Laemostenus (Laemostenus) croyi, Casale & D.W & P, 2012

Casale, A., D. W & P, Antalya, 2012, New or little known Laemostenus species from the Near and Middle East (Coleoptera, Carabidae: Sphodrini), Linzer biologische Beiträge 44 (2), pp. 1111-1127 : 1113-1114

Laemostenus (Laemostenus) croyi nov.sp.

T y p e m a t e r i a l: Holotype, labelled: "Türkei Südküste 5 Km N Manavgat Ackerbrache leg. Kielhorn 17.III.1997 " (cWR). Paratypes: 2, labelled: " Turkey (Antalya) E Taurus Mts. Kizildag, env. 1800 m 37.03N / 32.21E (subalpine) 6.-15.VI.2004 P. Croy " (cCa, cWR).

D i a g n o s i s: A small to medium-sized Laemostenus (Laemostenus) species of the L. quadricollis species group (sensu CASALE 1988), mostly characterised by the dark violet colour of the dorsal surface, the rectangular pronotum with deep transverse wrinkles on disc and deep punctures on basal foveae and lateral furrows, the elytral intervals flat or slightly convex, and the reduced, small teeth on the internal side of tarsal claws. Habitus Fig. 22.

E t y m o l o g y: Dedicated to our dear friend and colleague, Dr. Peter Croy (Leipzig, Germany), specialist in Carabus and also succesful collector of other Carabidae groups who sampled a part of the type series of the new taxon.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Body small to medium sized, TL: 14.4 mm (holotype) -16.0 mm, L: 15.7 (holotype) - 17.5 mm.

Colour: Dorsal surface dark violet, markedly sericeous; underside, antennomeres 1-4, femora and tibiae blackish; labrum, mandibles, palpomeres, antennomeres 5-11, tarsi, and lateral margins of pronotum reddish brown.

Microsculpure: Head and pronotum with transversal, evident microlines, elytra with distinct, isodiametric meshes.

Head elongate but robust, with deep transversal wrinkles on frons; eyes large, as long as tempora, slightly prominent laterally; frontal impressions rather deep but short, reaching the level of the anterior margin of eyes.

Pronotum narrow, rectangular ( PL / PW: 0.93-0.96) (holotype), parallel-sided, its lateral sides slightly reflexed in the posterior half, slightly curved in front and constricted to the basolateral angles, which are obtuse ; anterolateral angles large, markedly prominent; base straight, fully beaded. Disc with deep transverse wrinkles; basal impressions small, deep, each with dense, large, deep punctures extended to the basal area and the lateral furrows; anterolateral and basolateral setiferous punctures present.

Mesosternum denticulate in front of mesocoxae.

Elytra ovate ( EL / EW: 1.50-1.60) (holotype), convex. Base narrow, almost straight ; basal ridge incavate; humeral tooth small but evident. Striae very deep, shallowly punctate; intervals almost flat or slightly convex, finely wrinkled. Chaetotaxy: Basal pore present; umbilicate series with 17-18 setiferous punctures; 1 seta at apex of stria 7.

Legs rather long and slender; profemora on ventral side longitudinally shallowly concave for entire length, its outer side with an oblique series of 3 setae, one of them in some cases reaching the apical third of the outer margin, which is smooth; mesotibiae straight; metatibiae each with apical group of short, sparse yellow-reddish setae; tarsomeres with dorsal pubescence sparse. Tarsal claws with a series of small teeth, reduced in number (5-6), along the basal half of the internal margin.

Male genitalia (immature in the male holotype): Median lobe of aedeagus small, slightly curved; apex short, thickened, regularly rounded; right paramere very short, subtruncate apically; left paramere with developed apical membranous lobe (Fig. 1).

Female genitalia: Gonocoxites 2 of ovipositor as in Fig. 16.

C o m p a r i s o n s: Due to the combination of several peculiar features, such as the dark violet colour of the dorsal surface, the rectangular pronotum with deep transverse wrinkles on disc and deep punctures on basal foveae and lateral furrows, the elytral intervals flat or slightly convex, and the reduced, small teeth on the internal side of tarsal claws, this new taxon seems to be markedly isolated from all other Laemostenus species of the L. quadricollis species group (see key below), but can be attributed to the latter due to the rectangular pronotum, the mesosternum denticulate in front of mesocoxae, and the small sized, slightly curved median lobe of aedeagus.

D i s t r i b u t i o n a n d h a b i t a t: An epigean species, occurring from low to subalpine elevations, known so far only from the type locality 5 km north of Manavgat and from Kızıldağ in the western Toros Dağları ( Turkey, S Anatolia). The holotype was collected on fallow land at low elevation (in not more than 50 m altitude), the paratypes on the border between a subalpine pasture and dwarf pines in 1800 m altitude in pitfall traps provided with a mixture of red wine and vinegar.

R e m a r k s: The unexpected discovery of this new, highly characterized and remarkable species in a rather well investigated area of Southern Anatolia confirms the high diversity of the carabid fauna in the Toros chain, one of the most rich hotspots and interesting Mediterranean areas from the biogeographical point of view ( CASALE & VIGNA TAGLIANTI 1999).

Figures

Figs 22-25: Laemostenus, habitus. (22) L. croyi nov.sp., paratype. (23) L. phoenicius nov.sp., paratype (Maїfouq). (24) L. eggeri nov.sp., paratype. (25) L. bellicosus nov.sp., holotype (various magnifications).