DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF THE COASTAL TIGER BEETLE, CICINDELA-DORSALIS-MEDIA (COLEOPTERA, CICINDELIDAE), IN SOUTH-CAROLINA

We determined the historic distribution of Cicindela dorsalis media in South Carolina by examining locality records of university, museum an d private collections. Present distribution and abundance were determi ned by surveys of these and other coastal beach sites. We found C. d. media at nine of 14 historic sites and at five of 15 new sites. The gr eatest numbers, >5000 individuals, occurred on Capers, Dewees, and Bul l Islands. Pawleys Island and Litchfield had 300-500 individuals; smal ler numbers occurred at nine sites. Large numbers of beetles at a site could be explained by high densities rather than a larger habitat siz e. We conclude that Cicindela d media is common and widespread along m uch of the South Carolina shoreline, except for the beaches north of H untington Beach from which it has apparently been extirpated by high l evels of recreational use. Populations at several other sites may have declined, but the lack of any published information on earlier abunda nce makes this impossible to accurately determine.