Tipula (Lunatipula) caucasica Riedel, 1920

Lantsov, Vladimir I. & Pilipenko, Valentin E., 2021, A new Palaearctic species of the subgenus Lunatipula (Diptera, Tipulidae) from the West Caucasus with a survey of the caucasica species group, ZooKeys 1048, pp. 145-175 : 145

publication ID	https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1048.67564
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:578795FD-41BF-4807-B001-6F7B5AC4D4B9
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/219A9352-B860-5688-9DBE-B0947CC84DEA
treatment provided by	ZooKeys by Pensoft
scientific name	Tipula (Lunatipula) caucasica Riedel, 1920
status

Treatment

Figs 1 View Figure 1 , 2 View Figure 2 , 12A-C View Figure 12 , 13A View Figure 13 , 14A,F View Figure 14

Tipula (Lunatipula) caucasica Riedel 1920: 17 (type locality: Georgia, Mts’chet, prope Tiflis); Savchenko 1964: 390; Oosterbroek, Theowald 1992:104; Lantsov 2020: 294; Oosterbroek 2021.

Material examined.

Georgia • 1 male, 3 females; “ущ. Бани-Хеви бл. Боржоми, Аджаро-Имеретинск. хр. [Gorge Bani-Khevi near Borjomi, Adjaro-Imeretinsk. Ridge]; 26 Jun. 1958; Kurnakov leg.; ZISP • 1 male; “Цхра-Цхаро близ Бакуриани” [Tskhra-Tskharo near Bakuriani]; 29 Jun. 1958; Kurnakov leg.; ZISP • 1 male; “Леберде, Менгрелия, Грузия” [Leberde, Mengrelia, Georgia]; 17 Jul. 1959; Savenko leg.; ZISP • 1 male; “Аджаро-Имеретинск. хр. Горы у Саирме, Грузия” [Adjaro-Imeretinsk. Ridge, mountains near Sairme, Georgia]; 23 May 1958; Kurnakov; ZISP • 2 males, 1 female; ”ущ. Цваниат-Хеви Аджаро-Имеретинск. хр . Грузия” [Tsvaniat-Khevi Gorge, Adjaro-Imeretinsk. Ridge, Georgia]; 23 Jun. 1958; Kurnakov leg; / “Высокотравье у верхн. границы леса у ручья” [High grass at the edge of the border of the forest by the stream]; ZISP • 2 males; “с. Отхара, Гудаутск. р-н, Абхазия, бер. речки, кусты.” [village Otkhara, Gudautsk. District, Abkhazia, river bank, bushes]; 30 Jun. 1958; Kurnakov; ZISP • 2 males; “Абхазия, с. Отхара предгорья Бзыбского хр.” [Abkhazia, village Otkhara foothills of the Bzybsk Ridge]; 20 May 1958; Kurnakov; / “Дубово-грабовый лес, кусты Asalia" [ Oak-hornbeam forest , bushes Asalia"]; ZISP ; Azerbaijan • 1 male; “Белоканы, хр. Ахкемал. Азерб. 200 м” [Belokany, Akhkemal Ridge. Azerb. [aidjan] alt. 200 m]; 15 Jun. 1964; Pastukhov leg.; ZISP ; Russia - Krasnodarskiy kray • 1 male; Sotshi prov. Pontica ; 6 May 1932; B.Rohdendorf leg.; / " T. Tipula caucasica Ried det. Lacksch." [terminalia in Canada balsam pinned with specimen]; ZISP • 1 female, Khosta, Caucasian Reserve , Tiso-samshitovaya rosha [Yew-and-Boxwood Tree Grove]; 43°31'656"N, 39°52'467"E; alt. 54 m; collected at light, 8 May 2018; V. Lantsov leg.; IEMT • 2 males, 2 females; same collection data as for preceding, 43°31'688"N, 39°52'561"E; alt. 35 m; 8 May 2018; V. Lantsov leg. / Lime-beech ( Tilia begoniifolia and Fagus orientalis ) forest with yew ( Taxus baccata ) and hornbeam ( Carpinus betulus ) in tree layer and butcher’s-broom ( Ruscus colchicus - dominant and Ruscus aculeatus ) in ground layer [one of the females was collected in the same community in a damp place near a yew log]; IEMT • 2 males, 2 females, same collection data as for preceding, 43°31'780"N, 39°52'518"E; alt. 98 m; 9 May 2018; V. Lantsov leg.; / Hornbeam - ash ( Carpinus orientalis , Fraxinus excelsior ) forest with addition of yew ( Taxus baccata ) and lime ( Tilia begoniifolia ) with blackberry ( Rubus sanctus ) and fig ( Ficus carica ) in shrub layer and with butcher’s-broom ( Ruscus colchicus ) in ground layer; ZISP • 4 males, 4 females, same collection data as for preceding, 43°31'775"N, 39°52'423"E; alt. 101 m; 9 May 2018; V. Lantsov leg.; / Hornbeam ( Carpinus orientalis ) forest with butcher’s-broom ( Ruscus colchicus ) and fern ( Asplenium scolopendrium ) in ground layer; ZISP • 1 male and 1 female (in copula), 1 female; same collection data as for preceding, 43°31'913"N, 39°52'463"E; alt. 153 m; 9 May 2018, V. Lantsov leg. / Ash-lime ( Fraxinus excelsior + Tilia begoniifolia ) forest with hornbeam ( Carpinus betulus ) and with black berry ( Rubus anatolicus ) and miscellaneous herbs in ground layer; IEMT • 2 males, 1 female, same collection data as for preceding, 43°31'825"N, 39°52'653"E; alt. 99 m; 10 May 2018, V. Lantsov leg.; IEMT • 1 male, same collection data as for preceding, 43°31'656"N, 39°52'467"E; alt. 54 m; V. Lantsov leg.; ZISP • 2 males, 1 female, same collection data as for preceding, 43°32'257"N, 39°52'682"E; alt. 94 m; 10 May 2018, V. Lantsov leg.; / beech ( Fagus orientalis ) forest with addition of yew ( Taxus baccata ) and hornbeam ( Carpinus betulus ) with bunch grass ( Calamagrostis arundinacea ) in ground layer; IEMT • 6 males, 3 females; Krasnodar Territory, environs Shakhe River higher than Salokh-Aul; 5-8 Jun. 2011; V. Pilipenko leg.; VPMC ; Russia - Dagestan • 1 female, “Хочал-Даг, альп. обл. Дагст. [ Дагестан]” [Hochal-Dag, alp. Region Dagst. [Dagestan ]]; 29 Jun. 1909 Mlokosevich leg.; ZISP • 1 female; Tlyaratinsky district, near village Salda, stream on the right bank of the river Dzhurmut ; 41°58'388"N, 46°30'446"E; alt. 1792 m; 2 Jul. 2016, V. Lantsov leg.; / "Oak ( Quercus iberica ) sparse forest with Populus tremula and Acer platanoides in tree layer, Rosa canina, Spiraea crenata and Cotoneaster integerrimus in shrub, and clover ( Trifolium canescens ) and miscellaneous herbs in ground layer; ZISP • 2 males, 1 female; near village Betelda, stream on the left bank of the river Dzhurmut ; 41°56'853"N, 46°32'424"E; alt. 1850 m; 3 Jul. 2016, V. Lantsov leg.; / Willow ( Salix caprea ) shrub with herbaceous layer ( Epilobium montanum ) (dominant), Cardamine seidlitziana , Mentha caucasica , Veronica anagallis-aquatica and Myosoton aquaticum community near spring above the flood plain of the left bank of the river; ZISP • 2 males; near village Genekolob, on the high left bank of the river Dzhurmut; 41°57'392"N, 46°31'276"E; alt. 2011 m; 4 Jul. 2016, V. Lantsov leg.; / Oak ( Quercus iberica ) forest with mountain-ash ( Sorbus aucuparia ), wayfaring tree ( Viburnum lantana ) in shrub layer [the lower border of a forest and a forb-cereal meadow]; ZISP • 2 males; same collection data as for preceding, 41°57'449"N, 46°31'228"E; alt. 1977 m; 4 Jul. 2016, V. Lantsov leg.; ZISP • 2 males, between the villages of Gerel and Genekolob, the right bank of the river Dzhurmut, 41°55'619"N, 46°34'468"E; alt. 1925 m; 5 Jul. 2016, V. Lantsov leg.; / Above the floodplain terrace with a rare herbaceous birch ( Betula raddeana ) forest with willow ( Salix caprea ) (coppice forest); ZISP .

Diagnosis.

Dark stripes medially on lighter background extending entire length of scutum. Inner gonostylus posteriorly with wedge-shaped projection directed anteriorly. Tergite 9 at apex with three rounded notches, middle one usually deepest and widest.

Redescription.

Adult male (Fig. 1A, B View Figure 1 ). General color grey. Body length 14-17 mm, wing 14-17.5 mm.

Head. Light grey, sometimes bluish (Figs 1B View Figure 1 , 13A View Figure 13 ). Rostrum whitish dorsally, flanks rusty or brownish with whitish bristles; nasus distinct, with long, whitish yellow setae; palpus grey. Frons with rows of brown setae along inner edge of eye. Vertex with faint dark median line, posteriorly with dark grey striation, with group of small rusty setae arranged fan-like on either side of glabrous medial area. Genae rusty; wide dark median stripe ventrally on rostrum, continuing along gula midline. Pharyngeal foramen framed with long, rusty hair-like setae. Postgenae light grey.

Antenna (Fig. 1B View Figure 1 ) 13-segmented, if bent backwards just reaching wing base. Scape light brown or grey, depending on angle of rotation to light source, with slightly pronounced silvery pruinescence and brown horizontal striations. Pedicel yellow, sometimes brownish at base. Flagellomeres brownish, thickened at base, verticils subequal in length to corresponding flagellomeres.

Thorax (Fig. 1B View Figure 1 ). Grey or blue-grey. Pronotum with dark grey median stripe. Katepisternum, anepisternum and meron grey, glabrous. Scutum with four longitudinal wide brownish stripes on lighter background; medial stripes extending length of scutum. Scutal lobes, scutellum and mediotergite grey with light bristles in dark brown sockets.

Wings (Fig. 1A View Figure 1 ) greyish with a bluish tinge in transmitted light, stigma brown; narrow whitish area (lunule) extending to base of discal cell.

Halteres (Fig. 1A View Figure 1 ) with light brown or dark-yellow stem, lighter yellow at base, covered with short small pale setae; knob dark brown to black.

Legs with coxae light grey with long light hairs. Coxae may appear darker when specimen is rotated. Trochanters yellow. Femora yellow at base, rest of femora, tibiae, and tarsi dark brown.

Abdomen (Figs 1A View Figure 1 , 2A View Figure 2 ). Grey or dark grey; tergites with dark lateral stripe narrowly interrupted with whitish at posterior margins, lateral margins with wider whitish edge.

Terminalia (Figs 2 View Figure 2 , 14A, F View Figure 14 ). Hypopygium (Fig. 2B, C View Figure 2 ) not much thicker than rest of abdomen, brown with moderately dense grey pruinescence, with golden yellow hairs. Gonocoxite (Fig. 2C, G View Figure 2 ) with broad tooth ventrally. Tergite 9 (Figs 2C, E, F View Figure 2 ; 14A View Figure 14 ) transverse, lateral corner broadly rounded, at apex with three rounded notches, middle one usually deepest and widest, bounded laterally by two large dentate projections with blunt apices, clearly visible when viewed from above (Figs 2F View Figure 2 , 14A View Figure 14 ) ( Riedel 1920; Savchenko 1964). When viewed from behind, three pairs of very short projections are visible (Fig. 2E View Figure 2 ). Outer gonostylus (Figs 2G View Figure 2 , 14F View Figure 14 ) very small, wineglass shaped, elongated distally. Inner gonostylus posteriorly, with wedge-shaped projection (Figs 2G View Figure 2 , 14F View Figure 14 ). Paired appendage of sternite 8 (Fig. 2D View Figure 2 ) with base ~ 2 × as long as wide, with thin rigid yellow setae along edge, not obscuring gap in middle; long, glabrous red-brown spine arising from base, bent, and intersecting medially. Paired appendage of sternite 9 (Fig. 2K, L View Figure 2 ) with thick pubescent apex. Gonocoxal fragment (Fig. 2I View Figure 2 ) flattened at the base. Semen pump and aedeagus as in Figure 2J View Figure 2 .

Female. Body length 17-21.5 mm, wing 15.5-18 mm. Antennae with scape and pedicel brownish yellow. Legs stocky, black to brown, yellow at base, femora grey. Wings with noticeable bluish tint; whitish area (lunule) of wings barely reaching base of discal cell. Female terminalia (Fig. 12A-C View Figure 12 ) comparatively short. Tip of cercus upcurved, length of cercus ~ 0.8 mm. Hypogynial valve only slightly longer than width at base; length of hypogynial valve 0.2 mm. Sternite 9 and furca as in Figure 12A, C View Figure 12 .

Comparison with closely related species.

This species differs from other species of the Tipula caucasica group primarily by the presence of a large, anteriorly directed sharp wedge-shaped projection located posteriorly on the inner gonostylus.

Elevation.

Adults were collected at altitudes ranging from sea level (Black Sea coast at 35 m) to 2011 m (in Dagestan).

Flight period.

From end of April to the beginning of July.

Habitat.

Specimens were captured in diverse forest habitats (see above) predominantly in mesophytic moderately moist deciduous or mixed communities with Fagus orientalis , Taxus baccata , Carpinus orientalis , Quercus iberica , Populus tremula , Acer platanoides , etc., sometimes in communities near springs with Salix caprea .

Distribution.

Endemic to the Caucasus. It was recently noted for Russia (Dagestan) for the first time ( Lantsov 2020). Currently known from the West Caucasus (first record), East Caucasus and Transcaucasus.

Remarks.

According to Riedel (1920), a series of type specimens, four males, two females. “Mts’chet prope Tiflis [Georgia, Tbilisi], 6. 5. 1913 (Mus. Caucas. Ph. Zaitzev)" were deposited in the "Museum Caucasicum in Tiflis". In the author’s publication, neither the holotype nor the paratypes are indicated. Presumably, they are not indicated on the material itself. Because this material turned out to be inaccessible to the authors of this article - it is not yet known whether this material has survived at all - there was no opportunity to designate lectotype and paralectotypes.