Ww. Yarbrough et Cb. Knisley, DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF THE COASTAL TIGER BEETLE, CICINDELA-DORSALIS-MEDIA (COLEOPTERA, CICINDELIDAE), IN SOUTH-CAROLINA, Entomological news, 105(4), 1994, pp. 189-194
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.