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The Dark Saltflat Tiger Beetle (Cicindela parowana) is a metallic green (dorsally and ventrally) beetle with distinct pattern of white markings on its wings. This species reaches 1.2 cm in length, and has bulbous eyes, slender legs and antennae, and a characteristic hop and fly escape movement similar to other tiger beetles.
The Dark Saltflat Tiger Beetle, subspecies wallisi, was assessed as Endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and is listed as Endangered in Canada on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA). In British Columbia, Dark Saltflat Tiger Beetle is ranked S1 (critically imperiled) by the Conservation Data Centre and is on the provincial Red list. The B.C. Conservation Framework ranks Dark Saltflat Tiger Beetle as a priority 1 under goal 3 (maintain the diversity of native species and ecosystems). Recovery is considered to be biologically and technically feasible.
The Dark Saltflat Tiger Beetle may have always been rare within the ecosystems of the southern Okanagan. Dark Saltflat Tiger Beetle was thought to be extirpated from Canada as extensive searches throughout the Okanagan Valley had failed to record the species within its known range. Historical records are from sites with vague site names and unclear habitat associations, and were also collected over 50 years ago. This vague information makes it difficult to describe habitat associations and search historical sites. However, upon going through unidentified specimens, it was noted that a specimen had been collected in 1996 outside of Oliver. Subsequently, the species has also been recorded in 2011 near Oliver. Only two extant sites are currently known.
The two extant records for Dark Saltflat Tiger Beetle are within open ponderosa pine forest habitats, and not typical of the salt flat or alkaline habitats where the species was thought to have been collected historically. Thus, the species may still be within unchecked sparsely vegetated open ponderosa pine habitats. Once the habitat parameters for this species are better understood, more targeted surveys within the southern Okanagan can be conducted.
No significant threats are known at the two extant Dark Saltflat Tiger Beetle sites; however, there may be threats to this species in unchecked habitat where it could still be found. Although historical threats to the species are unknown, it is likely that the habitat loss of sandy alkaline habitats and the more open habitats in the Okanagan Valley bottom has had an impact on this species.
The recovery (population and distribution) goal is to maintain all extant populations of Dark Saltflat Tiger Beetle across the species? range in British Columbia.
The following are the recovery objectives:
1.To secure protection for all known extant sites of Dark Saltflat Tiger Beetle.
2.To address knowledge gaps (e.g., range extent within the south Okanagan, habitat requirements for each life stage, species-specific threats).
B.C. Ministry of Environment. 2014. Recovery Plan for Dark Saltflat Tiger Beetle (Cicindela parowana) in British Columbia. Province of B.C., B.C. Ministry of Environment. BC Recovery Strategy (Species at Risk)
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Scientific Name: Cicindela parowana
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English Name: Dark Saltflat Tiger Beetle
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