Lethrus (Mesolethrus) inermis Reitter, 1897

Shapovalov, Andrey M. & Bagaturov, Mikhail F., 2023, A review of the subgenus Mesolethrus Nikolajev, 2003 of the genus Lethrus Scopoli, 1777 (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae: Lethrinae) with description of a new species, Zootaxa 5351 (4), pp. 435-452 : 436-437

Lethrus (Mesolethrus) inermis Reitter, 1897

( Figs. 1–2 , 9–10, 22–23 , 32, 39 )

Lethrus (Microlethrus) inermis Reitter, 1897: 235 (original description, type locality: “Buchara: Kulab?” [= southestern Tajikistan, Khatlon Reg., Kulob?]); Lebedev 1912: 226 (list of species, key, distribution, aedeagus: Fig. 3 ); Semenov & Medvedev 1936: 80 (key, distribution, iconography: Tab. 8 Fig. 183, Tab. 10 Fig. 237).

Lethrus (s. str.) inermis: Nikolajev 1987: 46 (distribution).

Lethrus (Mesolethrus) inermis: Nikolajev 2003: 125 (key, characteristic, distribution: Fig. 90 Nr. 5, parameres: Fig. 91 Nr. 4–5, habitus: Fig. 92); Král & Nikolajev 2006: 94 (catalogue); Bagaturov & Nikolajev 2015: 312 (distribution); Nikolajev et al. 2016: 50 (catalogue); Bagaturov & Hillert 2023: 306 (aedeagus: Fig. 7 ).

Type material examined. None

Additional material examined. Uzbekistan. 1 ♀: Qashqadaryo Reg., Akrabat Pass [= Oqravot Dovon Pass , about 38°15’N, 66°50’E, ~ 1590 m a.s.l.], 2.v.1995, S. Ovchinnikov leg. ( SKPC); 1 ♀: Surxondaryo Reg., near Akmechet’ [= Oqmachit ] vill., Babatag Mt. Range , 20.v.1994, S. Ovchinnikov leg. ( SKPC); 1 ♂ 1 ♀: Surxondaryo Reg., 20 km W Ak-Mechet’ , Babatag Mt. Range , 26.iii.1998, A. Klimenko leg. ( ASPC); 3 ♀♀: same data ( MBPC); 2 ♂♂ 1 ♀: Babatag Mt. Range, Chagam , 21.iii.2001, O. Legezin leg. ( GNPC). Tajikistan. 1 ♂: Babatag Mt. Range , 12.iv.1960, I. Lindt leg. ( GNPC); 4 ♂♂: Khatlon Reg., Dahanakiik , 23.iii.2001, O. Legezin leg. ( GNPC); 2 ♂♂ 1 ♀♀: same locality and collector, 27.iv.2001 ( GNPC); 1 ♂: 12.iv.1975, G. Nikolajev leg. ( GNPC); 2 ♂♂ 1 ♀: same locality and collector, 19.iv.1975 ( GNPC); 1 ♂: Aktau Mt. Range above of Dahanakiik , 15.iii.1969, V. Mikhailov leg. ( GNPC); 1 ♂: Dushanbe env., 20.iii.1961, I. Lopatin leg. ( GNPC); 1 ♂: same data ( MBPC); 1 ♂: South of Gissar Mt. Range, N env. of Dushanbe , Gulpista , 17.iii.2008, h= 1100 m, O. Pak leg. ( MBPC); 4 ♂♂: Khatlon Reg., Nurek , 29.iv.1975, G. Nikolajev leg. ( GNPC); 2 ♂♂ 1 ♀: Khatlon Reg., Yavon , 14.iv.1977, G. Nikolajev leg. ( GNPC); 1 ♀: Khatlon Reg., Fayzobod, 20.iii.1955, Yu. Antonova leg. ( GNPC); 1 ♀: Khatlon Reg., Shahrinav, 5.v.1961, Sh. Baratov leg. ( GNPC); 1 ♂ 1 ♀: Khatlon Reg., Surkhu Mt. Range, Chormagzak [= Zardolu ] Pass [about 38°27’59.57”N 69°10’20.12”E, ~ 1587 m a.s.l.], 10.iv.1972, G. Nikolajev leg. ( GNPC); 1 ♀: Khatlon Reg., Surkhu Mt. Range, near Chormagzak [= Zardolu ] Pass, Kalaimalik [= Kalimirak], 12.iv.2007, 1600 m a.s.l., E. Ivanova leg. ( MBPC); 1 ♂ 1 ♀: same locality, but 28.iii.2008, O. Pak leg. ( MBPC); 1 ♂: Khatlon Reg., Pushta-Mazor [probably Pashtamazar , 38°20’15’’N 69°32’45’’E], Vakhsh Mt. Range , 9.v.1970, V. Mikhailov leg. ( GNPC).

Diagnosis. Generally coincides with the diagnosis of the species group (see above). Gena subrectangular, but with more or less arcuate anterior margin, laterally obliquely truncate, anterolateral and posterolateral angles usually distinct ( Figs. 1 , 32 ), less often anterolateral angle rounded ( Fig. 2 ); gena 2.1–2.6 times as large as eye width. Punctation of head and pronotum more or less coarse ( Fig. 2 ), but on the disc punctation sometimes relatively fine ( Fig. 1 ). Body length 12–21 mm.

Distribution. Southwestern Tajikistan and southeastern Uzbekistan, recorded from the following mountain ranges: Hissar, Karategin, Surkhu, Vakhsh, Babatag, Aktau, Aruktau, Vakhsh Karatau ( Nikolajev 2003). Known also from Oqravot Dovon Pass (westernmost locality) on the south of the Chakchar Mountain Range—southwestern spur of the Hissar Mountain Range (see map, Fig. 44 ). All records for Kyrgyzstan must be regarded as erroneous (see note below).

Ecology. The species inhabits foothills and mountains at altitudes from about 1000 to 1800 m. Activity of imago is recorded from March to late May. According to the studied material, L. inermis probably occurs sympatrically with L. elisae near the Oqravot Dovon Pass.

Note. The species has also been recorded for Kyrgyzstan in many works (e.g., Protzenko 1968, 1972, 1976; Nikolajev 1987, 2003; Král & Nikolajev 2006; Bagaturov & Nikolajev 2015; Nikolajev et al. 2016). Nevertheless, all these data were based on records by Protzenko (1968, 1972, 1976) from the southern part of the Fergana Valley in Kyrgyzstan —northern foothills of the Turkestan and Alai Mountain Ranges. The first record of L. inermis from Kyrgyzstan was published from environs of Katta-Taldyk ( Protzenko 1968), now Taldyk in Kara-Suu District of Osh Region, north slopes of Alai Mountain Range on about 2000 m a.s.l. In the next paper by Protzenko (1972) the species was recorded from the same territory “Alai [zoogeographical] subdistrict”. In the last work, Protzenko (1976) mentioned: “In our collection, there is [ L. inermis ] from the foothills of the Alai and Turkestan Mountain Ranges. The species inhabits foothill (adyrs [dry foothills with ephemeral plants, resembling “badlands”]) wormwood-ephemeral-saltwort belt (1000–1400 m up to sea level)”. However, the presence of L. inermis in the mentioned localities seems impossible, because Fergana Valley is strongly separated from the main range of the species in Tajikistan by the high mountains Zarafshan and Alai Mountain Ranges ( Fig. 44 ) with glaciers and peaks higher than 5000 metres. No specimens of L. inermis from Kyrgyzstan have been found either in ZIN (where some of Protzenko’s material is deposited in) or among identified specimens in Protzenko’s material in the Institute of Biology National Academy of Sciences of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek (D.A. Milko, personal communication, 2022). There are also no Kyrgyzstan specimens of L. inermis in the private collection of G.V. Nikolajev (Almaty, Kazakhstan). So, we consider the records of L. inermis from Kyrgyzstan published by Protzenko (1968, 1972, 1976) as erroneous, probably based on misidentifications of females of L. sulcipennis , common on this territory, or the later described L. shakhristanicus Nikolajev, 2003 .

Figures

FIGURE 44. Map of distribution Lethrus (Mesolethrus) species: 1, Tashsay env.; 2, south from Belovutsoy River; 3, Khujand; 4, Golbo; 5, 9 km S Ai-Kol; 6, Shahriston env.; 7, Zaamin env.; 8, 28 km SW Zaamin; 9, Sudzhina; 10, Mullabulak; 11, Asmansay; 12, Jangiqishlak env.; 13, 11 km southeast of Djush; 14, Samarkand; 15, 65 km on Samarkand to Qarshi road; 16, Qaynarbuloq; 17, Ruskishlak; 18, 30 km East to Kitab, Qashqadaryo Riv.; 19, Qamar; 20, Guldara; 21, Qarshi; 22, Gumbulok; 23, Okravot Pass; 24, Shurob; 25, Boysun; 26, 20 km W Oqmachit; 27, Chagam; 28, Oqmachit; 29, Shahrinav; 30, Dushanbe env.; 31, Dahanakiik; 32, Yavon; 33, Chormagzak Pass.; 34, Fayzobod; 35, Nurek; 36, Pashtamazar; 37, Kulob. 1–2, 7–8, 10–28 Uzbekistan; 4–5 Kyrgyzstan, 3, 6, 9, 29–37 Tajikistan. Red circles—localities of L. dyonini A. Shapovalov & Bagaturov, new species (1—type locality: Tashsay); circles with green colour—localities of L. microbuccis Ballion, 1871 (3—type locality: Khujand); circles with white colour—localities of L. shakhristanicus Nikolajev, 2003 (6—type locality: Shahriston env.); circles with blue colour—localities of L. nuratavicus Nikolajev, 1987 (11—type locality: Asmansay); circles with yellow colour— localities of L. elisae Nikolajev, 2001 (24—type locality: Shurob); circles with orange colour—localities of L. inermis Reitter, 1897 (37—type locality: Kulab?); orange asterisk—Kyrgyzstan, Taldyk (erroneous record of L. inermis from Protzenko 1968).

FIGURES 1–4. Lethrus (Mesolethrus) species, male, habitus. 1–2, L. inermis Reitter, 1897 (1—Dahanakiik; 2—20 km W Oqmachit); 3, L. shakhristanicus Nikolajev, 2003 (9 km S Ai-Kol); 4, L. nuratavicus Nikolajev, 1987 (28 km SW Zaamin).

FIGURES 9–31. Lethrus (Mesolethrus) species, males genitalia. 9–10, 22–23, L. inermis Reitter, 1897 (9–10—20 km W Oqmachit, 22–23—Pashtamazar); 11–12, 24, L. shakhristanicus Nikolajev, 2003 (9 km S Ai-Kol); 13–14, 25–27, L. nuratavicus Nikolajev, 1987 (28 km SW Zaamin); 15–16, 28, L. microbuccis Ballion, 1871 (Golbo env.); 15–16, 28, L. microbuccis Ballion, 1871 (Golbo env.); 17–18, 29, L. elisae Nikolajev, 2001 (Shurob); 19–21, 30–31, L. dyonini A. Shapovalov & Bagaturov, new species, paratypes (environs of Tashsay). 9–21 aedeagus (9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19–20—ventral view; 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21—lateral view), 22–31 sclerotized apex of endophallus (22, 24, 25, 28–30 dorsal view, 23, 26, 31—lateral view, 27—ventral view).

FIGURES 32–43. Lethrus (Mesolethrus) species. 32, 39, L. inermis Reitter, 1897 (Dahanakiik); 33, L. shakhristanicus Nikolajev, 2003 (9 km S Ai-Kol); 34, L. nuratavicus Nikolajev, 1987 (28 km SW Zaamin); 35, 40–42, L. microbuccis Ballion, 1871 (35, 41—Golbo env., 39—Mullabulak, 40—20 km S Guldara); 36, L. elisae Nikolajev, 2001 (Shurob); 37–38, 40–41, L. dyonini A. Shapovalov & Bagaturov, new species, paratypes (environs of Tashsay). 32–37 gena, 38 left mandible, 39 abdomen (lateral view), 40–41 abdomen and apices of elytra (antero-ventral view; 40—male, 41—female), 42–43 tuft of long erect setae on subapical ventrite (lateral view; 42—male, 43—female).

FIGURES 5–8. Lethrus (Mesolethrus) species, habitus. 5, L. microbuccis Ballion, 1871 (9 km S Ai-Kol); 6, L. elisae Nikolajev, 2001 (Shurob); 7–8, L. dyonini A. Shapovalov & Bagaturov, new species (environs of Tashsay), 7—holotype, 8—allotype. 5–7—males, 8—female.