The Florida Scrub Tiger Beetle Cicindela scabrosa Schaupp, a species precinctive to Florida, has not previously been recorded from Hardee County, Florida. Cicindela scabrosa is known from Alachua, Brevard, Broward, Dade, Highlands, Indian River, Levy, Orange, Polk, Putman, St. Johns, Taylor, and Volusia counties (Peck & Thomas, 1998). Cicindela scabrosa, once considered a variety of Cicindela abdominalis Fabricius, was raised to species rank by Choate (1984). The 2 species are generally similar in appearance, but may be separated (Choate 1984) by the presence in C. scabrosa of white apical lunule markings with small medial white marks and heavily punctured elytra, flattened white hairs on the underside of the abdomen and numerous conspicuous white hairs on sides of the pronotum (Fig. 1).

Cicindela scabrosa was first recorded in Hardee County in 2004 at Paynes Creek Historic State Park located in Bowling Green, FL. Paynes Creek Historic State Park is a 410-acre state park of historic significance that first opened to the public in 1981. The park contains several distinct natural plant communities, including small, isolated patches of scrub, scrubby flatwoods, and pine flatwoods. The park's resource management goals involve the use of prescribed fire in 3- to 5year intervals and annual treatment plans to reduce the occurrence invasive exotic plant species. The park maintains a system of foot trails, fire lanes, and services roads that meander throughout the park providing general access and assist with resource management needs.

Fig. 1.

Pinned specimen of Cicindela scabrosa Schaupp showing characteristic white apical lunule markings and white hairs on pronotun and abdomen (note arrows).

These access routes serve as ideal sites to monitor and record the presence of tiger beetle species in the park. In May 2004, monthly monitoring surveys were initiated to establish the occurrence and range of tiger beetle species within the park boundaries. The park's current Cicindela fauna includes 5 species (Table 1). Cicindela scabrosa is restricted to a single sandy trail through scrubby flatwoods and pine flatwoods habitat. A summer species, C. scabrosa is active May-Sep, and shares its range with C. hirtilabris and C. punctulata. Voucher specimens of C. scabrosa are at Paynes Creek Historic State Park.

SUMMARY

Cicindela scabrosa is reported here for the first time at Paynes Creek Historic State Park. Efforts have been initiated to minimize disturbance in the area where C. scabrosa populations occur. Fire lanes and foot trails adjacent to current C. scabrosa habitat will be managed with the goal of making them suitable for C. scabrosa. According to Deyrup & Franz (1994), C. scabrosa populations are mostly small and isolated throughout its range. This seems consistent with the present distribution of C. scabrosa in Paynes Creek Historic State Park. Observations during 2008 revealed the presence of C. scabrosa in the park, in which the population range remains isolated to 1 area of the park.

TABLE 1.

CICINDELA SPECIES FOUND IN PAYNES CREEK PARK AND THEIR HABITAT.