Geodromicus transversus Motschulsky, 1860

Shavrin, Alexey V., 2024, Review of the brevicollis group of the genus Geodromicus Redtenbacher, 1857 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Omaliinae: Anthophagini), Zootaxa 5468 (3), pp. 581-599 : 593-597

Geodromicus transversus Motschulsky, 1860

( Figs 6 , 18–24 )

Geodromus transversus Motschulsky, 1860: 550

Geodromicus globulicollis : Fauvel, 1871: 135, 136 [= 1872: 109, 110]; Bernhauer & Schubert, 1910: 76, Jakobson 1910: 461

Neogeodromicus transversus : Bordoni, 1993: 158

Trichodromeus transversus : Zerche 1992: 107; Herman 2001: 374, Smetana 2004: 252, Schülke & Smetana 2015: 326, Khachikov et al. 2021: 250

<?> Geodromicus aff. transversus : Khachikov & Iljina 2011: 127

Geodromicus (Brachydromicus) transversus : Khachikov 1998: 8

Geodromus flavipes Motschulsky, 1860: 551 syn. n.

Anthophagus globulicollis : Gemminger & Harold 1868: 658; Fauvel 1869: 493, Jakobson 1910: 461

Neogeodromicus flavipes : Bordoni 1993: 158

Trichodromeus flavipes : Zerche 1992: 107; Herman 2001: 373, Smetana 2004: 251, Schülke & Smetana 2015: 326, Khachikov et al. 2021: 250

Geodromicus (Brachydromicus) flavipes : Khachikov 1998: 8

Type material examined. Lectotype of Geodromus transversus Motschulsky, 1860 ♂ (both antennomeres 2–11 and hind right leg missing; dissected prior to the present study; aedeagus in Canada balsam was pinned under the beetle): ‘Alp. | Turchetia’ <handwritten>, ‘LECTOTYPUS’ <pink printed label with black thin margins>, [large white card with round plastic, without details of the body], ‘ Lectotypus ♂ | Geodromicus | transversus Mot. | Bordoni des.1989’ <red handwritten label made by V.I. Gusarov>, ‘ Neogeodromicus [handwritten] | transversus (Mot.) [handwritten] | det. Bordoni 1989’ <printed>, ‘ Geodromicus | transversus Motsch. | V.I. Gusarov det. 199[printed]4’ <handwritten>, ‘ Geodromicus | transversus | Motschulsky, 1860 | Shavrin A.V. det. 2014’ <printed> ( ZMM). Paralectotypes of Geodromus transversus Motschulsky, 1860: 1 ♂ (head and pronotum missing), 2 ♀♀ (one female without left middle leg): ‘Alp. Turchet’ <pink label, handwritten in black Indian ink>, ‘transversus’ <handwritten in black Indian ink>, ‘ Geodromus | transversus Motsc. | Alp. Cauc.Turchetia’ <large label, with black margins, handwritten in black Indian ink> ‘ Paralectotypus | Geodromicus | transversus Mot. | Bordoni des. 1989’ <red handwritten label made by V.I. Gusarov>, ‘ Neogeodromicus [handwritten] | transversus (Mot.) [handwritten] | det. Bordoni 1989’ <printed>, ‘ Geodromicus | transversus Motsch. | V.I. Gusarov det. 199[printed]4’ <handwritten> ( ZMM); 1 ♀: ‘Alp. Turchet’ <pink label, handwritten in black Indian ink>, ‘ Paralectotypus | Geodromicus | transversus Mot. | Bordoni des. 1989’ <red handwritten label made by V.I. Gusarov>, ‘ Neogeodromicus [handwritten] | transversus (Mot.) [handwritten] | det. Bordoni 1989’ <printed>, ‘ Geodromicus | transversus Motsch. | V.I. Gusarov det. 199[printed]4’ <handwritten> ( ZMM); 1 ♀ (left antenna and right antennomeres 7–11 missing): ‘transversus | m.’ <handwritten in black Indian ink>, ‘246?’ <handwritten in black Indian ink>, ‘ Paralectotypus | Geodromicus | transversus Mot. | Bordoni des. 1989’ <red handwritten label made by V.I. Gusarov>, ‘ Neogeodromicus [handwritten] | transversus (Mot.) [handwritten] | det. Bordoni 1989’ <printed>, ‘ Geodromicus | transversus Motsch. | V.I. Gusarov det. 199[printed]4’ <handwritten> ( ZMM). All paralectotypes with additional printed label: ‘ Geodromicus | transversus | Motschulsky, 1860 | Shavrin A.V. det. 2014’.

Lectotype of Geodromus flavipes Motschulsky, 1860 ♂ (dissected prior to the present study; aedeagus in Canada balsam was pinned under the beetle): ‘Alp. Cauc.’ <handwritten>, ‘LECTOTYPUS’ <pink printed label with black thin margins>, [large white card with round plastic, without details of the body], [large white card with round plastic, without details of the body], ‘ Lectotypus ♂ | Geodromicus | flavipes Mot. | Bordoni des.1989’ <red handwritten label made by V.I. Gusarov>, ‘ Neogeodromicus [handwritten] | flavipes (Mot.) [handwritten] | det. Bordoni 1989’ <printed>, ‘ Geodromicus | flavipes Motsch. | V.I. Gusarov det. 199[printed]4’ <handwritten>, ‘ Geodromicus | flavipes | Motschulsky, 1860 | Shavrin A.V. det. 2014’.

Paralectotypes of Geodromus flavipes Motschulsky, 1860: 1 ♂ (dissected prior to the present study; aedeagus and apical abdominal segments in Canada balsam was pinned under the beetle), 1 ♀: [empty long original transparent card], ‘Alp. Cauc’ <pink label, handwritten in black Indian ink>, ‘ Geodromus | flavipes | Motsch. | Alp. Cauc.’ <handwritten in black Indian ink>, ‘ Paralectotypus ♂ | Geodromicus | flavipes Mot. | Bordoni des.1989’ <two similar red labels; handwritten by V.I. Gusarov>, ‘ Neogeodromicus [handwritten] | transversus (Mot.) [handwritten] | det. Bordoni 1989’ <two similar labels, printed>, ‘ Geodromicus | flavipes Motsch. | V.I. Gusarov det. 199[printed]4’ <handwritten> ( ZMM). All paralectotypes with additional printed label: ‘ Geodromicus | transversus | Motschulsky, 1860 | Shavrin A.V. det. 2014’ <printed> ( ZMM).

[One female of G. flavipes was labeled as paralectotype, but this specimen belongs to the genus Lesteva : L. (s.str.) sp. Labels of this specimen are: ‘Daghestan’ <pink, handwritten>, ‘rufipes’ <handwritten in black Indian ink>, ‘248.’ <handwritten in black Indian ink>,‘? ♀ ’ <handwritten>, ‘ Paralectotypus ♂ | Geodromicus | flavipes Mot. | Bordoni des.1989’ <red label handwritten by V.I. Gusarov>, ‘ Neogeodromicus [handwritten] | transversus (Mot.) [handwritten] | det. Bordoni 1989’ <printed>, ‘ Lesteva ♀ | sp. | V.I. Gusarov det. 1994’ <handwritten> ( ZMM).]

Additional material examined. RUSSIA: KRASNODAR TERRITORY: 2 ♂♂: Sochi District. Krasnaya Polyana. 1200 m a.s.l. 25.06.2002. V. Filippov leg. (cSh); 1 ♂, 1 ♀: Achishkno Mts. 25.07.1996. P.V. Romantsov leg. (cSh); 1 ♂: Pseashkha Pass. 2000 m a.s.l., under stones. 03.08.1994. A. Solodovnikov leg. ( ZMUC); 1 ♂: NW slope of Pseakhsha Mts. near north and south Pseakhsha. 2400 m a.s.l., under stones. 05.08.1994. A. Solodovnikov leg. ( ZMUC); 4 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀: Lagonaki Plateau. 20.07.1991. E.A. Khachikov leg. (cKh, cSh); 2 ♂♂: same data, near snow field. 28.06.1996 (cSh); STAVROPOL AREA: 1 ♂, 1 ♀: Teberda State Reserve, Kizgich Canyon near Arkhyz. 1400 m a.s.l., swamp with Carex spp. , Juncus sp. A .B. Ryvkin leg. (cSh); ADYGEA: 1 ♂: Lagonaki Plateau, karst near Psenodakh Lake. 2000–2200 m a.s.l., alpica, under stones. 29.08.1994. A. Solodovnikov leg. (cSh); 1 ♀: same Plateau, Oshten Mt. 07– 10.08.1992. E.A. Khachikov leg. (cSh); 5 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀: same data. 28.06.1996 (cKh, cSh); KARACHAY-CHERKESSIA: 3 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀: Teberda Nature Reserve, Alibek Gorge. 10.07.1996. E.A. Khachikov leg. (cKh, сSh); 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀: same data, Dvuyazychnyi Glacier. 12.07.1996 (cKh, cSh); 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀: same Nature Reserve, Malaya Khatipara Mt. Alpic meadows, traps. 11.08– 15.08.2007. F.A. Martynovchenko leg. (cSh); 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀: same data. 2800 m a.s.l. 22– 23.07.2007.A.S. Prosvirov leg. (cSh); 1 ♀: about 36 km from Teberdinskiy Nature Reserve, Dombai Mt. 2900–3000 m a.s.l., alpica. 29.07.2007. A.S. Prosvirov leg. (cSh); 2 ♂♂: Teberda, Khatipara Pass. 15.07.1962. A.L. Tichomirova leg. ( ZMM); 4 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀: camp near Bolshaya Khatipara Mt. Alpica, under stones on a slope near camp. 04.07.2007. A.S. Prosvirov leg. (cSh); 2 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀: same Gorge, road to Dombai. 14.07.1996. E.A. Khachikov leg. (cKh, cSh); 2 ♂♂: same Gorge, environs of Dombai. 17.07.1994. Yu.G. Arzanov & I.V. Shokhin leg. (cKh, cSh); 1 ♂, 4 ♀♀: Dombai, Musa-Lchitara Mt., 3000 m a.s.l., under stones. 26.07.2008. F.V. Ivanov leg. (cSh); 2 ♂♂: 4–5 km NE of Dombai, SW slopes of Musat-Cheri Range, 43°17.254´N 41°40.919´E. 3000 m a.s.l., alpine zone, under stones near snow field. 25.07.2011. A. Solodovnikov leg. ( ZMUC); 1 ♂: upper flow of Beskes River. 2900 a.s.l. 14.08.1997. I.A. Solodovnikov leg. ( NMW); 1 ♀: Tumbashi tract. 15.09.1991. 2000 m a.s.l., stream. V. Grebennikov leg. (cSh); 1 ♂, 1 ♀: Epchik Pass. 06.1992. Yu.G. Arzanov leg. (cKh); 10 ♂, 10 ♀♀: upper flow of Dukka R., Dukka Mt. Pass. 17.07.1996. E.A. Khachikov leg. (cKh, cSh); 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀: env. Nizhyaya Teberda, bank of Azchek River. 2600–2700 m a.s.l. 01.08.2007. A.S. Prosvirov leg. (cSh); 2 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀: same data. 2600–2800 m a.s.l. 26.07.2007. A.S. Prosvirov leg. (cSh); 1 ♂, 1 ♀: env. of Nizhnyaya Teberda, bank of Azgek R. 2600–2700 m a.s.l. 02.08.2007. A.S. Prosvirov leg. (cSh); 1 ♀: upper flow of Burnaya R. 04.08.1995. E.A. Khachikov leg. (cSh); 1 ♂: Daut Gorge. 11.07.1994. Shokhin I. leg. (cSh); 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀: Arkasara Mts. environs of Pkhiya. 14.08.1996. E.A. Khachikov leg. (cKh, cSh); KABARDINO-BALKARIA: 1 ♂: Bezenchuk, Cherek-Balkarskiy R. 11.08.1992. V. Grebennikov leg. (cKh); 2 ♂♂: upper reaches of Chechenskiy Gorge. 29.07– 07.08.1998. O.G. Brekhov leg. (cKh); NORTH OSSETIA-ALANIA: 4 ♂♂: Tsey Gorge. 19.09.1990. A. Klimenko leg. (cSh); 1 ♂: North Ossetia Nature Reserve, basin of Ardon River. 1982. S.K. Alekseev leg. ( ZMM); 1 ♂: basin of Ardon R., Tsei R. 2500 m a.s.l. 19.09.1990. A. Klimenko leg. (cSh); 1 ♂, 1 ♀: upper reaches of Fiagdon R., Khilak Gorge, alpic mountain path. 2800–3100 m a.s.l. 10– 13.07.1984. S.K. Alekseev leg. (cSh); 2 ♂♂: same data. 10.08.1984. S. Alexeev leg. ( ZMM); 1 ♂: Zaramag, Karmadon Gorge. 06.05.1999. Murashov leg. (cSh); DAGESTAN: 1 ♀: Kasan (camp). 2000 m a.s.l. 13.07.1998. E.V. Iljina leg. (cKh); 1 ♂: Bogos mts. 1500–3000 m a.s.l. 28.07.1994. E.V. Iljina leg. (cSh); 4 ♂♂, 1 ♀: env. Makhachkala S salt-marsh. 07.07.1996. E.V. Iljina leg. (cKh, cSh); 2 ♂♂: Knyukh Mts. 2000 m a.s.l. 10– 11.07.2004. E.V. Iljina leg. (cSh); 1 ♀: Tarki-Tau. 01.05.1998. E.V. Iljina leg. (cSh); 1 ♂, 4 ♀♀: upper flow of Chiragshay R., Alakhundag Mt. 3000 m a.s.l. 15.07.2006. E.V. Iljina leg. (cKh, cSh); GEORGIA: ABKHASIA: 1 ♀: NNW Sukhumi, Bzybskiy Mts., 1.75 km SSW Gudaut Pass, 43°16´50´´N 40°48´05´´E. 1495 m. 1200–1400 m a.s.l. A.S. Prosvirov leg. (cSh); 1 ♀: western part of Bzybskiy Mts., about 1 km NW Narpa. 2160–2200 m a.s.l., in flight. 29.07.2010. A.S. Prosvirov leg. (cSh); 1 ♂: northern slope of Bzybskiy Mts., 4 km NW Dzyshra. 1840–1850 m a.s.l. 04.08.2010. A.S. Prosvirov leg. (cSh); KHEVI: 2 ♀♀: ’Cauc[asus]. Centr. Kobi’, ’ Geodromicus globulicollis Mnnh. det. Roubal’ ( ZMM); SVANETI: 1 ♀: ‘Cauc. Svanetia Latpari 3090 m Dr. Veselý’ ( NMPC); 1♂: Latpari Pass. 11.08.1930. Bogatchov leg. ( ZMM); 1 ♂, 1 ♀: ‘CAUCASUS Svanetia [1]913 Dr. Veselý’ ( NMPC); ARMENIA: TAVUSH: 1 ♀: Dilijan Reserve, Akhnabat valley near Salakh. 1400–1500 m a.s.l., forest with Fagus , Taxus , Carpinus etc., in litter. 17.04.1983. S. Golovatch leg. ( ZMM); 1 ♀: ‘Caucasus. Armen.Geb. Leder Reitter’, ‘brevicolle Fauv. det. Luze’, ‘Geodr. globulicollis v. brevicolle Fvl. Coll. Reitter’ ( NHHM); REGION WITHOUT EXACT LOCALITY: 1 ♂: ‘Caucasus 4252 -5.’, ‘4252. macroelytron Fourcr.?’ ( ZMM).

Redescription. Measurements (n=100): HW: 0.65–0.85; HL: 0.47–0.63; OL: 0.15–0.17; TL: 0.12–0.15; AL (averaged): 2.30; PL: 0.52–0.78; PWmax: 0.78–1.07; PWmin: 0.64–0.80; ESL: 0.88–1.25; EW: 1.06–1.52; MTbL (averaged): 0.77; MTrL (averaged): 0.42 (MTrL 1–4: 0.22; MTrL 5: 0.20); AW: 1.08–1.62; AedL: 0.75–0.85; BL: 3.05–5.30.

Habitus as in Fig. 6 . Body brown to reddish-brown, usually with darker head and abdomen and paler elytra (some specimens with indistinct large yellowish spots in middle portion of each elytron); mouthparts, antennae and legs yellow-brown (antennomeres 1–2 or 1–3 sometimes paler); maxillary palpomeres 2 and 4, and tarsi yellowish. Head with irregular fine microsculpture: sparser, finer and transverse in middle, and denser, isodiametric or transverse on infraorbital portions (some specimens without visible meshes); neck with very dense and coarse isodiametric microreticulation; pronotum without or with very fine transverse or isodiametric microsculpture in middle portion; scutellum with very fine transverse meshes or without them.

Head 1.3 times as broad as long, with very deep and wide anterio-median depression, sometimes slightly narrowed and extended basad; interocellar depression deep and moderately narrow, separated from infraorbital portions by diagonally convergent latero-anteriad anteocellar foveae, reaching level of anterior margin of eyes. Distance between ocelli slightly shorter than distance between ocellus and posterior margin of eyes. Punctation small and sparse, finer and sometimes indistinct in middle between anteocellar foveae. Mediobasal portion between ocelli usually with dense irregular transverse elevations. Apical segment of maxillary palpus short, from basal portion gradually narrowed toward subacute apex. Antenna reaching apical third of elytra when reclined; antennomeres 4–7 slightly broader and longer than 3, 8–10 slightly broader than 7, apical antennomere 1.3–1.7 times as long as preceding segement.

Pronotum 1.3–1.5 times as broad as long, widest slightly in front of middle or in anterior third, gradually or sharply narrowed basad toward obtuse or subacute hind angles; laterobasal margins moderately short, widely concave; mediobasal depression shallow or very deep, oval or transverse; anterior and posterior margins distinctly concave in middle. Punctation about as that on head, but more regular, denser and sometimes larger and deeper, sparser in middle. Some specimens with irregular transverse elevations between punctures in front of basal margin.

Elytra 1.2 times as broad as long. Punctation about as that on pronotum, dense, usually finer in middle.

Abdomen slightly broader than elytra, with two large transverse tomentose spots in middle of abdominal tergite IV.

Male. Protarsomeres 1–4 wide. Apical margin of abdominal tergite VIII straight or rounded. Apical margin of abdominal sternite VIII concave. Aedeagus with wide basal part and very wide median lobe, gradually narrowed toward rounded apex; parameres narrow, slightly broadened apically, reaching or slightly exceeding apex of median lobe, with 2–3 moderately short apical and 1–2 preapical setae; parameral surface of median lobe distinctly elevated, usually with narrow sclerotized lateral edges; internal sac moderately short and narrow, with paired narrow elongate sclerotized structures in basal portion, with moderately long narrow flagellum between them ( Figs. 18, 20–22 ). Lateral aspect of the aedeagus as in Fig. 19 ; inflated internal sac as in Fig. 23 .

Female. Protarsomeres 1–4 moderately narrow. Apical margins of abdominal tergite VIII and sternite VIII rounded.

Comparative notes. Geodromicus transversus can be distinguished from other species of the brevicollis group by the shape of the slightly more transverse pronotum, with moderately short and widely concave laterobasal margins in front of hind angles, the distinctly broader median lobe and the morphology of the internal sac.

Distribution. The species is widely distributed in the Caucasus ( Fig. 24 ).

Bionomics. Specimens were collected at elevations from 1200 to 3100 m a.s.l. and were taken under stones, in gravel and litter near rivers and streams. Some specimens were collected in the subnival zone under stones near snow fields, occasionally near swamps and in flight.

Remarks. Geodromus transversus and G. flavipes were originally described based on an unspecified number of syntypes from “...des Alpes du Caucase en Touchétie”. Fauvel (1871 a [=1872]) regarded G. transversus as a synonym of Anthophagus globulicollis Mannerheim, 1830 (now synonym of G. plagiatus (Fabricius, 1798) , see details in Shavrin 2022a). Gemminger & Harold (1868) and Fauvel (1869) regarded G. flavipes as A. globulicollis too. Bordoni (1993) cited both species as valid taxa within the genus Neogeodromicus Bordoni, 1985 which was originally established for the Middle Asian N. ketmeniensis Bordoni, 1985 . Bordoni designated lectotypes for both species, briefly redescribed them, and provided figures of the aedeagi; the author had possibly overlooked Zerche (1992) who synonymized Neogeodromicus with Trichodromeus Luze, 1903 . Thus, Neogeodromicus transversus and N. flavipes were formally transferred to the latter genus. Based on the study of the type and additional material of G. transversus and G. flavipes , I found that these species undoubtedly belong to the brevicollis group of the genus Geodromicus . Species of the genus Trichodromeus which are widely distributed in Middle Asia and the Himalayan Region are completely different in the morphology of the habitus, mouthparts and the aedeagus (e.g. Zerche 1992, Shavrin 2021b). Based on the study of external and internal morphological features, I could not find sufficient differences between G. transversus and G. flavipes . Thus, I synonymize G. flavipes with G. transversus , the species which has page priority (page 550) in the same article ( Motschulsky 1860).

It is here recorded from Georgia and Armenia for the first time.

Figures

FIGURE 24. Distribution of Geodromicus transversus in the Caucasus. Black circles: material studied by author, white circles: previously published material not seen by author.

FIGURES 1–6. Habitus of Geodromicus: 1—G. brevicollis (Russia: Karachay-Cherkessia), 2—G. brevicollis (Turkey: Ardahan), 3—G. jarrigeanus (holotype), 4—G. ziganensis (holotype), 5—G. alborzensis (holotype), 6—G. transversus (Russia: Karachay-Cherkessia). Scale bar: 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 16–23. Aedeagus of Geodromicus alborzensis (Figs. 16–17: holotype) and G. transversus (Figs. 18–19: Russia, Krasnaya Polyana; Fig. 20: lectotype of G. transversus; Fig. 21: lectotype of G. flavipes; Fig. 22–23: Karachay-Cherkessia, Epchik Pass): 16, 18–22—parameral view, 17, 19—lateral view, 23—internal sac. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.