Laemostenus (Laemostenus) quadricollis (REDTENBACHER, 1843)

Casale, A., D. W & P, Antalya, 2012, New or little known Laemostenus species from the Near and Middle East (Coleoptera, Carabidae: Sphodrini), Linzer biologische Beiträge 44 (2), pp. 1111-1127 : 1116-1117

Key to species of Laemostenus (Laemostenus) quadricollis species group

1 Elytral intervals very convex, in most individuals carinate in the middle. Body wide, depressed; colour black, elytra bluish or blue-violet. Relatively large species (L: 15-17 mm). Range: SE Anatolia, Syria, Lebanon, Israel........... (L.) parallelocollis (REICHE 1855)

- Elytral intervals flat or slightly convex. Dorsal surface black, or reddish brown, or blue-violet...........................................................................................................................2

2 Head and pronotum with deep transversal wrinkles; dorsal surface violet, markedly sericeous. Range: Turkey, S Anatolia, Western Toros chain ................ L. (L.) croyi nov.sp.

- Head and pronotum without deep transversal wrinkles.......................................................3

3 Eyes large, about as long as tempora, slightly prominent; tempora moderately swollen. Pigmented or slightly depigmented species........................................................................4

- Eyes markedly reduced in size, as long as 1/2 or 1/3 of tempora, moved forward; head elongate, tempora parallel-sided. Markedly depigmented, reddish brown subterranean species.................................................................................................................................6

4 Dorsal surface reddish brown, depigmented; elytra darker, with slight bluish reflection. Tarsal claws with almost vanished denticulation on the internal side. Range: Egypt (Sinai)...................................................................... L. (L.) aegyptiacus SCHATZMAYR 1936

- Body dark brown or blackish, fully pigmented. Tarsal claws with distinct denticulation on the internal side of the basal half....................................................................................5

5 Elytra dull, moderately sericeous, with bluish or violet reflection; pronotum subquadrate. Range: Turkey (SE Anatolia), Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel.............................. ....................................................... L. (L.) quadricollis (REDTENBACHER 1843) (sensu lato)

- Elytra shiny, black, not sericeous; pronotum elongate, sub-rectangular. Range: Iran (Luristan)............................................................................. L. (L.) luristanus CASALE 1988

6 Elytral striae almost smooth. Range: Turkey, SE Anatolia (Antakya: Nur Dağ). ................ ................................................................................................... L. (L.) heinzi CASALE 1988

- Elytral striae distinctly punctate..........................................................................................7

7 Elytral disc dark reddish; elytra markedly elongate, parallel sided; elytral intervals subconvex. Tarsal claws with almost lacking denticulation on the internal side in the basal half. Range: Israel, Mount Hermon................................ L. (L.) antonrichteri CASALE 1988

- Elytral disc darker, brownish with slight bluish-violet reflection; elytra short, ovate; elytral intervals flat. Tarsal claws with reduced but evident denticulation on the internal side in the basal half. Range: Lebanon............................ L. (L.) phoenicius nov.sp.