Meotica arasensis SMETANA, 2004

(Fig. 85)

Meotica caucasica SCHEERPELTZ, 1954a: 154 f.; preoccupied.

Meotica arasensis SMETANA, 2004a: 32; replacement name.

Type material examined: Syntype ♀: " ♀ / Caucasus. Araxesthal, Leder. Reitter. / Amischa / exilis Er / ex coll. Klima / ex coll. Scheerpeltz / Typus Meotica caucasica O. Scheerpeltz / Syntypus Meotica caucasica Scheerpeltz, rev. V. Assing 2017" (NHMW).

Additional material examined: ARMENIA: 1♀, reservoir 15 km SW Sisian, 39°28'N, 46°08'E, 1340 m, shore of reservoir, Salix litter, moss, and roots sifted, 16.VII.2018, leg. Schülke (MNB).

Comment: The original description is based on an unspecified number of syntypes from "Kaukasus (Araxestal)" (SCHEERPELTZ 1954a). Meotica caucasica is a junior primary homonym of M. caucasica BENICK, 1953 and was subsequently replaced with the nomen novum M. arasensis by SMETANA (2004a). The sole syntype in the Scheerpeltz collection is a female and consequently not designated as the lectotype.

Diagnosis: ♂: unknown.

♀: spermatheca of the M. parasita type, but with longer and more slender proximal portion (Fig. 85).

Distribution: Azerbaijan, Armenia.