to a carabid community because of their low abundances. The contribution of migrants to the structure of carabid communities is not apparent and requires additional research. Migrants and sporadic species represent a "labile" component in ground beetles communities, as opposed to a "stable" component, represented by residents. The variability of the labile component substantially limits our interpretation of species diversity in carabid communities. Thus, the criteria for determining the most abundant, or dominant species inevitably vary because the abundance of migrants in some cases can be one order of magnitude higher than that of residents. The results of pitfall trapping adequately reflect the state of carabid communities only in zonal habitats, while azonal and disturbed habitats are merely transit ones for many species of ground beetles. A study of the demographic structure of local populations and assessment of the migratory/residential status of particular carabid species are potential ways of increasing the reliability of pitfall trap information.