Carabus (Lipaster) stjernvalli paravanicus, Fominykh & Zamotajlov & Khomitskiy & Titarenko, 2020

Fominykh, Dmitriy D., Zamotajlov, Alexandr S., Khomitskiy, Eugeniy E. & Titarenko, Andrey Yu., 2020, Contribution to the knowledge of Carabus (Lipaster) stjernvalli Mannerheim, 1830 in the Caucasus, with description of two new subspecies (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Carabini), Zootaxa 4729 (3), pp. 301-328 : 305-306

2. Carabus (Lipaster) stjernvalli paravanicus subsp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7F961A11-E05D-48CD-8BCD-36E08FE17D4E

( Figs. 1 , 3–6 , 92 , 115–118 )

Type material. Holotype: ♂, Georgia, Samtskhe-Dzhavakheti, W bank of Paravani Lake near Aspara vill., E slopes of Kyerogly Mt., 2100-2200 m, N 41°28’24.99” / E 43°46’19.65”, 04.- 05.06.2015 (D. Fominykh, A. Zubov & A. Safronov) ( ZISP) . Paratypes: 444♂♂, 490♀♀, same data as holotype, pitfall traps ( ZISP, MPSU, CFDD, CTAY, CZAM, CKEE, CSAA) .

Description. Medium sized subspecies ( Figs. 3–6 ). GBL = 26.8–34.8 mm, males 26.8–30.0 mm, females 28.6– 34.8 mm, SBL = 23.6–31.4 mm in both sexes. Body rather robust, ovate. Underside black, dorsum generally with bright metallic luster, green, bronze, more seldom violet or blue, in females less bright, somewhat mat; pronotum basally and elytra with metallic luster. Head broad, a little narrower than pronotum, HL = 4.0– 4.8 mm in males, 4.2–5.6 mm in females, HW = 4.8–6.0 mm in males, 5.4–6.6 mm in females; antennae short. Pronotum transverse, PW = 6.6–8.6 mm in males, 7.8–9.8 mm in females, PB = 5.4–6.8 mm in males, 6.0– 7.8 mm in females, PL = 4.0–5.0 mm in males, 4.4–5.6 mm in females, PW/HW = 1.2–1.6 in both sexes, PW/PL = 1.2–1.6 in both sexes, PW/PB = 1.1–1.4 in both sexes; hind angles faintly protruding posteriorly; disk rugose-punctate. Legs short. Elytra convex, EW/PW = 1.2–1.5 in both sexes; EL = 15.6–17.8 mm in males, 17.2–20.8 mm in females, EW = 9.8–11.4 mm in males, 10.4–12.6 mm in females, EL/EW = 1.5–1.8 in both sexes; elytral punctation faint and sparse, usually with only several rarefied impressions behind.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 92 ) in general shape of the projections and lobes of endophallus resemble other forms of C. stjernvalli .

Differential diagnosis and remarks. This subspecies differs from the other C. stjernvalli taxa, first of all, in its body proportions ( Table 1 , Fig. 116 ). In particular, it is distinguishable from C. stjernvalli stjernvalli and C. stjernvalli gvalijai by broader elytra. Among all known forms it is the closest morphologically to C. stjernvalli tabackuriensis , but is distinguishable by body size and some proportions. The new subspecies also differs from all other taxa of C. stjernvalli in the structure of endophallus ( Fig. 92 ), particularly ventroapical and ventrobasal lobes are more pronounced, also a small projection, missing in the other populations from Trialeti Mt. Range and Dzhavakheti Upland, is present beneath ventrobasal lobe.

Distribution and habitat. The new subspecies populates west spurs of the Samsar Mt. Range at western bank of Paravani Lake. It inhabits alpine meadows at 2100–2200 m. The imago are active from the beginning of June. The following Carabus species occur together with this subspecies: C. armeniacus Mannerheim, 1830 , C. calleyi Fischer von Waldheim, 1823 , C. cribratus Quensel, 1806 , and C. maurus Adams, 1817 .

Etymology. The subspecific epithet refers to the type locality, vicinity of Paravani Lake in Georgia.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Collecting sites of Carabus (Lipaster) stjernvalli Mannerheim in the South Caucasus: red square—C. stjernvalli ssp., Gorelovka env.; green square—C. stjernvalli paravanicus subsp. nov.; pink rhombs—C. stjernvalli tabackuriensis Novotný & Vořišek; red rhombus—C. stjernvalli tabackuriensis Novotný & Vořišek, type locality; red triangles—C. stjernvalli kartalinicus subsp. nov.; blue circle—C. stjernvalli bogatshevi Zamotajlov, type locality; violet empty squares—C. stjernvalli stjernvalli Mannerheim; red crosses—C. stjernvalli gvalijai Retezár.

FIGURE 115. Distribution of morphometric characters in some Carabus (Lipaster) stjernvalli Mannerheim subspecies constructed using discriminant analysis based on 8 parameters (see text for measurements details): red squares—C. stjernvalli ssp., Gorelovka env.; green squares—C. stjernvalli paravanicus subsp. nov.; violet empty squares—C. stjernvalli stjernvalli Mannerheim.

FIGURE 116. Distribution of morphometric characters in some Carabus (Lipaster) stjernvalli Mannerheim subspecies constructed using discriminant analysis based on 8 parameters (see text for measurements details): green squares—C. stjernvalli paravanicus subsp. nov.; pink rhombs—C. stjernvalli tabackuriensis Novotný & Vořišek; red triangles—C. stjernvalli kartalinicus subsp. nov.; blue circles—C. stjernvalli bogatshevi Zamotajlov.

FIGURE 117. Habitat of Carabus stjernvalli paravanicus subsp. nov., Georgia, Paravani lake env., 2200 m.

FIGURE 118. Carabus stjernvalli paravanicus subsp. nov. in nature feeding on the earthworm, Georgia, Paravani lake env., 2100 m.

FIGURES 3–6. Dorsal habitus of Carabus (Lipaster) stjernvalli paravanicus subsp. nov., paratypes, Paravani lake env., 2200 m. Scale bar 10.0 mm.

FIGURES 92–101. Apical portion of aedeagus and fully inflated endophallus preparation of Carabus (Lipaster) stjernvalli Mannerheim, right lateral view: 92—C. stjernvalli paravanicus subsp. nov., paratype, Paravani lake env., 2200 m; 93—C. stjernvalli tabackuriensis Novotný & Vořišek, Tsalka distr., 1700 m; 94—idem, Tukhmatash Pass env., 2100 m; 95—C. stjernvalli kartalinicus subsp. nov., paratypes, Manglisi env., 2100 m; 96—idem, paratypes, Razmeti Mt. Range, 1900 m; 97—C. stjernvalli stjernvalli Mannerheim, Baki env.; 98—idem, Akhaltsikhe env., 2270 m; 99—idem, Zarzma env., 1300 m; 100— idem, Tail’ Mt., 2300 m; 101—idem, Pirsagat Mt., 2300 m. Scale bar 10.0 mm.