Revision of the Palearctic Cicindela campestris species complex-Part 1: On the taxonomy, identification and ecology of Cicindela herbacea Klug, 1832 and Cicindela javetii Chaudoir, 1861 (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae).

We revise the taxonomically problematic Palearctic Cicindela campestris species complex, a group of green tiger beetle species, using an integrative approach combining morphology, morphometry and biogeography. In this first part, an identification key to all subgroups of these green tiger beetles (Cicindela herbacea-subgroup, Cicindela javetii-subgroup, Cicindela desertorum-subgroup, Cicindela campestris-subgroup, Cicindela turkestanica-subgroup and Cicindela asiatica-subgroup) based on large series taken from private and museum collections as well as on literature sources is provided and diagnostic characters are illustrated by detailed photographs. The Cicindela herbacea- and Cicindela javetii-subgroups are revised and illustrated and identification keys as well as distribution maps for both are given. Four new synonyms are established: Cicindela herbacea herbacea Klug, 1832 = Cicindela herbacea aleppensis Deuve, 2012, syn. n.; Cicindela herbacea turkestanicoides W. Horn, 1938 = Cicindela herbacea perreaui Deuve, 1987, syn. n. = Cicindela herbacea colasi Deuve, 2011, syn. n.; Cicindela javetii javetii Chaudoir, 1861 = Cicindela thughurica Franzen, 2007, syn. n.

The tiger beetles (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae) of the southern Levant and adjacent territories: from cybertaxonomy to conservation biology.

The tiger beetles of the southern Levant (Egypt: Sinai, Israel, Jordan) and adjacent regions of the neighboring countries Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are reviewed in terms of species taxonomy, ecological and distributional traits and conservation biology. An illustrated dichotomous identification key from the species of this region is provided. Based on the classical identification key, we developed a digital identification application for smartphones and tablets. The species status of Calomera aulicoides (J.R. Sahlberg, 1913) is (re-) established (stat. rest.) as this taxon can be found sympatrically and parapatrically together with Calomera littoralis winkleri (Mandl, 1934). Morphological character states are discussed to identify Cicindela javetii Chaudoir, 1861 and C. herbacea Klug, 1832. Calomera aphrodisia (Baudi di Selve, 1864) is recorded for the first time from Israel. The presence of Calomera aulica (Dejean, 1831) and Grammognatha euphratica (Dejean, 1822) is confirmed by new records. At least five taxa are threatened or extinct in Israel. For one of these species, Israel has a national responsibility for the conservation as the main part of the distribution range is within this country. AVAILABILITY: The application TIGER BEETLE ID for Android devices can be freely downloaded at https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.734.21989.suppl1. See also disclaimer of warranties.