Carabus (Archiplectes) besleticus dsychvensis Gottwald, 1985

Solodovnikov, Igor A., Zamotajlov, Alexandr S., Fominykh, Dmitriy D. & Titarenko, Andrey Y., 2014, Contribution to the knowledge of the Carabus (Archiplectes) satyrus Kurnakov, 1962, species complex in Abkhazia (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Carabini), ZooKeys 463, pp. 21-56 : 31

Carabus (Archiplectes) besleticus dsychvensis Gottwald, 1985 Figs 1, 2, 7, 28-30, 74-77

Carabus (Archiplectes) juenthneri dsychvensis Gottwald, 1985: 304 ("Mt. Dsykhwa-Nordhang"); Retezár 2008: 39.

Carabus (Archiplectes) reitteri dsychvensis : Bousquet et al. 2003: 132.

Carabus (Tribax) juenthneri dsychvensis : Deuve 2004: 273.

Carabus (Archiplectes) satyrus dsychvensis : Retezár 2013: 4.

Comparative material examined.

278 specimens were examined (37 specimens measured, 12 male genitalia preparations studied): 151 males, 127 females, Abkhazia, Bzybian Mt. Range, SW slopes of Mt. Dzykhva, 2000-2300 m, alpine zone, N43°13', E041°08', 29.VI-03.VII.2013, leg. D. Fominykh (cFDD, cTAYu, cSAA, cSIA, cKVM).

Description.

Small form, males 23.3-26.5 (25.2) mm and females 23.3-26.5 (25.2) mm long. Underside black, dorsum normally with bright metallic lustre, green, bronze, less often dark violet or dark blue. Red femoral forms are also rather frequent. Body slender.

Head not inflated. Pronotum variable in shape, subcordate, transverse. PW/PL = 1.20-1.58 (1.43) in males and 1.30-1.62 (1.46) in females, PW/PB = 1.07-1.37 (1.22) in males and 1.03-1.30 (1.17) in females, hind angles protruding backwards, pointed apically. Median groove distinct in females, and inconspicuous and smoothed in males, disk with fine rugosity, gradually strengthening towards median groove. Elytra oblong-ovate, more elongate and somewhat convex in males, with inconspicuous to missing middle depression in the females. EL/EW = 1.56-1.85 (1.68) in males and 1.50-1.79 (1.66) in females. Elytral sculpture smooth in males and precise, forming distinct series of short links in females. The main morphometric measurements are presented in Table 2 .

Apical lamella of aedeagus of transitional between Carabus (Archiplectes) besleticus and Carabus (Archiplectes) pseudopshuensis shape, possessing a sharp hollow on the right between apex and tubercle. Also sharply differs in this respect from Carabus (Archiplectes) juenthneri (previously considered as its subspecies). The endophallus differs from Carabus (Archiplectes) satyrus in the shape of the dorsal appendix, which is more elongate and possesses a more extended form, characteristic for populations dwelling in an interfluve of the r. Kealasur and Bzyb.

Differential diagnosis.

Habitually resembles Carabus (Archiplectes) juenthneri adsypschi Gottwald, 1985, from which differs in more elongate and more ovate elytra, hind angles of pronotum more strongly protruding, elytral sculpture more coarse, and larger average body size. Also easily distinguishable by male genitalia. The apical lamella of this form combines some features of both Carabus (Archiplectes) besleticus and Carabus (Archiplectes) pseudopshuensis . The shape of the saccellus and aggonoporius seems, however, to be closer to Carabus (Archiplectes) besleticus . The study of the further high-mountain populations of Archiplectes from adjacent woodless alpine massifs is required for correct interpretation of its taxonomic status within the species-complex in question. Morphometric characters are illustrated in Figures 1 - 2.

Distribution.

Populates the alpine belt of Mt. Dzykhva at 2000-2300 m altitude.

Habitat.

Prefers alpine herb meadows. Activity of imago proceeds from May to August, beetles being active at melting of snow cover. Carabus (Procechenochilus) adangensis , Carabus (Tribax) circassicus circassicus (natio tshchaltensis Novotný & Voříšek, 1988), Carabus (Tribax) constantinovi otcharensis , Carabus (Tribax) agnatus pseudoagnatus Novotný & Voříšek, 1988, and Carabus (Pachycarabus) imitator katharinae Reitter, 1896 occur together with this subspecies.