Habitat segregation in four species of adult tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae)

Abstract

1 Habitat segregation in four species of tiger beetles, Cicindela cancellata Dejean, C.cardoni Fleutians, C.minuta Olivier and C.sumatrensis Herbst in a river bank ecosystem was studied in dry and wet seasons. 2 The four species segregated distinctly along the river beds into separate habitats, with occasional overlapping in both the seasons. 3 Among the habitat characteristics considered, vegetation, soil moisture and available prey-size were found to be important in species segregation. 4 D2-analysis showed that the habitat preferences of C.cardoni and C.cancellata were closer to that of C.sumatrensis. The habitat of C.minuta was distinctly separated. 5 There was a positive correlation between the mandible length of each tiger beetle species and the length of prey captured. 6 Variance in mandible length within species was related to prey-length distribution pattern and to variance in habitats.