170 WISE 
As perhispida is so variable the stock (median dark transverse bar) is often reduced, 
particularly at the base which makes it even less like the stock of brevilunata. There are 
just a very few specimens (2 or 3) seen so far where the stock is reduced distally (see Fig. 
35), somewhat approaching the form of the short truncate stock of brevilunata, but on 
these specimens the distal flukes remain distinctly of the perhispida form. 
The overall picture is that there is one continuous series of patterns starting with 
the almost entirely black pattern, on the southern west coast ironsands, which lightens 
on paler sands to the north and which almost entirely disappears on the palest sands 
of the most northern beaches and the white sands of the east coast far northern 
beaches. 
The Neocicindela brevilunata pattern (Figs. 46-51). This occurs on specimens from 
east coast localities south of the Whangarei Harbour. It is a bold anchor pattern with 
the shaft tapering evenly to the distal end. The base of each fluke is broad with a 
postero-lateral angle so that the two together give the appearance of a straight 
transverse band. Each fluke thins anteriorly before the point which is recurved 
(hooked) postero-laterally; the point is broadly truncate and the postero-lateral 
extension is short. The transverse stock is short, broad and truncate with a slight 
posterior extension distally on each side, the whole straight distal edge slightly angled 
inwards towards the posterior. 
A slight variation sometimes seen in brevilunata is also in the stock where the base 
is thickened posteriorly, tending to fill in the space to the distal posterior extension so 
that the whole appears thicker and even more unlike the stock of perhispida. 
Sizes 
The median lengths (front of head to tip of elytra) fall within the same range for 
the two species except for a few larger females. Ranges given here are froma selection 
of specimens taken at different localities. 
Lengths. Neocicindela perhispida 36 8-9.5 mm 99 9-10.5 mm. 
Neocicindela brevilunata 33 8-9.5 mm 99 9-10.0 mm. 
Consideration of species and subspecies 
Freitag (1979) in considering Australian Cicindela species stated that characters 
used for identification are pubescence, coloration and shapes of sclerites or 
appendages and the genitalia of females. He also considered that body and appendage 
colour and colour pattern are most important in distinguishing species, including the 
shapes of markings on the elytra. The criteria used for the separation of species and 
subspecies were also given, Freitag indicated that a distinct difference in any one 
character was sufficient to distinguish between them. 
