Carabus (Lipaster) stjernvalli tabackuriensis Novotný & Vořišek, 1988

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 : 306-307

3. Carabus (Lipaster) stjernvalli tabackuriensis Novotný & Vořišek, 1988

( Figs. 1 , 7–14 , 93–94 , 116 , 119 )

Material examined. 51♂♂, 37♀♀, Georgia, Kvemo-Kartli, Tsalka distr., 4.5 km SW of Kavta (= Chapaevka ) vill., NE slopes of Buladag Mt. , 1700 m, N 41°32’ / E44°01’, pitfall traps, 20.05.- 04.06.2015 (A. Zubov & R. Khryapin) ( ZISP, MPSU, CFDD, CTAY, CZAM) ; 22♂♂, 17♀♀, Georgia, Kvemo-Kartli, Trialeti Mt. Range near Tukhmatash Pass , E slopes of Dalidag Mt. , 2070 m, N 41°32’ / E43°52’, pitfall traps, 06.06.–07.2017 (D. Fominykh) ( ZISP, CFDD, CTAY, CZAM) ; 34♂♂, 29♀♀, Georgia, Kvemo Kartli, Trialeti Mt. Range , 2.8 km to N of Chemani vill., 2000 m, N 41°44’35,40” / E 44°12’05,70”, pitfall traps, 07.06.- 10.07.2018 (D. Fominykh) ( ZISP, MPSU, CFDD, CTAY, CZAM) ; 3♂♂, 5♀♀, Georgia, Kvemo Kartli, Trialeti Mt. Range N of Khachkhoy vill., 2100 m, N 41°43’12,50” / E 43°58’04,60”, pitfall traps, 08.06.- 10.07.2018 (D. Fominykh) ( CFDD) ; 2♂♂, Georgia, Samtskhe-Dzhavakheti, Trialeti Mt. Range , 3 km SW of Tskhratskaro Pass, 2500 m, N 41°40’01,64” / E 43°29’40,47”, 10.06.2018 (D. Fominykh) ( CFDD) .

Remarks. Described from two male specimens labelled (according to the original description) “Juž. Gruzia, doroga Tabackuri—Calka, 7 km ot Tabackuri 27.6.1956 V.N. Kurnakov lgt.”. Despite special efforts, we failed to find and study the type series, which was originally deposited in the private collection of J. Vořišek. However Dr. I. Solodovnikov kindly provided us with individuals from his own collection (topotypes), which originate from near the type locality 2. They fully correspond to the above mentioned material, which represents several earlier unknown populations (localities) ( Fig. 1 ), so we confidently attribute it to C. stjernvalli tabackuriensis . Summarizing available distribution data we can conclude that the geographic range of this subspecies covers a rather large territory at the southern slopes of Trialeti Mountain Range at Tsalka upland, ranging to the northern part of Dzhavakheti Mountain Range. The subspecies’ range apparently spreads as well to Tabatskuri Lake in the west and even expands several km westwards, almost reaching the type locality of another subspecies, C. stjernvalli bogatshevi Zamotajlov, 1989 (Mount Chareli), which has been earlier synonymized with the present one (its status is discussed below).

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 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 119. Habitat of Carabus stjernvalli tabackuriensis Novotný & Vořišek, Georgia, Tukhmatash Pass env., 2100 m.

FIGURES 7–15. Dorsal habitus of Carabus (Lipaster) stjernvalli Mannerheim: 7–10—C. stjernvalli tabackuriensis Novotný & Vořišek, Tsalka distr., 1700 m; 11–14—idem, Tukhmatash Pass env., 2100 m; 15—C. stjernvalli bogatshevi Zamotajlov, holotype, Chareli Mt., 2100 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.