Taxonomic revision of the current concept of Cylindera morio and allied taxa (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae)

Abstract: A taxonomic revision of the common concept of the hitherto little-known tiger beetle species Cylindera (Cylindera) morio (Klug, 1834) and allied taxa within the nominotypical subgenus of the tiger beetle genus Cylindera Westwood, 1831 is presented. Type specimens of Cicindela morio Klug, 1834, Cicindela denticulata Klug, 1834, Cicindela acompsa Chaudoir, 1852, Cicindela egena Chaudoir, 1854, Cicindosa inaequalis Motschulsky, 1864 and Cicindosa obliquealba Motschulsky, 1864 were examined; types of Cicindela ocskayi Gistl, 1837 are unknown. These aligned taxa were inconsistently treated in literature either as infrasubspecific or infraspecific taxa of Cicindela morio, or recently as junior synonyms of Cylindera (Cylindera) morio. As a result of the present revision of the species-complex, Cicindela acompsa and C. denticulata proved to be separate species. The former is treated here as Cylindera (Cylindera) acompsa (Chaudoir, 1852), comb. nov. Because Cicindela denticulata Klug, 1834 proved to be a primary junior homonym of Cicindela denticulata T. W. Harris, 1828, it must be replaced by its next oldest synonym, Cicindela ocskayi Gistl, 1837. Lectotypes of the relevant taxa are designated, with the lectotype of Cicindela denticulata Klug, 1834 simultaneously designated as the neotype of Cicindela ocskayi Gistl, 1837, which makes these names objective synonyms; consequently, the taxon is treated here as Cylindera (Cylindera) ocskayi (Gistl, 1837) comb. nov. Cicindela egena is confirmed here as a junior synonym of Cylindera (Cylindera) morio, while Cicindosa inaequalis is a junior synonym of Cylindera (Cylindera) acompsa. Cylindera (Cylindera) amayai sp. nov. is described as new for science from Bolivia. Cicindosa obliquealba is provisionally treated here as Cylindera (Cylindera) obliquealba (Motschulsky, 1864) comb. nov., as its synonymy with Cylindera (Cylindera) acompsa could not be proved. Due to the absence of specimens with preserved DNA, the revision could not be supported by molecular research within these generally very rare taxa. Habitus and diagnostic characters of all the type and other examined specimens are illustrated here in colour photographs for the first time. Maps of distribution and photos of habitats are also presented and discussed.

Key words: Coleoptera, Cicindelidae, Cylindera, lectotypes, new combination, new species, neotype, nomenclature, revised concept, substitute name, taxonomy, Neotropical Region