Poecilimon djakonovi Miram, 1938

Kaya, Sarp, Çiplak, Battal, Chobanov, Dragan & Heller, Klaus-Gerhard, 2012, Poecilimon bosphoricus group (Orthoptera, Phaneropterinae): iteration of morpho-taxonomy by song characteristics 3225, Zootaxa 3225 (1), pp. 1-71 : 22-25

Poecilimon djakonovi Miram, 1938 ( Fig. 186 )

P. djakonovi Miram, 1938: 352 . Zool. Zhurnal 17: 351 (Russian)/365.

P. djakonovi Miram, 1938:331 ( Bei-Bienko 1954).

Type information: Holotype —male; Northwest Caucasus, Sofiya River (tributary of Bolshoi Zelenchuk) and foothills of Oshten Mt. ( Bei-Bienko 1954).

Bei-Bienko (1954) considers P. djakonovi most closely related to P. oligacanthus (herewith considered synonym of P. similis ) and P. similis . We support this opinion though further consideration about its taxonomic status requires studying its song.

Remark: In OSF (2011/03/29) together with photos of a paratype of P. djakonovi (NHM) some photos of a specimen identified by Demirsoy (ZMB) are presented. However, from the large spiracle and the relatively small tegmina with black markings it is evident that the latter is not a member of the P. bosphoricus group. This specimen may represent a taxon related to P. varicornis .

Description: See Bei-Bienko (1954).

Distribution ( Fig. 186 ): NW Caucasus, Abkhazia and NE Turkey ( Bei-Bienko 1954; Demirsoy 1975).

Poecilimon bischoffi Ramme, 1933 ( Figs 18 , 37, 48, 65, 77, 93, 104, 121, 135, 153, 170, 175–184, 186)

Poecilimon bischoffi Ramme, 1933: 572 .

Eupoecilimon bischoffi (Ramme) ; Ramme, 1951: 417.

Poecilimon bischoffi (Ramme) ; Bei-Bienko, 1954: 338.

Type information: Holotype —male; Turkey, Trabzon, Polathane ( ZMB) (Holotype (stridulatory file) and photos of type material presented in DORSA were examined).

Material examined: Holotype —male; TURKEY: Rize province— 4 males, İkizdere, Ovit Mt., (40 o 41’ N, 40 o 24’E), 1627 m, 29.7.2010 (leg. S. Kaya) (in alcohol in AUZM), 8 males, 7 females, (40 o 43’ N, 040 o 36’ E), 1009 m, 13.07.2011, (leg. B. Çıplak, S. Kaya, D. Chobanov, E. Mahir Korkmaz) (in alcohol in AUZM); UKRAINE: Crimea — 1 male, Central Crimean Mountains , Angarskiy Pereval Pass, (44 o 45’ N, 34 o 20’ E) 765 m, 25.7.2010 (leg. D. Chobanov) (in alcohol in CDC).

Description: For morphology see Table 1, 2 and Figures 18 , 37, 48, 65, 77, 93, 104, 121, 135, 153, 170; for song see Table 3 and Figures 175–184 , 186 . Additional description can be found mainly in Ramme (1933, 1951) and Bei-Bienko (1954).

Distribution ( Fig. 186 ): This species is known from its type locality Turkey, Trabzon ( Ramme 1933) and Rize (present paper). The specimen collected from Crimea, at the opposite of Anatolia Black Sea coast, was tentatively placed under this taxon and further molecular studies may add to its systematic position.

Remarks: So far this species was known only from the type material and it is identifiable from P. similis by the typical apex of male cerci. New specimens from Rize Province ( Turkey) were identified as P. bischoffi by the cercal apex with the inner row of denticles being longer than the outer one. Some specimens from other localities show intermediate features between P. similis and P. bischoffi . Thus, it is difficult to doubtlessly distinguish both species. On the other hand, although the syllable pattern is similar in both species they differ from each other in several song parameters ( Figs 169 , 170 , 175–184 ), thus P. bischoffi is retained as a distinct species. Furthermore, a specimen collected at the opposite side of the Black Sea (Crimea) is similar to P. bischoffi both in morphology (especially male cerci) and song (Table 3 and Figures 170 ). Though there are some differences in the shape of pronotum and song (syllable duration—see Fig. 175 ), it was considered under P. bischoffi until new data is gathered.

Poecilimon scythicus Stshelkanovtzev, 1911 ( Figs 19 , 49 , 78, 105, 136, 154, 171, 175–184, 186)

Poecilimon scythicus Stshelkanovtzev, 1911: 18 .

Type information: Unknown number of syntypes —males, females; Ukraine, SE, Proval'skii stud farm, Donetk Hills ( ZIN St. Petersburg) (not examined) .

Material examined: UKRAINE: Lugansk District — 2 males, Umg. Lugansk, Lugansk Reserve , (47° 21’ N, 37° 03’ E) 12.6.1996 (leg. A. Benediktow) ; Donetska Oblast District — 2 males, 7 females, Goreliy Forest , 26.6.2006 (leg.?) (in alcohol in CDC).

Description: For morphology see Table 1, 2 and Figures 19 , 49 , 78, 105, 136, 154; for song see Table 3 and Figures 171 , 175–184 . Additional description can be found in Ramme (1933), Bei-Bienko (1954) and Harz (1969).

Distribution ( Fig. 186 ): This is the most widespread species in the northern Basin of the Black Sea present in Ukraine, Central and Southeast European Russia to Volga River and Western and Central Caucasus ( Bei-Bienko 1954; Zhantiev & Korsunovskaya 2005).

Remarks: Bei-Bienko (1954) presented a comprehensive description and a detailed account about P. scythicus and mentioned that it is similar to P. tauricus . Both species share the presence of syllable Type-3, but well differ in temporal parameters, which confirm the species status of both taxa.

Poecilimon tauricus Retowski, 1888 ( Figs 20, 21 , 50 , 79, 80, 106, 107, 137, 138, 156, 172, 173, 175–184, 186)

Barbitistes sanguinolenta Fischer von Waldheim, 1846 . Syn. by Bei-Bienko (1954: (nomen nudum)

Poecilimon tauricus Retowski, 1888: 408 .

Poecilimon bosphoricus Retowski, 1888 : Jacobson & Bianchi 1905; Kirby, 1906: 379 (both partim).

Poecilimon kusnezovi Miram, 1929: 463 , syn.n.

Poecilimon beybienkoi Tarbinsky, 1932: 184 , syn.n.

Poecilimon scythicus Retowski, 1888 ; Bei-Bienko. 1941: 147.

Poecilimon ajpetri Stshelkanovtzev, 1911 . Syn. by Bei-Bienko (1954).

Type information: Unknown number of syntypes —males, females; Krym, [Crimea: S, Dvukhyakornyi (near Koktebel), Krasnokamenka (Kiziltash) north of Otuz, Novyi Svet (west of Sudak) and Okhontich'e (Buragan)] (Beibienko 1954).

Material examined: UKRAINE: Crimea —for P. tauricus — 11 males, 8 females, Crimea, Western Crimean Mountains, Aj-Petri Yayla , (44 o 28’ N, 34 o 02’ E), 1250 m, 30.7.2010; for P. kusnezovi / P. beybienkoi — 13 males, 6 females, Western Crimean Mountains , Babugan Yayla, (44 o 36’ / 44 o 37’ N, 34 o 14’ / 34 o 17’ E), 1440/ 1360 m, 27.7.2010 (leg. D. Chobanov) (in alcohol in CDC) .

Synonymy and description: This taxon has been described under several names (see the synonymic list above), the recent ones used being P. tauricus , P. kusnezovi and P. beybienkoi . During an extensive field trip over the mountains of South Crimea held in July 2010 material matching all these forms has been collected. From earlier literature data (e.g. Bei-Bienko 1954; Harz 1969; Zhantiev & Korsunovskaya 2005) it is very difficult to outline the range of these taxa; they were reported from same localities even in one paper, e.g. the couples P. tauricuskusnezovi from Babugan Yayla and P. kusnezovi-beybienkoi from Yalta (see last citations). Considering their very similar morphology misidentification may frequently be involved in these records. Subsequently, we collected typical P. kusnezovi and P. beybienkoi , as well as intermediate forms at the same place and habitat (Babugan Yayla); Bei-Bienko (1954) also investigated and reported both P. kusnezovi and P. tauricus from this place. The latter author (l.c.) has possibly concerned this as a proof that these are good species. However, we think this is not the case. We observed smooth transition in the shape of the tenth tergum ranging from typical kusnezovi to typical beybienkoi (see Fig. 4 ). Male cerci were also quite variable in all populations, ranging from typical for kusnezovi / beybienkoi (Fig. 80) or tauricus (Fig. 79) to intermediate (compare Figs 79 and 80). The songs though having some differences between animals from different populations are generally very similar and yet quite variable (also unpublished data from laboratory reared animals). Finally, new records on possible hybrids between “typical” tauricus and kusnezovi , as well as unpublished data on the molecular phylogeny of the Crimean taxa (Chobanov et al., data in preparation) support the synonymic state of P. tauricus , P. kusnezovi and P. beybienkoi .

For morphological data of the species see the above given references, Table 1, 2 and Figures 20, 21 , 50 , 79, 80, 106, 107, 137, 138, 156; for song see Table 3 and Figures 172 , 173 , 175–184 .

Diagnosis: The species is most similar to P. scythicus and P. pliginskii . From both it differs in the shape of male cerci (cf. Figs. 79, 80 for tauricus with 78 for scythicus and 81 for pliginskii ). From scythicus it further differs in the well-expressed medial constriction of male pronotum with strongly widened pro-and metazona (cf. Figs. 20, 21 with 22). From pliginskii ts differs also in the longer subgenital plate, which however in some cases may be obscure together with the cercus shape due to their variability. Unpublished data (Chobanov et al., data in preparation) support the strong genetic similarity of P. tauricus and P. pliginskii . Females of the three mentioned taxa cannot be distinguished.

Distribution ( Fig. 186 ): Endemic to the mountains and south coast of Western Crimea —from Alushta and Babugan Yayla westwards.

Poecilimon pliginskii Miram, 1929 ( Figs 22 , 51 , 81, 108, 139, 140, 157, 158, 174, 175–184, 186)

Poecilimon tauricus Miram, 1929: 452 (partim) ( Ramme 1933; Bei-Bienko 1954; Eades et al. 2011).

Poecilimon pliginskii Miram, 1929 : Bei-Bienko, 1954: 349.

Poecilimon boldyrevi Miram, 1938: 363 , 366, syn.n.

Type information: Holotype —male; Krym, [Crimea: South, Taushan-Bazar ] ( ZIN St. Petersburg).

Material examined: UKRAINE: Crimea —for pliginskii , 4 males and 8 females, Eastern Crimean Mountains, Echki Dag Mountain , (44 o 54’ N, 35 o 07’ E), 600 m, 22.7.2010 (leg. D. Chobanov) (in alcohol in CDC) ; 8 males and 10 females, Crimea, Central Crimean Mountains, Chetyr Dag Mountain , (44 o 44’ N, 34 o 19’ E), 1250 m, 25.7.2010 (leg. D. Chobanov) (in alcohol in CDC) ; for boldyrevi , 4 males, 8 females, Crimea, Northern slope of the Crimean Mountains , Krasnolesje village S of Simgeropol, (44 o 46’ N, 34 o 11’ E), 700 m, 30.7.2010 (leg. D. Chobanov) (in alcohol in CDC) .

Synonymy and description: Bei-Bienko (1954) considered P. pliginskii and P. boldyrevi distinct taxa regarding mostly the shape of male cerci. We found considerable variation of this character (see Fig. 81) even in one place. For example, typical “ boldyrevi - type ” of cerci (Fig. 81A—specimen from Krasnolesje, Central Crimea) is almost identical with a specimen of P. pliginskii from Echki-Dag (near Karadag, Eastern Crimea) (Fig. 81E). The songs of both taxa (compare Zhantiev & Korsunovskaya 2005: Figs 10–11 with 18–20) have identical syllable structure; the different syllable grouping varies in all Crimean taxa (see Figs 174–184 ; unpublished data). Additionally, unpublished data on genetic phylogeny (Chobanov et al., data in preparation) support the identity of both taxa. The great variation and genetic similarity ( Ramme 1933; own unpublished data) suggest close relationships also of P. tauricus and P. pliginskii and their possible infraspecific relationships but we remain this question open until new data are gathered.

For morphology see Table 1, 2 and Figures 22 , 51 , 81, 108, 139, 140, 157, 158; for song see Table 3 and Figures 174 , 175–184 .

Diagnosis: P. pliginskii is most similar to P. tauricus ; for differences see the latter.

Distribution ( Fig. 186 ): Endemic to the South Crimea, occurring along the South coast and the mountains mostly in the eastern part of the peninsula; further records are known westwards to Taushan-Bazar.

Figures

FIGURES 185–186. 185—Distribution of Poecilimon bosphoricus group species in Turkey and Greece, 186—Distribution of Poecilimon bosphoricus group species in Black see basin.

FIGURES 15–22. Hand drawings of male pronotum, from above (scale = 2 mm): 15—P. miramae (Bulgaria: Rhodopian Mts.), 16—P. roseoviridis sp. n. (Bulgaria: Strandzha), 17—P. similis (Turkey: Rize), 18—P. bischoffi (Turkey: A-Trab-zon, Ukraine: B-Crimea), 19—P. scythicus (Ukraine: Crimea), 20—P. tauricus (Ukraine: A, B-Crimea), 21—P. tauricus (= P. kusnezovi syn.n.) (Ukraine: A, B-Crimea), 22—P. pliginskii (Ukraine: A, B-Crimea) (=P. boldyrevi syn.n. Krasnolesje) (Ukraine: C, D-Crimea).

FIGURES 175–176. Box plots for song parameters of P. bosphoricus group species (Statistical analyses were made on the basis of populations prior to taxonomical decisions made in this study. Thus, the synonymised species are given in old names in the plots). 175—Syllable duration (SD), 176—Impulse number per syllable (INS).

FIGURES 177–184. Box plots for song parameters of P. bosphoricus group species (Statistical analyses were made on the basis of populations prior to taxonomical decisions made in this study. Thus, the synonymised species are given in old names in the plots). 177—Duration of early part of the syllable (DEP), 178—Impulse number in the early part of the syllable (INE), 179—Period of impulses in the early part of syllable (PIE), 180—Duration of late part of the syllable (DSP), 181—Impulse number in the late part of the syllable (INL), 182—Period of impulses in the late part of syllable (PIL), 183—Ratio of durations of the early/lat parts (RDEL), 184—ratio of the periods of the impulses in the early/late parts (RPEL).

FIGURES 167–169. Male calling song. 167—P. miramae (Turkey: A-Sakarya; Bulgaria: B-Rhodopian Mts), 168-P. roseoviridis sp.n. (Bulgaria: Strandzha), 169—P. similis (Turkey: Rize),

FIGURES 170–172. Male calling song. 170—P. bischoffi, (Turkey: A-Rize, Ukraine: B-Crimea), 171—P. scythicus (Ukraine: Lugansk), 172—P. tauricus (Ukraine: Crimea).

FIGURES 48–51. Hand drawings of male pronotum, from lateral view (scale = 2 mm): 48—P. bischoffi (Turkey: A-Trabzon, Ukraine: B-Crimea), 49—P. scythicus (Ukraine: Crimea), 50—P. tauricus (Ukraine: A, B-Crimea), (= P. kusnezovi syn.n.) (Ukraine: C, D-Crimea), 51—P. pliginskii (Ukraine: A—Crimea) (= P. boldyrevi syn.n. —Krasnolesje), (B, C, D, E—Crimea).

FIGURES 2–4. Terminology followed in this study. 2—male pronotum (A—P. heinrichi, B—P. bosphoricus), 3—Male cerci (A—P. heinrichi, B—P. naskrecki, C-P. bosphoricus), 4—Male anal tergum (A—P. pliginskii, B, C—P. tauricus), 5—Male subgenital plate (P. sureyanus).

FIGURES 173–174. Male calling song. 173—P. tauricus (=P. kusnezovi syn.n.) (Ukraine: Crimea), 174—P. pliginskii (Ukraine: Crimea).

FIGURES 7–14. Hand drawings of male pronotum, from above (scale = 2 mm): 7—P. sureyanus (= P. anatolicus syn.n. and P. diversus syn. n.) (Turkey: A—Bilecik, B-Bursa, C, D-Balıkesir), 8—P. turcicus (Turkey: Edirne), 9—P. turciae (Turkey: Bursa), 10— P. heinrichi (Bulgaria: A, B-Strandzha), 11—P. demirsoyi (Turkey: Bolu), 12—P. bosphoricus (Turkey: A, B, C- Istanbul, D, E-Çankırı), 13—P. bidens (Turkey: Istanbul), 14—P. istanbul (Turkey: Istanbul).