Epeorus (Caucasiron) soldani (Braasch, 1979) Figs 18, 19, 20

Iron soldani Braasch, 1979

Epeorus (Iron) soldani (Braasch, 1979); in Kluge (1988)

Epeorus (Caucasiron) soldani (Braasch, 1979); in Kluge (1997b)

Type locality.

Russia, The Karachay-Cherkess Republic, western Greater Caucasus, Teberda (Glacier Alibek - stream, 1800-1900 m a.s.l.).

Distribution.

Georgia, south-western Russia. Species endemic to the Greater Caucasus (Fig. 18).

Habitat.

Larvae inhabit small streams and rivers at middle and high altitudes in the western and central Greater Caucasus. Frequently found above 1000 m a.s.l. Altitudinal range of sampling sites 426-1900 m a.s.l. (Fig. 18). Often syntopic with E. (C.) alpestris and E. (C.) sinitshenkovae .

Main morphological diagnostics of larvae.

(i) abdominal terga V-VII with well-defined triangular medial maculae (Fig. 19H, I); (ii) abdominal sterna II-VI either without pattern or with indistinct pattern as on Fig. 19J, K; (iii) setae on abdominal terga wide at base (Fig. 20E); (iv) femora without medial hypodermal spot (Fig. 19F, G); (v) tergum X without postero-lateral projections (Fig. 20L); (vi) gill plates III with well-developed projection (Fig. 20G); (vii) gill plates VII (in natural position of ventral view) narrow (Figs 19L; 20H-K); (viii) denticles along posterior margin of tergum VII relatively sparse and triangular (Fig. 20E).

Remarks.

Taxonomy. This species was described based on male imago and larva from the western Greater Caucasus (Braasch 1979). The type series is currently deposited in SMNS. Larva associated with imago based on the coloration of abdomen. Female imago not described. The lineage Caucasiron sp. 7 detected by Hrivniak et al. (2020b) is distributed in Georgia and morphologically corresponds to E. (C.) soldani . Therefore, E. (C.) soldani may represent a species complex.