Carabus (Neoplectes) szekelyi Retezár, 2011

(Figs. 62–80, 169–196, 212–214)

Material. 17♂♂, 12♀♀, Georgia, Imereti, Racha Mt. Range, 5 km NW of Nakerala pass near Tkibuli town, 1454 m, N 42°23'11.50" / E42°58'40.60", pitfall traps, 09.05.- 07.07.2015 (D. Fominykh & A. Zubov) (CFDD, CTAY, CZAM, CZAS) ; 7♂♂, 18♀♀, Georgia, Imereti, S slopes of Racha Mt. Range near Uzunta vill., right bank of Pasknara river, 890 m, N 42°24'32.50" / E43°20'43.90", pitfall traps, 22.04- 21.06.2015 (D. Fominykh & A. Zubov) (CFDD, CTAY, CZAM) ; 53♂♂, 48♀♀, Georgia, Racha, N slopes of Racha Mt. Range N of Shkmeri vill., right bank of Kheeri river, 1800-2100 m, N 42°30' / E43°25', pitfall traps, 11.05.- 06.07.2015 (D. Fominykh & A. Zubov) (CFDD, CTAY, CZAM) ; 31♂♂, 28♀♀, Georgia, Racha, N slopes of Racha Mt. Range, S of Bokva vill, right bank of Kheeri river, 1473 m, pitfall traps, 11.05.- 06.07.2015 (D. Fominykh & A. Zubov) (CFDD, CTAY, CZAM) ; 50♂♂, 67♀♀, Georgia, Racha, N slopes of Racha Mt. Range, S of Bokva vill, right bank of Kheeri river, 1257 m, pitfall traps, 11.05.- 06.07.2015 (D. Fominykh & A. Zubov) (CFDD, CTAY, CZAM) ; 11♂♂, 13♀♀, C Caucasus, S Ossetia, Racha Mt. Range, 4 km NE of Dzhalobet vill., right bank of Kvirila river, 1450 m, N 42°25'05.44" / E43°42'14.22", pitfall traps, 29.05.- 12.07.2015 (D. Fominykh) (CFDD, CTAY, CZAM) ; 26♂♂, 18♀♀, C Caucasus, S Ossetia, Racha Mt. Range near Ertzo pass, 1800 m, N 42°28'10.72" / E 43°45'57.53", pitfall traps, 29.05.- 12.07.2015 (D. Fominykh) (CFDD, CTAY, CZAM) ; 9♂♂, 15♀♀, C Caucasus, S Ossetia, 1 km MW of Bakhuta vill., left bank of Patsa river, 1250 m, N 42°25'10.83" / E43°50'35.45", pitfall traps, 28.05.- 12.07.2015 (D. Fominykh) (CFDD, CTAY, CZAM) ; 3♂♂, 12♀♀, C Caucasus, S Ossetia, Surami Mt. Range, right bank of Itrapula river, 1600 m, N 42°20'32.86" / E 43°51'21.08", pitfall traps, 30.05.- 12.07.2015 (D. Fominykh) (CFDD, CTAY, CZAM) ; 9♂♂, 15♀♀, C Caucasus, S Ossetia, right bank of Сh’imasdon (= Gadizastskali) river, near Ostatyqaw vill., 1600 m, N 42°21'39.18" / E 44°02'40.97", 30- 31.05.2015 (D. Fominykh) (CFDD, CTAY, CZAM) .

Distribution and habitat. Described from Dzhalaurta, Djava, and Guphta. Distributed throughout the Racha mountains and in the north-east of the Surami mountains. New localities have been established on the right bank of the Bolshaya Liakhvi (=Didi-Liakhvi) river, and the western slopes of the Gudissi mountains, the latter population being the most easterly known. Further sampling is required to determine if other populations are present further east in the Mtiuleti mountains that sympatric with C. prunierianus . C. szekelyi occurs at deciduous, mixed, and coniferous forest sites at 900–2300 m. Also observed in subalpine meadows, avoiding willow, birch, and alder thickets.

Remarks. Individuals sampled from the Nakerala Pass in the Racha mountains were about 1.5 times larger in body size than other known populations. Strong intrapopulation variation in body shape, elytral punctation, and shape of pronotum was observed in all studied populations.