Genus
Probstia
3 species
*Probstia* is a small, metallic tiger beetle genus of two species inhabiting compacted laterite paths and dry clay pans across the Oriental region. These nocturnal hunters display the elongate, cursorial build typical of the Prothymina subtribe, with a flattened body and metallic bronze to greenish coloration. Established by Cassola in 2002, the genus was erected to accommodate species previously placed in the Oriental genus *Prothyma*.
Diagnosis
DIAGNOSIS — *Probstia* Cassola, 2002 Body small (7–11 mm), elongate, strongly depressed. Head wider than pronotum; eyes medium, protuberant. Pronotum subquadrate (Prothymina pattern). Elytra elongate; ground color metallic bronze to greenish; maculation variable. Legs cursorial. Labrum transverse. Fully winged. Nocturnal. Substrate: compacted laterite, clay pan, dry clay. Separated from other Prothymina by depressed habitus and ORI distribution.
Etymology
Named after J. Probst (German entomologist, co-author with Wiesner on Therates studies); feminine ending -ia.
Species (3)
Distribution map — GBIF occurrences
GBIF · © OpenStreetMap · © CartoDB
Overview
*Probstia* is a small, metallic tiger beetle genus of two species inhabiting compacted laterite paths and dry clay pans across the Oriental region. These nocturnal hunters display the elongate, cursorial build typical of the Prothymina subtribe, with a flattened body and metallic bronze to greenish coloration. Established by Cassola in 2002, the genus was erected to accommodate species previously placed in the Oriental genus *Prothyma*.
Type species: Cicindela laticincta Probst & Wiesner, 1994 [by original designation (Moravec 2007)]
1. Wiesner, J. (2020) — checklist authority 2. Cassola, F. (2002) — original genus description 3. Werner, K. (2000) — Tiger Beetles of Africa, Vol. 2 4. Pearson, D.L. & Vogler, A.P. (2001) — Tiger Beetles: The Evolution, Ecology, and Diversity of the Cicindelids. Cornell Univ. Press, Ithaca, 333 pp. [ISBN 0-8014-3882-9] 5. Putchkov, A.V. & Arndt, E. (1997–2010) — Treatments in Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera (Löbl & Smetana eds., Vol. 1). 6. Löbl, I. & Smetana, A. (eds.) (2003) — Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera, Vol. 1: Archostemata–Myxophaga–Adephaga. Apollo Books, Stenstrup, 819 pp. [ISBN 87-88757-73-0] 7. Knisley, C.B. & Pearson, D.L. (1984) — Biosystematics of larval tiger beetles, Sulphur Springs Valley, Arizona: descriptions of species and a review of larval biology. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 110: 465-551. 8. Arndt, E. & Putchkov, A.V. (1997) — Phylogenetic investigation of Cicindelidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) using larval morphological characters. Zoologischer Anzeiger 235: 231-241. 9. Schüle, P., Putchkov, A.V. & Markina, T.Y. (2021) — Dromica larvae: pronotum and hooks as unique characters. ZooKeys 1027: 111-138. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1027.61993 +11 citations · full list in paid edition
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Genera and Subgenera of Tiger Beetles
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