Unifying systematics and taxonomy: Nomenclatural changes to Nearctic tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Cicindelinae) based on phylogenetics, morphology and life history Author Duran, Daniel P. Author Gough, Harlan M. text Insecta Mundi 2019 2019-09-30 2019 727 1 12 journal article http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3467083 c4f7d09a-ce6a-4956-a0c7-1e83c5c1b038 3467083 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:AD5A1C09-C805-47AD-ADBE-020722FEC0E6 Apterodela unipunctata (Fabricius, 1775) , new combination Rivalier (1950) described Apterodela as a subgenus of Cylindera and designated C . ovipennis Bates, 1883 as the type. Given the polyphyly of Cylindera ( Gough et al. 2019 ; this study) and a monophyletic and morphologically distinct Apterodela ( Sota et al. 2011 ) , we recognize the clade as a full genus. The Nearctic species, A. unipunctata , is strongly supported (Bootstrap = 98) as sister to A . ovipennis in our phylogeny ( Fig. 1 ) and is remarkably similar in morphology to species of Apterodela from Asia. Like the other members of the genus, it is large (14–18 mm), with a coarsely striated concave frons, flattened ovate elytra with reduced maculations, dark infuscations and prominent subsutural foveae. Ecologically, A . unipunctata is unlike any other species of Nearctic Cicindelini . Adult beetles are typically found when they cross forest trails and openings, but they also frequent darker closed-canopy forested areas where they may hunt in or on the leaf litter. The first author has collected beetles in dense late-succession oak forest in areas that were over 100m from a trail or opening. It is quite likely that most casual observations of this species are biased towards edges, as it is more likely to be seen when crossing trails and light gaps. Asian Apterodela species share similar forest-dwelling natural history and affinity for leaf litter ( Fig. 3 ).