Carabus (Neoplectes) szekelyi Retezár, 2011

Fominykh, Dmitriy D. & Zamotajlov, Alexandr S., 2016, Further contribution to the knowledge of Georgian species of the Carabus Linnaeus, 1758 subgenus Neoplectes Reitter, 1885, with description of a new subspecies of C. titarenkoi Zamotajlov & Fominykh, 2014 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Carabini), Zootaxa 4179 (3), pp. 561-599 : 567-568

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.

Figures

FIGURE 212. Habitat of Carabus szekelyi Retezár, S Ossetia, Ertzo lake env., 1800 m.

FIGURE 213. Habitat of Carabus szekelyi Retezár, S Ossetia, Ertzo lake env., 2100 m.

FIGURE 214. Habitat of Carabus szekelyi Retezár, Georgia, Usholta env., 1800 m.

FIGURES 62 – 69. Dorsal habitus of Carabus szekelyi Retezár: 62 – 65 — Dzhalobet env.; 66 – 69 — Nakerala env. Scale bar 10.0 mm.

FIGURES 70 – 76. Dorsal habitus of Carabus szekelyi Retezár: 70 – 72 — Ostatyqaw env.; 73 – 76 — Shkmeri env. Scale bar 10.0 mm.

FIGURES 77 – 84. Dorsal habitus of the Carabus subgenus Neoplectes Reitter: 11 – 77 – 80 — szekelyi Retezár, Itrapula env.; 81 – 84 — Carabus titarenkoi djanoliensis subsp. nov. Scale bar 10.0 mm.

FIGURES 169 – 174. Apical portion of aedeagus and fully inflated endophallus preparation of Carabus szekelyi Retezár, Dzhalobet env.: 169 – 171 — right lateral view; 172 – 174 — dorsolateral view. Scale bar 10.0 mm.

FIGURES 175 – 180. Apical portion of aedeagus and fully inflated endophallus preparation of Carabus szekelyi Retezár, Nakerala env.: 175 – 177 — right lateral view; 178 – 180 — dorsolateral view. Scale bar 10.0 mm.

FIGURES 181 – 186. Apical portion of aedeagus and fully inflated endophallus preparation of Carabus szekelyi Retezár, Ostatyqaw env.: 181 – 183 — right lateral view; 184 – 186 — dorsolateral view. Scale bar 10.0 mm.

FIGURES 187 – 192. Apical portion of aedeagus and fully inflated endophallus preparation of Carabus szekelyi Retezár, Shkmeri env.: 187 – 189 — right lateral view; 190 – 192 — dorsolateral view. Scale bar 10.0 mm.

FIGURES 193 – 196. Apical portion of aedeagus and fully inflated endophallus preparation of Carabus szekelyi Retezár, Itrapula env. env.: 193 – 194 — right lateral view; 195 – 196 — dorsolateral view. Scale bar 10.0 mm.