Nalassus (Caucasonotus), Nabozhenko, 2000

Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Gagarina, Ludmila V. & Chigray, Ivan A., 2022, A New Nalassus Mulsant, 1854 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) From Transcaucasia With A Key To Species From The Greater Caucasus And Notes On The Taxonomy, Distribution, Bionomics And Trophic Relations, Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 68 (2), pp. 119-158 : 126-138

Subgenus Caucasonotus Nabozhenko, 2000

Species of the subgenus are widely distributed in forests and alpine meadows of the Greater Caucasus. Only some populations of Nalassus diteras and N. colchicus occur in the Lesser Caucasus.

Nalassus (Caucasonotus) adriani ( Reitter, 1922)

( Fig. 5 )

Distribution. This species is known only from the southern part of the Klukhor pass in Abkhazia, where it inhabits stony alpine meadows.

Nalassus (Caucasonotus) alanicus ( Nabozhenko, 2000)

( Fig. 6 )

Material. 1 m (DE MSU): Russia, North Ossetia-Alania, Ardon River basin, slopes opposite of Zintsar, 1100 m, meadows, 4.10.1984 (leg. S. K. Alexeev); 1 f (DE MSU): same, but 10.07.1984 ; 1 m (DE MSU): same, but 18.05.1985 ; 3 m, 4 f (DE MSU): Russia, North OssetiaAlania , Ardon River basin, left slope of Alagir canyon, slopes opposite of Nizhniy Unal, 10.10.1984 (leg. S. K. Alexeev); 1 m (DE MSU): Russia , North Ossetia-Alania, Ardon River basin, Skalisty Range, SW slopes above Zintsar, 950–1100 m, 3.04.1984 (leg. S. K. Alexeev); 1 m (DE MSU): Russia , North Ossetia-Alania, Pastbishchny Range , N of Verkhnyaya Kartsa, Agom natural area, 2200 m, meadow, 12.05.1984 (leg. S. K. Alexeev); 1 m (DE MSU): Russia , North Ossetia-Alania, Ardon River basin, W slopes of Khumarat-Khokh Mt., Shubi natural area, meadow in the forest, 1.04.1984 (leg. S. K. Alexeev); 1 m, 1 f (DE MSU): Russia , North Ossetia-Alania, near Nizhniy Unal , 2.09.1984 (leg. S. K. Alexeev) . 1 m ( PCMN): Russia , North Ossetia-Alania, Arkhon pass, piedmont of Dagov Mt., 42°50ʹ48.05ʺN, 44°13ʹ46.15ʺE, 2500 m, alpine meadows, 15.07.2020 (leg. M. V. Nabozhenko , D. G. Kasatkin, I. V. Shokhin, E. N. Terskov) .

Distribution. Russia: Alpine and mid-mountain meadows in North Ossetia-Alania.

Nalassus (Caucasonotus) avaricus Nabozhenko & Abdurakhmanov, 2007

( Fig. 7 )

Material. 1 m, 1 f ( PCEI): Dagestan; 1 m ( PCEI): Dagestan, Bogos Range , Khvarshi canyon, 20.06.1985 (G.M. Abdurakhmanov). Distribution. Russia: Dagestan (alpine meadows of the Avarskoe Koisu River basin in the upper reaches and Kurush in the south of the Republic) .

Nalassus (Caucasonotus) colchicus madlenae Nabozhenko, 2013

( Figs 8 , 9 )

= Nalassus kartvelius Nabozhenko, 2013 , syn. n.

Material ( PCMN) . 2 m: Georgia, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Nenskra River valley , 14.04.2016 (leg. E. A. Khachikov) ; 1 m: Georgia, Shida Kartli, Kaspi, Lekhura River valley , 17.04.2016 (leg. E. A. Khachikov) ; 4 m, 3 f: Georgia, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, between Kveda Vedi and Zeda Vedi , 14.04.2016 (leg. E. A. Khachikov) ; 1 m, 2 f: Georgia, Imereti, Khvamli Mt. , 20.04.2016 (leg. E. A. Khachikov) ; 9 m, 4 f: Georgia, Racha Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Nikortsminda , 25.04.2016 (leg. E. A. Khachikov) ; 2 m: Georgia, Racha Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Grismintekhi , 25.04.2016 (leg. E. A. Khachikov) .

Taxonomic notes. Nalassus kartvelius was described as a good species from the Racha historical region of Georgia, but later it was interpreted as a subspecies of N. svaneticus ( NABOZHENKO 2020) . Nalassus kartvelius is indeed externally similar to N. svaneticus . However, the first co-author did not take into account a very important character in the structure of the eyes, which is very stable at the species level: N. svaneticus has small and weakly convex eyes, while N. kartvelius has large and moderately convex eyes. In addition, we found, after a more careful comparative morphological analysis, that N. svaneticus also differs in another set of characters from the population described as N. kartvelius : the pubescent head (males and females), setated elytral interstriae (only males) and triangular scutellar shield (males and females). As a result, N. kartvelius cannot be interpreted as a subspecies of N. svaneticus . The structure of the male genitalia has little differences in the Caucasian Nalassus , even from different subgenera, so these structures are difficult to use for diagnostics. We received a lot of material from Georgia from our colleague Eduard Khachikov, who collected a good series of N. сolchicus madlenae from different regions of Northern Georgia. This allowed us to identify variability in colouration from bronze and bronze-green with a metallic sheen (as in typical specimens of N. colchicus madlenae ) to brown with the reddish-brown pronotum in males (as in the population described as N. kartvelius ). Colouration with a metallic sheen is typical for forest Caucasonotus , and without a metallic sheen for the alpine species of the subgenus. This pattern is very clearly revealed among all species of the subgenus, except for N. colchicus madlenae , where we found two different types of integument even in one population. Given the foregoing, the first author corrects his mistake and proposes the following synonymy: Nalassus colchicus madlenae Nabozhenko, 2013 = Nalassus kartvelius Nabozhenko, 2013 , syn. n.

Distribution. This subspecies is widely distributed in dark coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests of the southern part of the Greater Caucasus in Georgia. The nominotypical species occur in the Lesser Caucasus in the Adzharia region of Georgia.

Nalassus (Caucasonotus) diteras (Allard, 1876)

( Fig. 10 )

Material. 1 m (DE MSU): Russia, North Ossetia-Alania, S slope of Tsey Range, Pinus with meadows, 24.10.1985 (leg. S. K. Alexeev); 2 m (DE MSU): same, but 10.07.1985; 1 f (DE MSU): 1 f (DE MSU): Russia, North Ossetia-Alania, Elkhotovo, near Bekan Lake, 3.06.1986 (leg. S. K. Alexeev); 1 m (DE MSU): Russia, North Ossetia-Alania, Skalisty Range, Kariukhokh Mts., Kallon Mt., 2300 m, subalpine meadow, 12.07.1985 (leg. S. K. Alexeev); 2 m (DE MSU): Russia, North Ossetia-Alania, Kasarsky canyon, Uiltsa natural area, 1500 m, meadow, 31.05.1985 (leg. S. K. Alexeev); 1 f (DE MSU): same, but, 14.09.1988; 1 f (DE MSU): Russia, North Ossetia-Alania, Ardon River basin, 2 km S of Alagir, Duraftuan Mt., 800 m, Fagus forest, 25.07.1984 (leg. S. K. Alexeev); 1 m, 1 f (DE MSU): Russia, North Ossetia-Alania, Ardon River basin, southern outskirts of Alagir, left terrace of Ardon River, meadow, 650 m, 22.06.1984; 1 f ( PCMN): Russia, North Ossetia-Alania, 1 m ( PCMN): Russia, North Ossetia-Alania, Arkhon pass, piedmont of Dagov Mt., 42°50ʹ48.22ʺN, 44°13ʹ27.55ʺE, 2400 m, subalpine meadow with Betula and Pinus , 15.07.2020 (leg. M. V. Nabozhenko, D. G. Kasatkin, I. V. Shokhin, E. N. Terskov); 1 m, 1 f ( PCMN): Russia, Dagestan, Tabasaran Distr., W of Gurkhun, 42°00ʹ33.97ʺN, 47°53ʹ41.35ʺE, 1170 m, 11.05.2008 (leg. M. V. & S. V. Naboz - henko, A. K. Teymurov); 1 f ( PCMN): Russia, Dagestan, Levashi Distr., near Tsudakhar, above high mountain botanical garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 42°27ʹ55.21ʺN, 47°20ʹ31.86ʺE, 1295 m, meadows, rocks, 13.07.2021 (M. V. Nabozhenko, I. A. Chigray). 1 f ( HNHM): Georgia, Kazbegi, 1700 m, 13– 18.07.1990 (leg. D. Szalóki).

Distribution in the Greater Caucasus. Widely distributed in all regions of the Greater Caucasus, usually on subalpine meadows (but can be found in Fagus forests), except for the Stavropol Region of Russia.

Nalassus (Caucasonotus) dombaicus ( Nabozhenko, 2000)

( Fig. 11 )

Material. 1 f ( PCMN): Russia, Karachay-Cherkessia, Teberdinsky Natural Reserve, Semenov-Bashi Mt. , 43°18ʹ55.13ʺN, 41°33ʹ52.35ʺE, 2550 m, alpine meadows, rocks, 9.07.2020 (M. V. Nabozhenko, I. V. Shokhin) .

Distribution. Russia (Karachay-Cherkessia), Abkhazia (Lakhta Range). Alpine meadows from 2400 to 3200 m.

Nalassus (Caucasonotus) ludmilae Nabozhenko, 2001

( Fig. 12 )

Material. 1 m ( HNHM): Abkhazia, Bzyb fl., 26.05.1975 (leg. K. Székely); 4 m ( ZIN, PCMN): Abkhazia, Lashipse River valley above Ritsa Lake , 43°29ʹ10.93ʺN, 40°37ʹ21.05ʺE, on Abies nordmanniana , 24.05.2004 (leg. local collectors) .

Distribution. Abkhazia, dark coniferous and mixed forests (Bzyb River valley and tributaries).

Nalassus (Caucasonotus) negrobovi Nabozhenko , sp. n.

( Fig. 13 )

Type material ( ZIN). Holotype (m) and paratype (f) with labels: “N Caucasus, Abkhazia, Atshibakh Mt. R. 43°17ʹ08ʺN, 41°29ʹ07ʺE, 1930 m – 43°25ʹ17ʺN, 40°35ʹ37ʺE, 2215 m ”, “ 20–24.VII.2016. D. S. Vakhromov, V. A. Gulymanova, O. A. Minnikov, D. Yu. Skokov leg.”

Description. Male. Body robust, bare, black, dull. Measurements: Y – 1.5; PH – 1.66; PwPl – 1.36; ElEw – 1.5; EHw – 2.05; EPw – 1.24; EPl – 2.54.

Head. Head widest at eye level. Eyes moderately large, convex. Anterior margin of epistoma straight, with eight marginal and two discal chaetae. Lateral margin of head sinu- ate between epistoma and gena. Lateral margin of genae strongly rounded in basal third and straight in apical two thirds. Punctation of head dorsally moderately coarse and dense, uneven: punctures coarser and denser at middle of frons (puncture diameter subequal to distance between punctures) and finer and sparser in basal part, on epistoma and genae. Ventral temple grooves (extending from eyes) well expressed. Ventral side of epicranium holotype, dorsally; D = m, head and pronotum, frontal view; E = m, the same, dorsal view; F = m, the same, dorso-lateral view; G = m, abdominal ventrite 1 in middle, dorso-lateral view; H = m, abdomen with coarse and dense punctation and wrinkles around mouthparts and fine sparse punctation on other surface. Antennae moderately long, with two distal antennomeres extending beyond base of pronotum. Antennae thickened. Widest antennomeres are 8 and 9. An - tennomeres 4–7 subcylindrical. Ratio of length / width of antennomeres 2–11: 1.9/1.6, 4/1.6, 3/1.8, 2.8/2, 3.1/2.2, 3/2.2, 3/2.5, 2.6/2.5, 2.5/2.4, 3/2.1.

Prothorax. Pronotum transverse, widest little behind middle. Lateral margins of pronotum regularly rounded, slightly undulate. Anterior margin weakly rounded, base bisinuate, moderately rounded at middle. Antero-lateral corners strongly projected, acute with rounded apex; postero-lateral corners obtuse, pointed at apex. Lateral margins and deagus, ventrally; H = the same, laterally; I = spiculum gastrale base beaded (bead at middle of base and in basal third of lateral margins thicker); anterior margin with interrupted bead at middle. Disc of pronotum moderately convex, weakly and narrowly flattened only near corners; punctation of disc moderately sparse and fine (puncture diameter much shorter, than interpuncture distance). Prothoracic hypomera with irregular coarse wrinkles, lateral margins flattened only near corners. Prosternum with fine and sparse punctation and transverse fine wrinkles. Prosternal process bare, shine, smooth, not beaded, weakly convex.

Pterothorax. Elytra widest at middle, lateral margins slightly emarginate in basal 1/5. Punctures in striae connected by furrows. Interstriae slightly convex, with very sparse and very fine punctation and smoothed transverse wrinkles only in basal quarter. Mes- oventrite with coarse and dense punctation in anterior part and sparse and fine punctation between mesocoxae. Mesepisterna, mesepimera, metepisterna and metaventrite with fine and sparse punctation. Metaventrite bare.

Legs. Trochanters bare, only with one long sensillum. Femora covered with sparse short setae. Tibiae straight, denser pubescent, especially on distal inner side. Protarsi not wider than in female, but more slender.

Abdomen. Abdominal ventrites finely and sparsely punctate; ventrite 1 with much coarser punctation at middle and ^-shaped hair brush (setae come from these coarse punctures); ventrite 5 completely beaded at apex and denser punctate. Aedeagus typical for Nalassus , weakly sclerotized, with laterally compressed keel at apex of parameres; median lobe baculi wide, connected in middle. Spiculum gastrale with thin rods and common stem.

Body length 8.5 mm, width 3.7 mm.

Female. Body more robust. Measurements: PH – 1.66; PwPl – 1.46; ElEw – 1.45; EHw – 2; EPw – 1.2; EPl – 2.58. Antennae shorter; middle antennomeres not widened, antennae regularly widened from proximal to distal part, widest antennomeres 9–11. Disc of pronotum narrowly and completely flattened along lateral margins, with two foveae at middle. Legs stronger, all parts shorter, than in male. Body length 9.3 mm, width 4 mm.

Etymology. This new species is named in honour of Oleg Pavlovich Negrobov (1941– 2021), a famous entomologist and teacher of many dipterologists ( NARTSHUK et al. 2021).

Comparative diagnosis. The new species belongs to the alpine subgroup of the subgenus Caucasonotus Nabozhenko, 2000 having rounded apex of anterolateral corners of pronotum ( N. dombaicus , N. alanicus , N. adriani ), but differs from three mentioned species by larger and more convex eyes (Y = 1.5 in the new species and 1.34–1.43 in other three species). Nalassus negrobovi sp. n. is externally very similar to N. dombaicus by the black body and connected strial punctures on elytra, but differs from the latter by the following additional characters: lateral sides of pronotal disc and prothoracic hypomera are narrowly weakly flattened only near corners (entirely flattened in N. dombaicus ), punctation of interstriae very fine and sparse, weakly visible (coarser and well expressed in N. dombaicus ); male antennomeres 4–8 are thickened, the widest ones are the 8th and 9th (not thickened in N. dombaicus , widest are antennomeres 9–11); female tarsomeres thicker and shorter, protarsomer 5 1.33 times as long as protarsomeres 1–4 together ( N. dombaicus : tarsomeres thinner and longer, protarsomer 5 subequal to the length of 1–4 ones together). The new species differs from N. alanicus by a black body, male antennomeres 4–8 are thickened, only one hair brush on the male abdominal ventrite 1 and strial punctures connected by furrow ( N. alanicus : body brown, male middle antennomeres simple, not thickened, abdominal ventrites 1 and 2 with hair brush at the middle, strial punctures not connected by furrow). Nalassus adriani differs from the new species by brown, more elongated body, much shorter and thick- er antennomeres 3–8 and widely flattened lateral sides of the pronotal disc.

Figures

Fig. 5. N. adriani, habitus, details of structure. A = m, dorsally; B = m, ventrally; C = f, dorsally; D = m, antenna; E = m, head and pronotum; F = m, abdomen

Fig. 6. N. alanicus, habitus, details of structure. A = m, dorsally; B = m, ventrally; C = f, dorsally; D = m, antenna; E = m, head and pronotum; F = m, abdomen

Fig. 7. N. avaricus, habitus, details of structure. A = m, holotype, dorsally; B = m, dorsally; C = f, dorsally; D = m, head; E = m, head and pronotum; F = m, abdomen

Fig. 8. N. colchicus madlenae, habitus, details of structure. A = m, dorsally; B = m, ventrally; C = f, dorsally; D = m, abdomen; E = m, head and pronotum

Fig. 9. N. colchicus madlenae, paratypes of N. kartvelius, syn. n. habitus, details of structure. A = m, dorsally; B = m, ventrally; C = f, dorsally; D = m, head; E = m, elytral interstriae; F = m, head and pronotum; G = m, scutellar shield; H = m, abdomen

Fig. 10. N. diteras, habitus, details of structure. A = m, dorsally; B = m, ventrally; C = f, dorsally; D = m, abdomen; E = m, head and pronotum

Fig. 11. N. dombaicus, habitus, details of structure. A = m, dorsally; B = m, ventrally; C = f, dorsally; D = m, antenna; E = m, head and pronotum; F = m, abdomen

Fig. 12. N. ludmilae, habitus, details of structure. A = m, dorsally; B = m, ventrally; C = f,

Fig. 13. N. negrobovi, sp. n., habitus, details of structure. A = m, dorsally; B = m, ventrally; C = f, dorsally; D = m, antenna; E = m, head and pronotum; F = m, abdomen; G = m, ae-