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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 170 / Tuesday, September 7, 2021 / Proposed Rules
arthropods and run quickly to capture prey with their well-developed jaws mandibles. Although we do not have specific information on Miami tiger beetle diets, observations by various entomologists indicate small arthropods, especially ants, are the most common prey for tiger beetles. Over 30
kinds of insects from many families have been identified as prey for tiger beetles, and scavenging is also common in some species Knisley and Schultz 1997, pp. 39, 103; Willis 1967, pp. 196
197. Ants were the most common prey of tiger beetles in Florida Choate 1996, p. 2. Miami tiger beetle larvae are sedentary sit-and-wait predators that capture small prey passing over or near within a few inches in centimeters cm their burrows on the soil surface.
Larvae prey on small arthropods, similar to adults. Alterations or reductions in the prey base through pesticide exposure could affect foraging in of Miami tiger beetles.
WaterThe Miami tiger beetle requires inland sandy pine rockland habitat that has moderately drained to well-drained terrain. Rainfall varies from an annual average over 64 in 163
cm in the northwest portion of MiamiDade County to between 48 and 56 in 122 and 143 cm, respectively, in the rest of the county Service 1999, p. 3
167. The water table in the Miami Rock Ridge outside of the Everglades seldom reaches the surface Service 1999, p. 3
167. The existence of larvae in shallow permanent burrows throughout their development makes them susceptible to changes in groundwater levels. The effects of climate change and sea level rise, which predict higher intensity storms, more erratic rainfall i.e., alterations to the amount and seasonality and rainfall and especially changes in water levels due to storm surge and salinization of the water table, could result in vegetation shifts that may impact the species. Based on this, we identify water particularly appropriate hydrological regimes as a necessary feature for the Miami tiger beetle to carry out its life processes.
LightThe Miami tiger beetle requires open areas of pine rockland habitat with ample sunlight for behavioral thermoregulation, so they can successfully perform their normal activities, such as foraging, mating, and oviposition. Vegetation encroachment and lack of adequate pine rockland management threatens the amount of light necessary for the Miami tiger beetle. We identify light as a necessary feature for the Miami tiger beetle to carry out its life processes.
SoilThe Miami tiger beetle is endemic to pine rockland habitat within
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the Miami Rock Ridge. The Miami Rock Ridge has oolitic limestone composed of spherical grains packed tightly at or very near the surface and solution holes occasionally from where the surface limestone is dissolved by organic acids.
There is typically very little soil development, consisting primarily of accumulations of low-nutrient sand, marl, clayey loam, and organic debris found in solution holes, depressions, and crevices on the limestone surface Florida Natural Areas Inventory FNAI
2010, p. 62. However, sandy pockets can be found at the northern end of the Miami Rock Ridge Northern Biscayne Pinelands, beginning from approximately North Miami Beach and extending south to approximately SW
216th Street Service 1999, p. 3162.
These sandy substrates provide the appropriate nutrients, moisture regime, and soil chemistry necessary for Miami tiger beetle reproduction. Burrows in the sand are used for eggs and developing larvae. In addition these sandy areas support a community of insect prey that allows the species to persist. Soil compaction could impact the species and its habitat. Therefore, we identify substrates derived from calcareous limestone that provide habitat for the Miami tiger beetle to carry out its life processes to be a necessary feature for the Miami tiger beetle.
SummaryBased on the best available information, we conclude that the Miami tiger beetle requires open sandy areas in pine rockland habitat with little to no vegetation for thermoregulation, foraging, egg-laying, and larval development. We identify these characteristics as necessary physical and biological features for the species.
Cover or Shelter The life cycle of the Miami tiger beetle occurs entirely within pine rocklands. Females place a single egg into a shallow burrow dug into the soil.
The egg hatches, apparently after sufficient soil moisture, and the first instar larva digs a burrow at the site of oviposition egg-laying. Larvae are closely associated with their burrows, which provide cover and shelter for anywhere from 2 months to 1 year or more, depending on climate, food availability, and the number of cohorts per year Knisley 2015b, p. 28. Larvae remain in their burrows until they are adults, only extending beyond the burrow entrance to subdue arthropod prey. The adult flight period for the Miami tiger beetle lasts approximately 5
months mid-May to mid-October Knisley 2015b, p. 27. Both larvae and
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adults are visual predators and require open habitat to locate prey. Open areas with dense vegetation no longer provide suitable habitat. However, vegetation adjacent to open sandy areas may also be important, as it may provide thermal refugia for the beetles to escape from high ground temperatures Knisley 2014, p. 1. Miami tiger beetle habitat can also be impacted from trampling, which causes soil compaction and can lead to lethal impacts to adults or larvae or impacts to their habitat.
Based on the best available information, we conclude that the Miami tiger beetle requires pine rocklands, specifically those containing open or sparsely vegetated sandy patches.
Sites for Breeding, Reproduction, or Rearing or Development of Offspring Miami tiger beetle reproduction and larval development occurs entirely within pine rocklands. Both larvae and adults occupy the same habitatsopen sandy patches interspersed with vegetation. Vegetation encroachment into the open sandy habitat patches, barriers to dispersal, trampling of the surface soil, reductions in prey base, and collection of beetles are factors that may reduce the reproductive potential of the species. Therefore, based on the information above, we identify pine rockland habitats that can support the species growth, distribution, and population expansion as required for this species.
Habitats Representative of the Historical, Geographical, and Ecological Distributions of the Species The Miami tiger beetle continues to occur in pine rockland habitats that are protected from incompatible humanuse, but these areas are only partially representative of the species historical, geographical, and ecological distribution because its range within these habitats has been reduced. The species is still found in pine rockland habitats, with open sandy areas of at least 2.55.0 ac 1.02.0 ha in size.
Representative pine rocklands are located on Federal, local, and private conservation lands that implement conservation measures benefitting the beetle.
Pine rockland is dependent on some degree of disturbance, most importantly from natural or prescribed fires Loope and Dunevitz 1981, p. 5; Snyder et al.
2005, p. 1; Bradley and Saha 2009, p. 4;
Saha et al. 2011, pp. 169184; FNAI
2010, p. 62. These fires are a vital component in maintaining native vegetation and creating or maintaining open or sparsely vegetated sandy areas,
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