Platyderus (Eremoderus) lassallei, Guéorguiev & Wrase & Assmann & Muilwijk & Machard, 2022

Gueorguiev, Borislav, Wrase, David W., Assmann, Thorsten, Muilwijk, Jan & Machard, Patrice, 2022, Taxonomic revision of the African and Southwest Asian species of Platyderus Stephens, subg. Eremoderus Jeanne (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Sphodrini), Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 69 (1), pp. 71-122 : 71

7. Platyderus (Eremoderus) lassallei sp. nov.

Figs 2B , 5D , 7E , 8G , 10G , 12F , 14A , 17

Type locality.

Iran, Mazandaran Province, Nur County, between Nur City and Lavij Village, 500-1300 m.

Notes on type locality.

Bernard Lassalle (pers. comm.) stated that the holotype was caught with soil traps in the period 8-25 June 2000. The place of the exposition of traps was: "south of Nur, on the road between Nur and Lavij, in a mixed forest, between 500-1300 m". However, having in mind that the northern outskirts of Lavij Village are situated at about 600 m altitude, we consider that the real altitude at which the specimen was caught is between 500 and 600 meters.

Type material.

Holotype ♂, 'sud Nur 500-1300m / IR:Mazanderan 6.00 / coll. B. Lassalle’ (cLAS). Paratypes: 1♂, 'IRAN, Prov. Mazandaran / [IR08-01] Sari County, / Mohammadabad, Elburz Mts., / N-Slope, NE Sangdeh, 1533m, / 36°04'06.6"N, 53°09'57.8"E, / Fagus forest, leaves debris, / sifted, 29.V.2008, leg. A. Pütz’ (cWR); 1♀, 'IRAN, Prov. Mazandaran / [IR08-03A] Sari County, / Mohammadabad Elburz Mts., / N-Slope, E Qolqol, / 36°10'26.7"N, 53°16'29.2"E, / 916m, sifted, 30.V.2008, / leg. A. Pütz’ (cPTZ); 1♂, 2♀♀, 'N.IRAN-Mazandaran prov. / Maji to Vemzela rd. 1360 m / 36°07'10.8"N, 53°11'50.9"E / 1-5.VI.2018, Václav Čutka leg.' (NMNHS); 1♂, 1♀, 'N.IRAN-Mazandaran prov. / Sárí-Talarem env, 36°13'21"N, 53°15'49.6"E, 965m, forest / 1-5.VI.2018, Václav Čutka leg.' (cKME); 1♂, 'N.IRAN-Mazandaran prov. / Galugah-Niala env. 1390 m / 36°37'38.8"N, 53°50'15.6"E / 4.VI.2018, Václav Čutka leg.' (cKME).

TME: 9 specimens. TGE: 5♂♂, 1 ♀.

Etymology.

Latinized patronym based on the surname of Bernard Lassalle (Boissy-les-Perche, France), whose assiduous efforts in the field contributed substantial numbers of Carabid beetles that are very interesting or new to science.

Diagnosis.

This species is distinct from the other species of the subgenus in the following set of characters: (1) large size of body (8.00-8.50 mm, Table 2 ); (2) deep black color of body and reddish-brown appendages; (3) dorsal surface of head and pronotum basal foveae with more extensive punctation (incl. micropunctation); (4) median lobe of aedeagus (lateral view) less noticeably curved basally, with apex not turned up.

In addition to the aforementioned characters, the new species differs from species of the " Platyderus davatchii " group (which together with P. lassallei are the only Eremoderus -representatives that inhabit Alborz Range) in the wider pronotum (PW/PL>1.20, vs. PW/PL <1.19) with sides to base more convex, the less long elytra (EL/EW <1.58-1.60, vs. EL/EW> 1.60), and the larger and longer median lobe (1.4 mm long and 4.3-4.4 times longer than wide, measurements taken ventrally). The median lobes of P. ledouxi and P. taghizadehi are proportionally smaller and less long (1.1-1.3 mm long and 3.7-3.9 times longer than wide) more clearly curved basally, with apex somewhat turned up (lateral view).

Description.

Habitus. Specimens of large size for Platyderus species (BL: 8.05-8.50 mm; BW: 2.95-3.05 mm), with suboval and subconvex body (Fig. 2B ). Measurements and ratios. See Table 2 . Color and lustre. Head, pronotum and elytra black, ventral part of body dark brown, appendages distinctly lighter than body, reddish-brown. Integument moderately shiny. Microsculpture and punctation. Disc of head with reduced sculpticells. Pronotum with regular isodiametric sculpticells posterolaterally and stretched isodiametric sculpticells anterolaterally, microsculpture very faint to absent on disc. Ventral surface largely with obsolete microsculpture, slightly stretched isodiametric sculpticells present on mentum, submentum and sternal parts laterally, slightly transverse sculpticells present on sternal part medially; gula, abdominal ventrites and legs without microreticulation. Prosternum laterally punctate. Head. About two thirds as wide as pronotum (mean PW/HW= 1.39). Antennae long, with last three antennomeres exceeding base of pronotum. Eyes large and convex. Labrum subrectangular, with anterior margin slightly concave. Frontal furrows slightly impressed, subfoveolate. Paraorbital sulci moderately deep, ending slightly before level of posterior supraorbital pore. Thorax. Pronotum distinctly wider than long (mean PW/PL= 1.23), widest at second quarter. Anterior transverse impressions barely distinct to indistinct, posterior one well-distinct medially. Sides convex anteriorly, slightly to barely concave posteriorly; bead of anterior margin present laterally, reduced in medial 1/10; bead of posterior margin present throughout (in one paratype reduced to absent in medial 1/8). Metepisternum as long as wide, MA/MI about 1.0. Elytra. Suboval, one-and-a-half times as long as wide (mean EL/EW= 1.51), wider and much longer in relation to pronotum (mean EW/PW= 1.38; mean EL/PL= 2.58). Stria 7 reaching or ending before. Elytral interval 3 with three discal setiferous punctures, anterior puncture adjoining stria 3, remaining two punctures adjoining stria 2. Umbilicate setiferous series of 16 punctures on each elytron. Legs. Posterior side of profemur with one seta in basal third and one in medial third. Anterior side of mesofemur ventrally (Fig. 5D ) mostly with three-four setiferous punctures (one specimen with five punctures on one mesofemur, whereas another with two such also on one mesofemur). Anterior side of metafemur ventrally with two long setae, one in basal third and one in medial third. Male genitalia. Urite IX large, with right shoulder straight to apex and proximal margin widely rounded (Fig. 7E ). Median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view arcuate ventrally, with apex almost straight; same in ventral view straight, ca. 4.3-4.4 times longer than wide, with apical lamella symmetrical. Internal sac in lateral view well-differentiated, with ventral sclerite long and narrow (Fig. 8G ), in ventral view with dorsal sclerite forming a short left-sided curve and a long right-sided curve, and ventral sclerite straight, narrow, with distal end curved to left (Fig. 10G ). Right paramere relatively large, rather concave ventrally (Fig. 12F ). Female genitalia (Fig. 14A ). Apical gonocoxite with semi-pointed apex and two dorsolateral ensiform setae. Spermathecal canal connected in medial third of receptaculum.

Comparisons.

By dorsal coloration, form of pronotum and elytra, the new species is similar to P. reticulatus (Chaudoir, 1842), the only member of the nominotypical subgenus that lives in sympatry with P. lassallei on north slopes of the Alborz Range. However, the latter has the anterior side of mesofemur ventrally mostly with three-four setae (vs. two such setae in P. reticulatus ) as well as completely different shapes of the urite and median lobe of aedeagus.

Habitat.

According to the label data, the species occurs on northern slopes in Fagus orientalis or mixed forests in altitudes of about 500-1600 m a.s.l. Specimens were collected by sifting leaves debris or with pitfall traps.

Distribution.

North Iran: Central Alborz Range (Fig. 17 ). The three records known until today come from three counties of the Province of Mazandaran, Nur County, Sary County and Galugah County. The areas between these counties are probably also populated by P. lassallei sp. nov.

" Platyderus davatchii " species group

Diagnosis. This group includes P. davatchii , P. ledouxi , P. taghizadehi and P. klapperichi sp. nov., which are adapted to inhabit higher altitudes and open habitats in the Alborz Range (Fig. 17 ). Compared with P. lassallei sp. nov., the species in question have a more elongate and parallel body of smaller size and lighter color of the integument (see also “Diagnosis” under " Platyderus Eremoderus lassallei " species group).

The species from the " Platyderus davatchii " group differs from those of the " Platyderus Eremoderus iranicus " subgroup, in: (1) the sides of pronotum are clearly concave toward the posterior angles (vs. sides of pronotum hardly concave or straight toward the posterior angles), (2) PW/PL <1.20 (vs. PW/PL> 1.22), and (3) EL/EW ≥ 1.63 (vs. EL/EW ≤ 1.63).

Habitat. The habitat of the species of the " Platyderus davatchii " group is similar to that of the two Iranian species from the Zagros Mountains (see “Habitat” under " Platyderus Eremoderus iranicus - Platyderus Eremoderus vanensis " species group). In the high mountain zone of Elburz the Eremoderus -species were collected in natural mountain pastures, covered with snow in winter.

Notes. Having not been able to examine the type material of Pierre Morvan, we treated P. davatchii Morvan, 1970, P. taghizadehi Morvan, 1974 and P. ledouxi Morvan, 1974 as valid species. Based on original descriptions and new material at hand, we were able to ascertain the identity of the last two species. Without available material for study, the identity of P. davatchii remains unknown for the time being.

Figures

Figure 2. Dorsal habitus. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) sp., female specimen, Karabet Pass, Turkey; B. P. (E.) lassallei, sp. nov., female paratype, E Qolqol, Mazandaran Province, Iran; C. P. (E.) klapperichi, sp. nov., holotype; D. P. (E.) ledouxi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, 10 km S Hasan Keif, Mazandaran Province, Iran; E. P. (E.) taghizadehi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, Tochal, Tehran Province, Iran. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 5. Mesofemora, anterior side (A-D: left mesofemur, E-I: right mesofemur; white arrows and dots indicate position of setiferous punctures). A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) weiratheri Maran, 1940, female specimen, Boz dag koey env., Izmir District, Turkey; B. P. (E.) felixi, sp. nov., topotype female paratype; C. P. (E.) iranicus, sp. nov., topotype female paratype; D. P. (E.) lassallei, sp. nov., female paratype, Iran, Mazandaran Province, E Qolqol; E. P. (E.) klapperichi, sp. nov., holotype; F. P. (E.) taghizadehi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, Tochal, Tehran Province, Iran; G. P. (E.) afghanistanicus, sp. nov., holotype; H. P. (E.) brunneus ferrantei Reitter, 1909, lectotype; I. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), female specimen, Netanya 1.3.97, Central District, Israel. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 7. Urite, ventral view. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) chatzakiae, sp. nov., holotype; B. P. (E.) weiratheri Maran, 1940, E: topotype male specimen; C. P. (E.) felixi, sp. nov., holotype; D. P. (E.) vrabeci, sp. nov., holotype; E. P. (E.) lassallei, sp. nov., holotype; F. P. (E.) ledouxi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, 10 km S Hasan Keif, Mazandaran Province, Iran; G. P. (E.) taghizadehi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, Tochal, Tehran Province, Iran; H. P. (E.) afghanistanicus, sp. nov., holotype; I. P. (E.) brunneus brunneus Karsch, 1881, male specimen, 50 km W of Ben Gardane, Medenine Governorate, Tunisia; J. P. (E.) brunneus ferrantei Reitter, 1909, male specimen, Holot Haluza, Southern District, Israel; K. P. (E.) jordanensis, sp. nov., holotype; L. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), lectotype; M. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), male specimen, Na ẖal Prat, Judea and Samaria Area, Israel; N. P. (Platyderus) sp., male specimen, Boz Daglar Mtn., Turkey; O. P. (P.) reticulatus (Chaudoir), male specimen, Tashehzeh, Nowshahr County, Mazandaran Province, Iran. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 8. Median lobe of aedeagus, left lateral view. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) chatzakiae, sp. nov., holotype; B. P. (E.) weiratheri Maran, 1940, lectotype; C. P. (E.) felixi, sp. nov., holotype; D. P. (E.) iranicus, sp. nov., holotype; E. P. (E.) vanensis, sp. nov., holotype; F. P. (E.) vrabeci, sp. nov., holotype; G. P. (E.) lassallei, sp. nov., holotype; H. P. (E.) ledouxi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, 10 km S Hasan Keif, Mazandaran Province, Iran; I. P. (E.) taghizadehi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, Tochal, Tehran Province, Iran; J. P. (Platyderus) sp., male specimen, vicinity of Izmir City, Turkey. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Figure 10. Median lobe of aedeagus, ventral view. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) chatzakiae, sp. nov., holotype; B. P. (E.) weiratheri Maran, 1940, lectotype; C. P. (E.) felixi, sp. nov., holotype; D. P. (E.) iranicus, sp. nov., holotype; E. P. (E.) vanensis, sp. nov., holotype; F. P. (E.) vrabeci, sp. nov., holotype; G. P. (E.) lassallei, sp. nov., holotype; H. P. (E.) ledouxi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, 10 km S Hasan Keif, Mazandaran Province, Iran; I. P. (E.) taghizadehi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, Tochal, Tehran Province, Iran; J. P. (Platyderus) sp., male specimen, vicinity of Izmir City, Turkey; K. P. (P.) sp., male specimen, Boz Daglar Mtn., Turkey. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Figure 12. Right paramere, external face. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) chatzakiae, sp. nov., holotype; B. P. (E.) weiratheri Maran, 1940, lectotype; C. P. (E.) felixi, sp. nov., holotype; D. P. (E.) iranicus, sp. nov., holotype; E. P. (E.) vrabeci, sp. nov., holotype; F. P. (E.) lassallei, sp. nov., holotype; G. P. (E.) ledouxi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, 10 km S Hasan Keif, Mazandaran Province, Iran; H. P. (E.) taghizadehi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, Tochal, Tehran Province, Iran; I. P. (E.) afghanistanicus, sp. nov., holotype; J. P. (E.) brunneus brunneus Karsch, 1881, male specimen, 50 km W of Ben Gardane, Medenine Governorate, Tunisia; K. P. (E.) brunneus ferrantei Reitter, 1909, male specimen, Holot Haluza, Southern District, Israel; L. P. (E.) jordanensis, sp. nov., holotype; M. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), lectotype; N. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), male paralectotype, " Syria ". Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 14. Spermathecal complex and gonocoxites, ventral view. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) lassallei, sp. nov., female paratype, Iran, Mazandaran Province, E Qolqol; B. P. (E.) ledouxi Morvan, 1974, female specimen, 10 km SW Rudbarak, Mazandaran Province, Iran; C. P. (E.) taghizadehi Morvan, 1974, female specimen, Alburz Dizin, Tehran Province, Iran; D. P. (Platyderus) umbratus (Menetries), female specimen, Iran, Kohgiluyeh va Boyer-Ahmad Province, Sisakht; E. P. (E.) arabicus, sp. nov., holotype; F. P. (E.) brunki, sp. nov., holotype. Scale bars: 0.5 mm. For abbreviations see captions on Fig. 13.

Figure 17. Distribution of species from subgenus Platyderus Eremoderus in Iran and Afghanistan: Platyderus felixi sp. nov. (red circle), P. iranicus sp. nov. (blue circles), P. lassallei sp. nov. (yellow circles), P. davatchii (green triangle), P. ledouxi (red triangle), P. taghizadehi (blue triangle), P. klapperichi sp. nov. (black triangle), and P. afghanistanicus sp. nov. (red question mark).