Parvindela Duran and Gough, 2019

Duran, Daniel P. & Gough, Harlan M., 2019, Unifying systematics and taxonomy: Nomenclatural changes to Nearctic tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Cicindelinae) based on phylogenetics, morphology and life history, Insecta Mundi 2019 (727), pp. 1-12 : 4-5

Parvindela Duran and Gough , new genus

( Fig. 2 )

Etymology. The generic name is derived from Parv - (Latin root meaning “small”) and Cicindela (the type genus of the tribe Cicindelini ); gender is feminine. Parvindela adults are small (7–12 mm), and the genus includes some of the smallest tiger beetles in the Nearctic region.

Type species. Cicindela debilis Bates, 1890 ; by present designation

Parvindela debilis (Bates, 1890) , new combination

Parvindela celeripes (LeConte, 1848) , new combination

Parvindela cursitans (LeConte, 1860) , new combination

Parvindela terricola (Say, 1824) , new combination

Parvindela nephelota (Bates, 1882) , new combination

Parvindela lunalonga (Schaupp, 1884) , new combination

Description. Small size, 7–12mm. Body shape variable, with humeral region narrow and ant-like (e.g., P. celeripes ) to more robust (e.g., P. terricola ). Head with fine rugosity present in supraorbital region. Frons glabrous except for supraorbital setae. Proepisternum glabrous or with only a few scattered setae near margins. Marginal line, if present, typically not fully touching outer edge of each elytron. No single morphological synapomorphy has been identified that unites Parvindela , but this new genus is strongly supported by recent phylogenetic studies ( Gough et al. 2019; this study), previously recognized as a subgroup of Cylindera .

The genus Cylindera initially included only Palearctic species, but in Rivalier’s (1954) revision of Cicindela (s. l.) the genus was amended to include American species that possessed aedeagi with similarly wound flagella. He noted that there were a number of inconsistencies and “aberrant” species but did not believe it was necessary to name a genus for the American species. The phylogeny of Gough et al. (2019) recovered a polyphyletic Cylindera , with each clade found in a particular biogeographic realm. A monophyletic clade of Nearctic species was part of a larger Nearctic endemic clade that also included Ellipsoptera and Dromochorus . This previously unnamed lineage that is now designated as Parvindela , new genus.

Distribution. Nearctic region (Canada, USA, Mexico). To date, all known species are found within this biogeographic realm. All of the above listed species were included in Gough et al. (2019) and/or this study.

Figures

Figure 2. Representative dorsal habitus of Parvindela new genus. A) Parvindela debilis (type species. B) Parvindela terricola. C) Parvindela celeripes.