Carabus (Lipaster) stjernvalli gvalijai Retezár, 1992

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 : 316

7. Carabus (Lipaster) stjernvalli gvalijai Retezár, 1992

( Figs. 1 , 68–91 , 109–114 , 125–127 )

Material examined. 12♂♂, 6♀♀, Georgia, Racha , Racha Mt. Range, N slopes of Khikhata Mt. Range near Mra- valdzali vill., 2100 m, N 42°29’13,64” / E 43°21’12,19”, 08.- 09.06.2016 (A. Zubov) ( CFDD) ; 10♂♂, 7♀♀, S Os- setia, Racha Mt. Range near Ertzo Pass, 1800 m, N 42°28’10.72” / E 43°45’57.53”, pitfall traps, 29.05.- 12.07.2015 (D. Fominykh) ( CFDD, CTAY, CZAM) ; 15♂♂, 23♀♀, S Ossetia , Racha Mt. Range near Ertzo vill., N slopes of Alkhashenda Mt., 1800 m, N 42°27’39,70” / E 43°46’23,40”, pitfall traps, 17.05.- 10.07.2016 (D. Fominykh & A. Zubov) ( CFDD, CTAY, CZAM) ; 79♂♂, 85♀♀, S Ossetia , Racha Mt. Range near Tli vill., right bank of Valtkatzi River, 1900-2300 m, N 42°29’44,90” / E 43°50’43,50”, pitfall traps, 17.05.- 09.07.2016 (D. Fominykh & A. Zubov) ( ZISP, MPSU, CFDD, CTAY, CZAM, CKEE) ; 33♂♂, 27♀♀, Georgia, Samegrelo , Askhi Plateau, N slopes of Lekhi Mt., 2200-2300 m, N 42°35’ / E 42°32’, 21.- 22.06.2014 (A. Zubov) ( ZISP, MPSU, CFDD, CTAY, CZAM) ; 4♂♂, 3♀♀, Georgia, Kvemo Svaneti , N slopes of Lechkhumi Mt. Range , left bank of Tskhenis-Tskali River, 4 km S of Sasashi vill., near Jvari Pass, 2300-2600 m, N 42°45’31,46” / E 42°8’30,43”, 26.- 27.06.2016 (A. Zubov) ( CFDD) ; 124♂♂, 146♀♀, Georgia, Kvemo-Svaneti , S slopes of Svaneti Mt. Range near Lentekhi vill., S slopes of Goldash Mt., 2615 m, N 42°50’00,10” / E 42°45’16,90”, pitfall traps, 18.06.- 13.07.2017 (D. Fominykh) ( ZISP, MPSU, CFDD, CTAY, CZAM, CKEE) ; 21♂♂, 23♀♀, Georgia, Kvemo-Svaneti , S slopes of Svaneti Mt. Range near Len- tekhi vill., S slope of Goldash Mt., 1550 m, N 42°48’33,70” / E 42°44’07,70”, pitfall traps, 17.06.- 13.07.2017 (D. Fominykh) ( ZISP, MPSU, CFDD, CTAY, CZAM) .

Distribution and habitat. Lebarde was pointed originally as the type locality of this subspecies ( Retezár 1992). Later Retezár (2015) added a further locality, Plateau Askhi, located south-eastwards of Lebarde. We do not possess material from the type locality, though examination of the available specimens from Plateau Askhi revealed its identity with populations inhabiting various mountains in the Greater Caucasus (namely Racha, Lechkhumi, and Svaneti ranges) and morphologically corresponding to the original description. Thus the distribution range of C. stjernvalli gvalijai appeared to be actually much more widespread than accepted earlier. Nearly all populations were found on alpine meadows above 2000 m, only one was discovered in the forest zone.

Remarks. Despite some minor differences in general appearance of individuals from different populations ( Figs. 68–91 ), their body proportions are rather close ( Table 1 ). Male genitalia structure is stable in all populations studied ( Figs. 109–114 ). Only one population from Racha Mountain Range (Mravaldzali vicinity) comprises black individuals. The upper side is usually with metallic luster, but generally more matt than in the nominotypical subspecies, bronze to blue.

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 125. Habitat of Carabus stjernvalli gvalijai Retezár, Georgia, Mravaldzali env., 2100 m.

FIGURE 126. Habitat of Carabus stjernvalli gvalijai Retezár, Georgia, Askhi Plateau, 2300 m.

FIGURE 127. Habitat of Carabus stjernvalli gvalijai Retezár, Georgia, Sasashi env., Jvari Pass, 2300 m.

FIGURES 68–75. Dorsal habitus of Carabus (Lipaster) stjernvalli gvalijai Retezár: 68–71—Mravaldzali env., 2200 m; 72– 75—Tli env., 2000 m. Scale bar 10.0 mm.

FIGURES 76–83. Dorsal habitus of Carabus (Lipaster) stjernvalli gvalijai Retezár: 76–79—Askhi Plateau, 2300 m; 80–83— Sasashi env., 2300 m. Scale bar 10.0 mm.

FIGURES 84–91. Dorsal habitus of Carabus (Lipaster) stjernvalli gvalijai Retezár: 84–87—Goldash Mt., 2600 m; 88–91— Goldash Mt., 1500 m. Scale bar 10.0 mm.

FIGURES 102–114. Apical portion of aedeagus and fully inflated endophallus preparation of Carabus (Lipaster) stjernvalli Mannerheim, right lateral view: 102—C. stjernvalli stjernvalli Mannerheim, Chidila Pass env., 2350 m; 103—idem, Dzegvila Mt., 1100 m; 104—idem, Gomismta env., 2100 m; 105—idem, Gomi env., 1500 m; 106—Goderdzi Pass env., 2300 m; 107— idem, Zekari Pass env., 2100 m; 108—idem, Sairme env., 1500 m; 109—C. stjernvalli gvalijai Retezár, Mravaldzali env., 2200 m; 110—idem, Tli env., 2000 m; 111—idem, Askhi Plateau, 2300 m; 112—idem, Sasashi env., 2300 m; 113—idem, Goldash Mt., 2600 m; 114 —idem, Goldash Mt., 1500 m. Scale bar 10.0 mm.