Heptodonta melanopyga Schaum, 1862

Medina, Milton Norman D., Cabras, Analyn D., Ibanez, Jayson, Opiso, Guiller & Villanueva, Reagan Joseph T., 2020, Annotated list of tiger beetles (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae) in Calanasan, Apayao Province, Luzon, Philippines, Check List 16 (1), pp. 37-45 : 40-41

Heptodonta melanopyga Schaum, 1862

Material examined. PHILIPPINES, Apayao Province, Municipality of Calanasan, 2♂, 5♀, Brgy. Parina [18.4293°N, 120.9686°E], 3♂♂, 2♀♀ Brgy. Tanglagan [18.4965°N, 120.9946°E], IX-X.2018, coll. R.J. T. Villanueva ( Fig. 4A); UMCRC 010134, UMCRC 010135, UMCRC 010136, UMCRC 010137, UMCRC 010138, UMCRC 010139, UMCRC 010140.

Identification. This species is very similar to Heptodonta analis Fabricius, 1801 in having immaculate elytra but differs in the color of the elytra. Heptodonta analis is easily distinguished from H. melanopyga by its greenish body and paler ventral side. In addition, H. melanopyga has metallic coppery brown elytron. The black pronotum of H.melanopyga is tinge with green on the sides, while H. analis is entirely metallic green. In both species, the aedeagus is almost the same size, with a slightly curved, tapering apex.

Endemism and distribution. A Philippine endemic; Sibuyan, Nueva Viscaya, Ilocos Norte (Adams), Batan, Mindanao ( Cabras et al. 2016b, 2016c; Cassola 2000).

Remarks. This species is very abundant, found forming a colony on well-exposed sandy ground near the irrigation dam in Sitio Maranas. Interestingly, this species was seen in the upper and lower stretch of the rivers of Barangay Tanglagan and Barangay.