Diagnosis & identification
Taenidia group, species status (raised by Gebert 2016). GENAE GLABROUS (no setae) — diagnostic vs zarudniana. Elytra diverging posteriorly + slightly angled-round apically; terminal spine longer than zarudniana. Labrum more transverse (clearly wider than long). Aedeagus long, strongly separated from basal bulbus + thicker. Distribution: Iraq, Syria, Israel (Dead Sea), Iran (Busher).
Similar taxa: Resembles *Calomera*, *Cicindela*, *Cosmodela*
Etymology
From Greek *kephalḗ* (head) + suffix -ota — "head-bearing" or "head-prominent".
Seasonal activity
Active April–September (peak May–Jul)
Green = active months · Orange = peak. Peak: V-VII
Distribution
Iraq (Abu Ghraib, Mosul area); Syria (Ar Raqqah: Assad Lake / Ath-Thawrah); Israel (Dead Sea: Kalya, Beersheba, Neot HaKikar); Iran (Busher area, sympatric with zarudniana)
Countries: IQ · SY · IL · Iran
Provinces / states: Abu Ghraib · Mosul area · Ar Raqqah · Dead Sea · Beersheba · Neot HaKikar · Busher area · sympatric with zarudniana
External references
GBIF · iNaturalist · Wikipedia