Pterostichus (Oreoplatysma) platyderus ( CHAUDOIR 1850)

Guéorguiev, B., 2010, The " colchicus " group of Pterostichus (Coleoptera, Carabidae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 42 (1), pp. 659-669 : 662-663

Pterostichus (Oreoplatysma) platyderus ( CHAUDOIR 1850) ( Figs 6-10 )

Feronia laticollis CHAUDOIR 1846: 146 [junior secondary homonym of Pterostichus (Badistrinus) laticollis (MOTSCHULSKY 1844) ].

Feronia platydera CHAUDOIR 1850: 136, replacement name for Feronia laticollis CHAUDOIR 1846: 146 .

T y p e m a t e r i a l 2, 2 syntypes (male lectotype and paralectotypes by present designation), all well preserved, and without attached labels under. Close to the four specimens, the following handwritten label is pinned on the bottom of box: " platydera Chaud. Caucase centr. 8000. i." (MNHN, "Collection Chaudoir", box no 216 " Argutor "); 1 syntype (paralectotype by present designation), well preserved, labelled: "2700" [handwritten grimy label] / " laticollis Chaud. Caucas …" [handwritten grimy label] / " SYNTYPUS Feronia laticollis Chaudoir 1846 labelled by MNHUB 2005" [red typeset label] (MNHUB).

T y p e l o c a l i t y." Imérétie,présdeGlola"(CHAUDOIR 1848: 147).

O t h e r m a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d.1 of P. platyderus , labelled: " Coll. Germar-Schaum " [typeset white label] / " platyderus Chaud. Caucas occid." [handwritten grimy label] ( DEI) ; 1 paratype of P. abishirensis BELOUSOV 1991 ( NMNHS) .

M a l e g e n i t a l i a. Median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view ( Figs 6-7 ) with ostium deflected to left; apical part longer than basal part, with ventral margin slightly concave distally and apex somewhat bent downwards; basal part with strongly developed and prominent ventral process; internal sac (non-inverted state) with indistinct chitinised piece. Apex of median lobe dorsally ( Fig. 8 ) straight with tip slightly deflected to left. Left paramere ( Figs 9-10 ) sickle-shaped; basal part longer than apical one, forming widened bulb; apical part with pointed tip.

The genitalia of the two males from MNHN have been examined. After drawing, the genitalia of the lectotype were placed in Euparal on separate transparent label pinned under the specimen, from whom they were extracted ; that of the paralectotype were also put in Euparal, but placed on the same label on which the specimen is glued. The genitalia of the male from DEI are identical with those of the specimens from MNHN while these of the specimen from MNHUB have not been extracted .

T a x o n o m i c n o t e s a n d r e l a t i o n s h i p s The presence of pubescence on the distal part of antennomeres 3, missing scutellar pore of the elytra, dense and continuous punctuation on the basal part of pronotum (which is also detectable along the lateral margins in the anterior part of pronotum), absence of medial setiferous punctures on the hind coxae, glabrous ventral side of onychium, and sickle-shaped shape of left paramere demonstrates that this species is member of Oreoplatysma , and do not of Cryobius . The following transfer is proposed: Pterostichus (Oreoplatysma) platyderus ( CHAUDOIR 1850) , new assignment of Pterostichus (Cryobius) platyderus ( CHAUDOIR 1850) .

This species seems related to the species of the group " abishirensis " ( BELOUSOV 1991, KRYZHANOVSKIJ et al. 1995: 103), above all in the missing scutellar pore of elytra and shape of aedeagus. The group in question includes two vicarious species, e.g. P. asinubas DAVIES 2004 (replacement name for P. abasinus BELOUSOV 1991 ) and P. abishirensis BELOUSOV 1991 . P. platyderus differs easily from both species in the longer and rounder right paramere and in the different shape of aedeagus. By the shape of the pronotum, aedeagus and right paramere, P. platyderus resembles more several species of the group " koenigi ", as P. satyrus KURNAKOV 1962 , P. krivensis BELOUSOV 1991 and P. rousianus . In the lateral margin of pronotum rather concave towards posterior angles and median lobe of aedeagus (dorsal view) bent to the left, the species is close to P. rousianus , but the former is distinct in aedeagus (lateral view) with concave ventral margin before apex and apex bent downwards. P. platyderus and P. krivensis are very similar in the shape of pronotum and indistinct outer basal impression as well as in the shape of the aedeagus and of the left parameres. However, the former is distinct from the latter in the absence of distinct punctuation on the head, less protruding forward anterior angles of the pronotum, absence of scutellar pore, and somewhat shorter apical part of the left paramere. Based on the original description of P. satyrus ( KURNAKOV 1962) , we failed to find significant differences between this species and P. platyderus , save temporae gradually slanting backward and their length almost equal to diameter of eyes as well as elytral striae somewhat less punctured in the latter. Most probably P. platyderus occupies an intermediate position between the group " abishirensis " and the couple of species P. satyrus – P. krivensis, but is evidently closer to the last two.

P. platyderus should be valid species, but further taxonomic investigations should examine eventual synonymy between it and subsequently described species.

D i s t r i b u t i o n. Imeretia (KRYZHANOVSKIJ et al. 1995: 102).

Figures

Figs 6-10: Feronia laticollis CHAUDOIR, lectotype: Fig. (6) aedeagus, left lateral view; Fig. (7) aedeagus, right lateral view; Fig. (8) apex of aedeagus, dorsal view; Fig. (9) right paramere, internal view; Fig. (10) right paramere, external view. Scale bar 0.5 mm (6-10).