Pterostichus (Oreoplatysma) colchicus ( CHAUDOIR 1850)

Guéorguiev, B., 2010, The " colchicus " group of Pterostichus (Coleoptera, Carabidae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 42 (1), pp. 659-669 : 661

Pterostichus (Oreoplatysma) colchicus ( CHAUDOIR 1850) ( Figs 1-5 )

Feronia colchica CHAUDOIR 1850: 137.

T y p e m a t e r i a l 1 syntype (lectotype by present designation), relatively well preserved (only segments 6-11 of left antenna and segments 2-11 of right antenna missing), and without attached label under. Close to the specimen, the following handwritten label is pinned on the bottom of box: " colchica Chaud. Monts Taurus 48. Nordman." (MNHN, "Collection Chaudoir", box no 216 " Argutor "). As the original description does not implies that there are one or more syntypes, a lectotype by inference of " holotype " for this species is designated following Article 74.6. of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature ( ICZN 1999).

T y p e l o c a l i t y. " Adjara "( CHAUDOIR 1850: 78). As far as the choice of type locality was based on a presumption of Chaudoir, we have doubt about the real place of finding the holotype and thus about the actual distribution of this species. In the last paragraph of the description, CHAUDOIR (1850: 78) write: "M. de Normann l’a rapportée de son voyage en Abkhasie, en Mingrélie et dans le Gouriel; je presume qu’il l’a trouvé sur le plateau de l’Adjara, car évidemment un insecte alpin.". The supposition for inaccurate type locality is also supported by the label data of the syntype (e.g. "Monts Taurus…") and by data of the morphology and distribution of the related taxa; see below.

M a l e g e n i t a l i a. Median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view ( Figs 1-2 ) with ostium deflected to left; apical and basal parts equal in length, apical one with slanting dorsal and straight ventral margin, so that apex became pointed at tip; basal part with strongly developed and prominent ventral process; internal sac in apical position inside, with single strongly chitinised piece (visible in left lateral position). Apex of median lobe dorsally ( Fig. 3 ) with tip deflected to left. Left paramere (apical part broken) ( Figs 4-5 ) with apical and basal parts bent each other almost at right angle.

After drawing, the genitalia were placed in Euparal on the same label on which the specimen is glued.

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 scanty pubescence on the distal part of left antennomere 3, dense and continuous punctuation on the basal part of pronotum (which also prolongs forward along the lateral margins and reaches the anterior part of pronotum), absence of medial setiferous punctures on the hind coxae, glabrous ventral side of onychium, and presumable sickle-shaped left paramere demonstrate that this species belongs to Oreoplatysma , and do not to Cryobius . The following transfer is proposed: Pterostichus (Oreoplatysma) colchicus ( CHAUDOIR 1850) , new assignment of Pterostichus (Cryobius) colchicus ( CHAUDOIR 1850) .

Details in the external morphology and morphology of both the aedeagus and of the left paramere suppose that this species is allied to several representatives of the group " koenigi ", like P. cecchiniae (JAKOBSON 1907) , P. rousianus KIRSCHENHOFER 1987 , and P. strasseri REITTER 1898 . But, according to the best of our knowledge, no Oreoplatysma species with pubescent distal part of antennomeres 3 lives in the territories south of the Caucasus Major (except P. colchicus and P. kadleci DVO ÁK 1995 ), and especially in the area of Adzaria. P. kadleci from the Kop Da i (NE Turkey) is distinct from P. colchicus in the very thin and long apex of aedeagus.

P. colchicus should be valid species, but further investigation looking for eventual synonymy between it and subsequently described species and for the true area of distribution is needed.

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

Figures

Figs 1-5: Feronia colchica CHAUDOIR, lectotype: Fig. (1) aedeagus, left lateral view; Fig. (2) aedeagus, right lateral view; Fig. (3) apex of aedeagus, dorsal view; Fig. (4) right paramere, internal view; Fig. (5) right paramere, external view. Scale bar 0.5 mm (1-5).