Turanium losi Karpinski , Plewa & Hilszczanski, 2021

Karpinski, Lech, Szczepanski, Wojciech T., Plewa, Radoslaw, Kruszelnicki, Lech, Koszela, Katarzyna & Hilszczanski, Jacek, 2021, The first molecular insight into the genus Turanium Baeckmann, 1922 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Callidiini) with a description of a new species from Middle Asia, Arthropod Systematics & amp; Phylogeny 79, pp. 465-484 : 465

Turanium losi Karpinski, Plewa & Hilszczanski sp. nov.

Figs 1A-E , 2A, B , 3A-C, G-I, M , 4A, B, F-H, K-M , 5A, B, E, G, K, M , 6B , 7A, B, G

Type material examined.

8 ♂♂ and 13 ♀♀. - Holotype: male (Figs 1A , 3A, B, G, H , 7A ): KYRGYZSTAN, Jalal-Abad Region [ Жалалабат облусу]: 4 km N of Arkit [ Аркит] (41.836; 71.954), 1480 m a.s.l., 17.06.2019, Prunus sp., ex larva: 14.01.2020, R. Plewa leg. (MIZ). - Paratypes. KYRGYZSTAN, Jalal-Abad Region [ Жалалабат облусу]: 4 km N of Arkit [ Аркит] (41.836; 71.954), 1480 m a.s.l., 5 ♂♂ and 9 ♀♀, 17.06.2019, Prunus sp. and Malus sp., ex larva: 14.11-24.12.2019 and 15.12.2020-02.02.2021 (probably younger larvae from originally inhabited material), Carpinus betulus , ex ovo (II generation): 07.07.2020, R. Plewa leg. (CRP, CJH, MIZ); 8 km N of Arkit [ Аркит] (41.871; 71.973), 1880 m a.s.l., 1 ♂ and 1 ♀, 12.06.2017, ex larva: 12.06.2017 (sic!), P. Hubeny leg. (CLK); 5 km E of Torkent [ Торкент] (41.849; 73.203), 990 m a.s.l., 1 ♀, 06.05.2018, K. Łoś leg. (CKL); 17 km E of Kara-Alma [ Кара-Алма] (41.253; 73.545), 1810 m a.s.l., 1 ♂, 20.06.2019, K. Łoś leg. (CKL); 5 km E of Kara-Alma [ Кара-Алма] (41.193; 73.392), 1620 m a.s.l., 2 ♀♀, 20.06.2019, J. Hilszczański leg. (CJH).

Description.

Morphology. Body relatively slender, strongly flattened dorsoventrally; BL in males: 10.5-14.0 mm (HT 12.0 mm), in females: 11.0-15.0 mm. Humeral width in males: 3.0-3.9 mm (HT 3.5 mm), in females: 3.0-4.2 mm. Integument black; legs and antennae black; elytra black (sometimes with slightly brownish areas on sides behind middle) with slight metallic luster. Pubescence of whole body made by sparse but distinct, long and usually erect whitish hairs and short black setae, being the longest on pronotum and anterior part of elytra, in its posterior part with many shorter and semi-decumbent hairs especially along epipleura; on ventral side distinct long whitish hairs, varying in intensity among specimens but usually denser on abdominal sternites; on femora semi-decumbent, relatively long and sparse whitish hairs; on tibiae and tarsi mostly replaced by denser blackish setae forming brush; on antennae very dense, relatively long, erect setae, especially rich on first five antennomeres and gradually disappearing towards last joint, on last antennomeres in form of single spike-like setae. Head broad, with coarse sculpture; frons with longitudinal furrow of variable depth between antennal tubercles; clypeus and labrum broad and well-pronounced; mandibles and palpi stout; eyes large, surrounding antennal tubercles; genae narrow, approx. 0.15-0.2 of eye width. Antennae thick and strong, relatively long, exceeding elytral apex by 1.5-2 last antennomeres in males, and clearly shorter, never reaching elytral apex in females; average length ratio of antennomeres in males: 1:0.25:1.25:1.0:1.08:1.08:1.13:1.0:0.93:0.83:1.13, in females: 1:0.25:1.2:0.95:1.0:0.95:0.95:0.86:0.8:0.7:0.9; antennomeres 3-10 with tooth of variable depth on outer side; in males antennomere 11 always clearly divided in approx. 2/3 of length, forming almost completely separated antennomere 12. Prothorax very wide and pronounced, distinctly narrower at the base, gradually widening towards upper edge, strongly flattened, with clearly rounded outer edges, in females less pronounced and slightly more oblong, also with clearly rounded outer edges; approx. 1.32 (HT 1.37) in males and 1.4 in females times as wide as long, approx. 3.65 (HT 3.6) in males and 4.15 in females times shorter than elytral length and 1.2 (HT 1.2) in males and 1.26 in females times narrower than elytra at humeri. Pronotum rather regularly (less regularly in males) and entirely punctate, in males usually with smooth area at middle near base; punctation rather uniform (more uniform in females), relatively sparse but clearly finer and denser at sides. Prosternum finely and sparsely punctate, distinctly creased longitudinally. Prosternal process short and very thin, barely exceeding middle of procoxae, slightly curved dorsally. Elytra moderately long, approx. 2.25 (HT 2.22) in males and 2.33 in females times as long as humeral width, gradually tapering towards apex in males and usually almost parallel-sided in females, in both sexes with single indentation on each elytron about 1/3 of anterior length; elytral sculpture composed mainly by regular, sparse, fine, shallow punctures, with coarse surface between them (Fig. 4K-M ), rather uniform at entire length; scutellum of variable shape, rather triangular but usually with rounded edges, covered with whitish hairs. Tarsomeres similar in both sexes; protarsomeres pronounced, lobes of protarsomere 3 elongate and cordate, protarsomere 5 slightly longer than 1; metatarsomere 1 about as long as 2 and 3 combined and slightly longer than 5; tarsal pads broad, with numerous compact and very dense setae (Fig. 5M ). Femora flattened similarly in both sexes. Metatibiae in males clearly exceeding elytral apex, slightly shorter in females. - Male terminalia. Lateral lobes of tegmen (Fig. 7A, B ) short and thin, generally slightly tapering towards apex but sometimes more or less variable in shape, with rather long and thick setae apically; manubrium elongated, with broad edges. Median lobe of variable shape, usually robust and relatively short, gradually tapering towards apex.

DNA barcoding.

COI sequences of two individuals of the new species were uploaded to BOLD and GenBank under the accessions: LK0101/LK0114 and OK073067/ OK073074, respectively. The new taxon was registered under Barcode Index Number (BIN): BOLD:AEF9068.

Differential diagnosis.

Turanium losi Karpiński, Plewa & Hilszczański sp. nov. differs from its closest relative, T. pilosum (Figs 1F-H , 2C, D , 3D-F, J-L, N, O , 4A, B, F-H, K-M , 5C, D, F, H-J, L, N, O , 6A , 7C-F , 8 , 9 ), principally by the different outer edges of the pronotum that are clearly rounded and not parallel-sided (Fig. 3B vs. E), the coarse punctation of the elytra (Fig. 3H vs. K), the different color of the pubescence (especially on antennae and elytra) that is made by whitish hairs and black setae (not brownish and russet as in T. pilosum ) and its much stronger abundance on the ventral side of the body (Fig. 5G vs. H-J; although Kyrgyz individuals of T. pilosum seem to be slightly more densely pubescent on the ventral side: Fig. 2D ), as well as the different color of the integument, which is black in the new species and usually brown or brownish in T. pilosum . Tarsal pads are broader in the new species, with pronounced, clearly more compact and abundant, longer setae, with a narrower separating line along middle, which sometimes may not be even visible on the protarsomere 2 (Fig. 5M ). Moreover, regardless of body size, all studied male specimens of T. losi Karpiński, Plewa & Hilszczański sp. nov. have clearly visible and almost completely developed antennomere 12 (Fig. 6B ), while its origin can be barely detectable even in the utmost males of T. pilosum (Fig. 6A ). Female antennae are distinctly shorter in the new species, clearly not reaching the elytral apex. Generally, the body of the new species is more corpulent and of a bigger size, with the smallest male measuring 10.5 mm (avg. 13 mm) and the biggest females reaching 15 mm (avg. 14 mm), while all studied specimens of T. pilosum are within the range of 10-12 mm including females. Although this character appears to be variable, it is worth to mention that most specimens of T. pilosum lack the longitudinal furrow on the frons, or it is only slightly marked, while all studied individuals of the new species have this furrow present and it is strongly marked in the majority of specimens. Similarly with the prosternal process; although it is usually wider in the new species (Fig. 3M vs. N, O), this difference appears to result from individual variability and it requires more caution. Regarding male genitalia, while many individuals of both species show sufficiently strong differences in the shape and pubescence of the lateral lobes (Fig. 7A, B vs. D-F), the structures of some individuals differ significantly from the pattern (Fig. 7G ), objectively making this character too variable for use in species separation. Similar situation was confirmed also in the individuals of the closely related genus Ropalopus ( Karpiński et al. 2020) and in the genus Anoplistes Audinet-Serville, 1833 ( Cerambycinae : Trachyderini ) ( Karpiński et al. 2021)-some individuals of closely related but clearly independent (morphologically, ecologically, and genetically) species may share almost identical parameres, not to mention the highly variable shape of the median lobe. The molecular distance in COI sequences of T. losi Karpiński, Plewa & Hilszczański sp. nov. and T. pilosum was also compared and it reaches almost 3%, with almost no intraspecific variability (Table 1 ).

The new species can also easily be separated from T. rauschorum (habitus of male paratype presented in Danilevsky (2001)), another ‘blackish’ species of the discussed group that is distributed in the region, by the much longer antennae in both sexes (in males of T. rauschorum about as long as body and reaching posterior elytral fourth in females), by the different shape of pronotum in males ('always without smooth areas’ in T. rauschorum ), and by considerably bigger body dimensions, which in huge series (75 specimens) of T. rauschorum vary in males between 7.9-12.4 mm, and in females between 11.0-12.0 mm (10.5-14.0 mm and 11.0-15.0 mm, respectively in T. losi Karpiński, Plewa & Hilszczański sp. nov.). Furthermore, T. rauschorum is considered a monophage restricted to Atraphaxis ( Polygonaceae ) and it is only known so far from southern Kazakhstan and one locality in northernmost Kyrgyzstan ( Danilevsky 2001).

Other species in the genus clearly differ in body proportions and colouration, the punctation of the pronotum and elytra, and other characters. The habitus of T. scabrum and T. johannis is presented in Fig. 1 (I, J and K, L, respectively), and their lateral lobes of tegmen in Fig. 7 . Their COI sequences have also been compared and the molecular distance is remarkable (Table 1 ), even despite rather poor divergence in their parameres (Fig. 7H vs. I).

Distribution.

Turanium losi Karpiński, Plewa & Hilszczański sp. nov. is known to occur in northwestern Kyrgyzstan and easternmost Uzbekistan (Fig. 10 ), however, this species is most likely widely distributed in the region, including southern Kyrgyzstan and northern Tajikistan since the high mountains of Tian Shan (Turkestan Range) seems not to be the sufficient distributional barrier for ecologically very close T. pilosum .

Bionomics.

Adults of the new species were collected from the first days of May to the third quarter of June, at altitudes between 1000 and 1900 m a.s.l. The earliest observation was done at the lowest altitude (May 6, at 994 m a.s.l.). The holotype and the main series of paratypes have been reared from larvae collected in mid-June at an altitude of 1500 m a.s.l. At the time, imagoes of T. pilosum (exclusively males) were collected in the same locality and despite careful investigation no adults of the new species were observed at this plot. At the higher altitude (1620 m a.s.l.), females of the new species were found on June 20, together with a single male of T. pilosum . In type locality in Kyrgyzstan the species is related to mountain deciduous open forests with a substantial share of Fraxinus L. ( Oleaceae ), Prunus L., and Malus L. trees ( Rosaceae ) (Fig. 11A, B ). In Tajikistan (at 1850 m a.s.l.), adults of T. pilosum were mating in the mid-July in a mountain valley with Juglans L. ( Juglandaceae ) and Malus trees (Fig. 11C, D ) ( Kadyrov et al. 2016). Considering the above, it seems reasonable to conclude that T. losi Karpiński, Plewa & Hilszczański sp. nov. is a phenologically relatively early species emerging in the first decade of May at lower elevations, and surviving in nature to the end of June at higher altitudes, while T. pilosum occurs later-from the mid-June to the end of July or even to the first decade of August in higher located sites.

The new species seems to be common in the region and its larvae are most likely wide polyphages as the adults that were reared from Kyrgyz Prunus L. and Malus L. were able to continue breeding on the wood of European hornbeam Carpinus betulus L. ( Betulaceae ). Moreover, Danilevsky (2001) listed numerous host plants (both deciduous and coniferous) for ' T. pilosum ' that certainly include some records of the new species (see more in Remarks). The depicted male specimen was collected on June 2 and the female was reared from Picea A. Dietr. ( Pinaceae ).

Based on own observations, the life cycle usually lasts two years, however in the laboratory rearing, a single male emerged from the wood material that was added already in Poland (II generation) after only eight months, which means that the cycle can be shortened in nature to one year under optimal conditions.

Remarks.

As T. losi Karpiński, Plewa & Hilszczański sp. nov. is rather common in Middle Asia, there were already some specimens imaged in the Internet or in scientific papers that present the new species but were clearly misidentified. One example could be a male of ' T. johannis ' from Uzbekistan (www.cerambyx.uochb.cz; accessed on: 10.01.2021, the image has been replaced) and another a female of ' Turanium rauschorum ' from Kyrgyzstan, close to the Kazakh border (www.zin.ru). Regarding the revision of the genus ( Danilevsky 2001), although the quality of the images in the distributed version of this paper does not allow the reliable identification of the depicted specimens, it seems that both presented ' T. pilosum ' (fig. 3a,b; p. 583), which were collected in close vicinity of the type locality of the new species, represent in fact T. losi Karpiński, Plewa & Hilszczański sp. nov. Besides certain morphological characters (pronotal shape, integument colouration), the collecting date of the male (02.06.1978) clearly links to the new species.

Etymology.

We are pleased to dedicate this species to a Polish entomologist, Krzysztof Łoś, our close friend and one of the main organizers of the 2017-2019 trips to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Figures

Figure 1. Habitus (dorsal view) of some representatives of the genera Turanium and Ropalopus. A - E Turanium losi Karpinski, Plewa & Hilszczanski sp. nov.: male holotype (4 km N of Arkit, Kyrgyzstan), female (ibid), male (8 km N of Arkit, Kyrgyzstan), female (Kara-Alma, Kyrgyzstan), female (Torkent, Kyrgyzstan), respectively F - H Turanium pilosum: male (Takob, Tajikistan), female (ibid), male (Kara-Alma, Kyrgyzstan), respectively I, J Turanium scabrum: male (Kara-Alma, Kyrgyzstan), female (Karashota, Kazakhstan), respectively K, L Turanium johannis: male (Urumbash, Kyrgyzstan), female (ibid), respectively M Ropalopus nadari female (Takob, Tajikistan) N Ropalopus mali male (Karakul, Kyrgyzstan). Scale bar: 3 mm.

Figure 2. Habitus (ventral view) of two Turanium species. A, B Turanium losi Karpinski, Plewa & Hilszczanski sp. nov.: male (type locality, Kyrgyzstan), female (ibid), respectively C, D Turanium pilosum: male (Takob, Tajikistan), male (Arkit, Kyrgyzstan), respectively.

Figure 3. Comparison of particular body parts of two Turanium species. A - C, G - I, M Turanium losi Karpinski, Plewa & Hilszczanski sp. nov.: A head of male holotype B pronotum of male holotype C pronotum of female (Kara-Alma, Kyrgyzstan) G elytra (apex) of male holotype H elytra (basal part) of male holotype I elytra (basal part) of female (Kara-Alma, Kyrgyzstan) M prosternal process of male (type locality) D - F, J - L, N, O Turanium pilosum: D head of male (Takob, Tajikistan) E pronotum of male (ibid) F pronotum of female (ibid) J elytra (apex) of male (ibid) K elytra (basal part) of male (ibid) L elytra (basal part) of female (ibid) N prosternal process of male (ibid) O prosternal process of female (ibid).

Figure 4. Variability of particular body parts in two Turanium species. A, B, F - H, K - M Turanium losi Karpinski, Plewa & Hilszczanski sp. nov.: A head of male (type locality) B head of female (Kara-Alma, Kyrgyzstan) F pronotum of male (type locality) G pronotum of male (ibid) H pronotum of male (Kara-Alma, Kyrgyzstan) K elytra (basal part) of male (type locality) L elytra (basal part) of male (ibid) M elytra (basal part) of male (Kara-Alma, Kyrgyzstan) C - E, I, J, N, O Turanium pilosum: C head of male (Takob, Tajikistan) D head of male (Arkit, Kyrgyzstan) E head of female (Takob, Tajikistan) I pronotum of male (ibid) J pronotum of male (Arkit, Kyrgyzstan) N elytra (basal part) of male (Takob, Tajikistan) O elytra (basal part) of female (ibid).

Figure 5. Variability of particular body parts in two Turanium species. A, B, E, G, K, M Turanium losi Karpinski, Plewa & Hilszczanski sp. nov.: A elytra (apex) of male (type locality) B elytra (apex) of female (Kara-Alma, Kyrgyzstan) E metafemur (ventral view) of male (type locality) G abdomen (ventral view) of male (ibid) K first two antennomeres (ventral view) of male (ibid) M tarsal pads of protarsomere 2 and 3 (ventral view) of male (ibid); C, D, F, H - J, L, N, O Turanium pilosum: C elytra (apex) of male (Takob, Tajikistan) D elytra (apex) of female (ibid) F metafemur (ventral view) of male (ibid) H abdomen (ventral view) of male (ibid) I abdomen (ventral view) of male (ibid) J abdomen (ventral view) of female (ibid) L first two antennomeres (ventral view) of male (ibid) N tarsal pads of protarsomere 2 and 3 (ventral view) of male (ibid) O tarsal pads of protarsomere 2 and 3 (ventral view) of female (ibid).

Figure 6. Detailed view of the last male antennomere of two Turanium species. A Turanium pilosum B Turanium losi Karpinski, Plewa & Hilszczanski sp. nov. with clearly visible, almost completely developed antennomere 12.

Figure 7. Lateral lobes of Turanium species. A, B, G Turanium losi Karpinski, Plewa & Hilszczanski sp. nov.: male holotype, male (type locality), male (ibid), respectively C - F Turanium pilosum: male (Kara-Alma, Kyrgyzstan), male (Takob, Tajikistan), male (ibid), male (Arkit, Kyrgyzstan), respectively H Turanium scabrum male (Kara-Alma, Kyrgyzstan) I Turanium johannis male (Urumbash, Kyrgyzstan).

Figure 8. Habitus (dorsal view) of the holotype of Turanium pilosum (Reitter, 1891) (HNHM).

Figure 9. Habitus (latero-dorsal view) of the holotype of Turanium pilosum (Reitter, 1891) (HNHM) with the original labels (' Turkestan' = locality in present-day Uzbekistan).

Figure 10. Distribution of Turanium losi Karpinski, Plewa & Hilszczanski sp. nov. and Turanium pilosum in the eastern part of Middle Asia. Raster layer by National Geographic et al. (2021).

Figure 11. Habitats of Turanium losi Karpinski, Plewa & Hilszczanski sp. nov. and Turanium pilosum. A, B vicinity of Arkit village (Kyrgyzstan) C, D vicinity of Takob village (Tajikistan).