Duvalius “ fodori, Scheibel, 1937

Guéorguiev, B. V., 2007, Winklerites Fodori Sp. N. And Systematic Position Of Duvalius (Duvalius) Fodori Scheibel (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechinae), Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 53 (2), pp. 107-115 : 111

The Duvalius “ fodori ” species group

Notes. SCHEIBEL (1937a) originally placed Duvalius fodori SCHEIBEL, 1937 close to D. brandisi (GANGLBAUER, 1900) described from Bosnia-Herzegovina. The same author described Duvalius strupii SCHEIBEL, 1937 and pointed D. fodori as its only relative ( SCHEIBEL 1937 b). In spite of that, LANEYRIE (1970) placed both taxa among the Duvalius species “ incertae sedis ”. Later the two species were placed in different subgenera, the former in the “ pilifer ” group of subgenus Duvaliotes JEANNEL, 1928 (now junior synonym of subgenus Bicharotrechus BOKOR, 1922 ), and the latter in the “ longhii ” group of Duvalius s. str. immediately after D. brandisi ( CASALE & LANEYRIE 1983) . Recently, MORAVEC et al. (2003) put the species in question in the nominotypical subgenus. The critical study of the male genitalia of D. fodori and the descriptions of D. fodori and D. strupii demonstrated that they are closely related vicarious species. That is why they are grouped together in the “ fodori ” group, defined here. This group includes species with fine and slender median lobe (in lateral aspect); long internal sac with subapical, dorsal position in the median lobe; complex and unique structure of the copulatory piece; not fully reduced eyes with several functioning facets; plane dorsum of body; depigmented cuticle; posteriorly narrower pronotum with sharp and prominent hind angles; elytra short, wide and obtuse at apex. According to CASALE (1983: 249–250) D. vignai CASALE, 1983 is closely related to both species in question. Judging by the structure of the copulatory piece of D. vignai (CASALE 1983: 248, fig. 4), it could be supposed that this species is in relationship to D. fodori and D. strupii . For the time being, D. vignai is tentatively put in the “ fodori “ group. The three species of this complex may have distant relationship with Duvalius (Platyduvalius) macedonicus (J. MÜLLER, 1917) . The subgenus Platyduvalius JEANNEL, 1929 includes one single species with the following characteristic features: copulatory piece neither well differentiated nor sclerotised; eyes not fully reduced and having several functioning facets; dorsum of body plane; cuticle depigmented; pronotum quite narrow in posterior part with sharp and prominent hind angles; elytra short, wide and obtuse at apex. In my opinion, the copulatory piece of D. fodori , although constant in shape, is not up to par sclerotised, but faintly sclerotised, reticulate and consists of distinct denticulate lamellae. The state of this character of major importance supports the idea that the resemblance between the taxa from the “ fodori ” group and D. macedonicus may be the result of divergence.