Aconurella sibirica (Lethierry, 1888)

Figs 13–15, 33–35, 50, 65–68, 96–99.

A. alticola Vilbaste, 1980, syn.n.

DIAGNOSTIC TRAITS. Mainly brachypterous. Similar to A. diplachnis, but with less developed dark pattern (Figs 13–15).

Pygofer lobe with strongly sclerotized and densely covered with spines dorsoapical part, oval semitransparent area in middle of distal half, and with row of denticles on posteroventral margin (Figs 66–68).

DISTRIBUTION. Southern and eastern Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, southern Siberia, Mongolia, China.

REMARKS. Vilbaste [1980] described two species, A. alticola Vilbaste, 1980 and A. monticola Vilbaste, 1980, from Tyva.

In terms of body coloration and shape of the pygofer lobes, A. alticola Vilbaste, 1980 does not differ from A. sibirica (cf. Figs 65 and 66–68). Their synonymy is further supported by the fact that Vilbaste [1980] records from Tyva A. diplachnis and two new species mentioned above, but does not list A. sibirica which is widespread throughout Southern Siberia and Mongolia [Emelyanov, 1977].

The description of A. monticola was based on one male and three females. The shape and arrangement of spines on pygofer lobes in this species is the same as in A. sibirica, but in A. monticola pygofer lobes are more elongated and coloration is lighter. Possibly, A. monticola is an aberrant form of A. sibirica, but to solve this problem, it is necessary to study serial material on A. sibirica from different regions of Siberia.