Species Information

Keys Species information Acknowledgments

 

Cicindela punctulata punctulata

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Distribution:

    C. punctulata punculata is almost ubiquitous in Colorado.   Counties: Moffat, Larimer, Weld, Morgan, Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips, Boulder, Gilpin, Garfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Adams, Washington, Yuma, Mesa, Jefferson, Douglas, Arapahoe, Elbert, Lincoln, Kit Carson, Chaffee, Teller, El Paso, Cheyenne, Fremont, Pueblo, Crowley, Kiowa, San Miguel, Alamosa, Custer, Huerfano, Otero, Bent, Prowers, Montezuma, La Plata, Archuleta, Las Animas, and Baca.

Ecology:

    C. punctulata punctulata is a gregarious summer species.  It is a generalist in habitat and can be found almost everywhere.  It can be seen in numbers in June and July in abandoned lots, fields, broken prairie, around water, sides of dirt roads, and even on sidewalks.  It is attracted to lights and may enter buildings if it occurs near them. 

Distinguishing Characteristics:

    C. punctulata punctulata   is often confused with C. nigrocoerulea nigrocoerulea.  These species can be distinguished by the elytra.  C. nigrocoerulea nigrocoerulea   have a softer, more mat-like appearance to the elytra, the elytra tend to be wider in the middle, and the labrum (upper lip) has three teeth.  C. punctulata punctulata  has shinier elytra, straighter elytra, and only has one tooth on the labrum.

Remarks:

  C. punctulata punctulata  is variable in both color and level of maculation.  Some populations can have many green or blue individuals.  In Colorado, this color form was thought to be C. punctulata chihuahuae, but this is not accepted anymore.  When agitated, C. punctulata punctulata  emits a unique fruity odor.