§ Eodorcadion (Ornatodorcadion) intermedium kozlovi (Suvorov, 1912)

Figs 7I–L, 11D–G

New records. Dornogovi: 30 km SW of Mandakh [Мандах] [44.249, 107.784], 1139 m a.s.l., 28.07.2019, 31 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, leg. et coll. WTS (7 ♂♂ USMB); 28 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, leg. LKa (MIZ); 22 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀, leg. et coll. LKr ; 5 km SW of Mandakh [44.341, 108.093], 1324 m a.s.l., 29.07.2019, 6 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, leg. et coll. WTS; 25 ♂♂, l 6 ♀♀, leg. et coll. LKr; Mandakh env. [44.401, 108.262], 1296 m a.s.l., 29.07.2019, 4 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, leg. et coll. WTS; 4 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, leg. LKa (MIZ); 5 ♂♂, 1 ♀, leg. et coll. LKr ; 10 km W of Saikhandulaan [Сайхандулаан] [44.653, 108.790], 1156 m a.s.l., 29.07.2019, leg. et coll. LKr ; 20 km NE of Saikhandulaan [44.761, 109.301], 1028 m a.s.l., 29.07.2019, 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀, leg. et coll. WTS; 8 ♂♂, leg. LKa (MIZ); 6 ♂♂, 1 ♀, leg. et coll. LKr .

Ömnögovi: 20 km S of Dalanzadgad [ДаланЗадгад] [43.129, 104.327], 15.07.2019, 1 ex., leg. DE (MIZ) .

Literature data. Ömnögovi: Tzosto River [ca. 43.350, 103.516], 28.06– 2.07.1909, 1 ♂, Kozlov’s exp. (ZIN) (Danilevsky 2007); Ulan-Bulak [Улан-Булак,], Mt. Dund Saikhan [г. Дунд-Сайхан] [ca. 43.583, 103.750], 5– 13.07.1909, 1 ex. (Namhaidorzh 1972: as E. kozlovi); Khutsyn-Shand well near Mandal-Ovoo [кол. Хуцын-Шанда] [ca. 44.133, 104.083], 16.07.1909, 10 exx., syntypes E. kozlovi (ibid); from Dalanzadgad [Далан-ДЗадагада] to Tsagaan Ders [Цаган-Дэрсун] sands, 03.08.1949, 59 exx. (ibid); 25 km N from Bulgan, Schovongin chooloi [44.334, 103.618], 1030 m a.s.l., 19.06.1964, 1 ex., exp. Dr. Z. Kaszab (Heyrovský 1965: as Eodorcadion mongolicum ab. recurvatum); [the same label data], 2 ♂♂ (HNHM) (Danilevsky 2007); 33 km W Dalanzadgad [ca. 43.568, 104.011], 1200 m a.s.l., 2– 8.07.1965, 2 ♂♂, leg. Muche (NMP) (ibid); Zoolon-Uul [Dzelen-Ula ridge], 58 km WSW of Bayandalai [ca. 43.174, 102.877], 1500 m a.s.l., 6.06.1967, 1 ♀, exp. Dr. Z. Kaszab (HNHM) (ibid); Takhilga-Uul, between Tsogt-Ovoo and Dalanzadgad, 68 km S from Tsogt-Ovoo [ca. 43.834, 105.065], 1550 m a.s.l., 12.06.1967, 1 ex., 08– 09.07.1967, 18 exx., exp. Dr. Z. Kaszab (Heyrovský 1970: as Eodorcadion mongolicum); Gurvan Saikhan Uul mountains, between Khurmen [ХҮрмэн] and Bayandalai [БаЯн-Далай], 24 km NW from Khurmen [ХҮрмэн] [ca. 43.365, 103.790], 1550 m a.s.l., 14.06.1967, 5 exx., exp. Dr. Z.. Kaszab (ibid); Mt. Gurvan Saikhan Uul, between Khurmen Soum and Bayandalai [ca. 43.390, 103.617], 1550 m a.s.l., 14.06.1967, 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, exp. Dr. Z. Kaszab (HNHM) (Danilevsky 2007); 34 km WSW of Bayandalai [ca. 43.338, 103.090], 1600 m a.s.l., 15.06.1967, 1 ♂, exp. Dr. Z. Kaszab (HNHM) (ibid); Bulgan Soum, Talyn bulag [=Dalyn Bulag] [ca. 44.078, 103.713], 1350 m a.s.l., 5.07.1967, 1 ♂, exp. Dr. Z. Kaszab (HNHM) (ibid); Mt. Takhilga Uul, between Tsogt-Ovoo and Dalanzadgad [ca. 43.834, 105.065], 1550 m a.s.l., 8– 9.07.1967 [and 12.07.1967], 10 ♂♂, 1 ♀, exp. Dr. Z. Kasz- ab (HNHM) (ibid); Mandal-Ovoo, Bayanzag [= Bain-Dzak, 30 km NNE Bulgan] [ca. 44.372, 103.696], 26.07.1967, 1 ♂, Namhaidorzh leg. (ZIN) (ibid); Mandal-Ovoo [44.372, 103.696], 26.07.1967, 1 ♂, B. Namhaidorzh leg. (ZIN) (ibid); valley of Bayan Zag [ур. БаЯн-ДЗаг], NNE of Bulgan [вулган] [ca. 44.115, 103.566], 26– 28.07.1967, 4 exx. (Namhaidorzh 1972: as E. kozlovi); Khongoryn-Els [Хонгорын-Элс], 60km WNW Bayandalai [БаЯн-ДалаЯ] [ca. 43.645, 102.786], 30– 31.07.1967, 10 exx. (ibid); Dalanzadgad [ca. 43.574, 104.386], 07–08.1967, 1 ♂, Dulamzhav leg. (ZIN) (Danilevsky 2007); 25 km ESE of Bayandalai [БаЯн-ДалаЯ] [ca. 43.638, 103.410], 01.08.1967, 1 ex. (Namhaidorzh 1972: as E. kozlovi); well Dzhandzhin-Khuduk=Janjin-Khudag [Джанджин-Худук], S of Khurmen [ХҮрмэн] [ca. 43.271, 104.079], 3.08.1967, 1 ex. (ibid); 15 km NW of Bulgan [44.244, 103.426], 12.08.1967, 2 exx. (ibid); Bulgan env. [44.093, 103.523], 1– 15.08.1971, 12 exx. (Namhaidorzh 1976a: as Eodorcadion mongolicum); Bulgan [Булган], valley of Tugreg-Us [ур. Тугрэг-Ус] [ca. 44.222, 103.271], 23.08.1971, 2 exx. (ibid); Bul- gan [44.093, 103.523], 1.08.1970, 27.07.1971, 17.7– 15.08.1972, 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀, L. Medvedev leg. (MD) (Danilevsky 2007); Manlai [ca. 44.050, 107.033], 1300 m a.s.l., 3 ♀♀, M. Danilevsky leg. (MD) (ibid).

Dornogovi: Baruun Sair [Баруун-Сайр], Altanshiree [Алтан-Ширээт] [ca. 45.531, 110.488], 29.08.1958, 6 exx., 1 ♂ (Namhaidorzh 1972: as Eodorcadion princeps); [the same label data], 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Dementiev leg. (ZMM) (Danilevsky 2007); Argalantyn-Ulan-Shire, 65 km SE from Zuunbayan [ca. 44.080, 110.634], 800 m a.s.l., 25.06.1963, exp. Dr. Z. Kaszab; 1 ex. (Heyrovský 1964: as E. intermedium m. gobicum nov.); [the same label data], 2 ♂♂ (HNHM), 1 ♂ (NMP) (Danilevsky 2007); 8 km NNW from Sainshand [Сайн-Шанд] [44.972, 110.075], 1000 m a.s.l., 28.06.1963, 5 exx., exp. Dr. Z. Kaszab (Heyrovský 1964: as E. intermedium m. gobicum nov.); [the same label data], 1 ♀ (HNHM) (Danilevsky 2007); 30 km SE from Zuunbayan [ca. 44.326, 110.318], 24.07.1968, 1 ex., leg. B. Burakowski & H. Szelegiewicz (Heyrovský 1973a: as Eodorcadion oryx ab. semisegregatum); [the same label data], 1 ♂ (HNHM) (Danilevsky 2007); 10 km NW Erdene [ca. 44.608, 110.961], 13.08.1975, 1 ♂, Gurieva leg. (ZIN), 13 ♂♂, 1 ♀ (SMTD) (ibid); 2 km SE Mandakh [44.400, 108.216], 1300 m a.s.l., 5– 7.08.2002, 262 ♂♂, 44 ♀♀, M. Danilevsky leg. (MD) (ibid); 11 km S Sainshand, [44.783, 110.116], 950 m a.s.l., 11.08.2002, 5 ♂♂, 1 ♀, O.V. Gorbunov leg. (MD) (ibid).

Remarks. Eodorcadion intermedium kozlovi is the most widespread and common Eodorcadion taxon in the region discussed in this paper. According to Danilevsky (2007), this subspecies inhabits depressions of hilly landscapes covered with numerous clumps of Lasiagrostis (= Achnatherum) and both males and females were often observed feeding high on the stems of these plants.

We observed numerous individuals in early morning still hiding in Caragana bushes after the night (Fig. 11D). Between 6 and 7:30 a.m, adults were climbing on the plants and feeding on their leaves (Fig. 11E). Subsequently, as the sun began to rise, individuals commenced to descend from the bushes to the ground. We also observed several lizards hunting for these beetles. It is clear now that E. i. kozlovi is ecologically associated with both Achnatherum and Caragana . Single individuals were also collected in numerous sites between Mandakh and Sainshand (Fig. 4) almost in every controlled Achnatherum enclave (Fig. 11H). Similarly, as in E. gorbunovi, we observed individuals (mainly males) climbing on the blades of grass (Fig. 11F). Females (Fig. 11G) were less numerous in almost all sites, which indicates that the turn of July and August is still the initial phase of the occurrence of this species.

The status of this taxon leaves much confusion. While the so-far-diagnosed morphological characters to distinguish the subspecies, which are connected with the pattern of elytral stripes, do not seem to be constant and particularly useful (suggesting rather low differentiation), our preliminary results of the molecular analysis indicated considerable genetic divergence between this taxon and E. i. intermedium . Conversely, E. i. kozlovi appears to be closely related to E. exaratum and E. oryx, from which it, however, can be relatively easily differentiated morphologically. This species-group, in principle, requires further studies that should include also the molecular component (in prep.).