Carabus (Neoplectes) martviliensis Retezár & Djavelidze, 1992

Fominykh, Dmitriy D. & Zamotajlov, Alexandr S., 2016, Further contribution to the knowledge of Georgian species of the Carabus Linnaeus, 1758 subgenus Neoplectes Reitter, 1885, with description of a new subspecies of C. titarenkoi Zamotajlov & Fominykh, 2014 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Carabini), Zootaxa 4179 (3), pp. 561-599 : 566-567

Carabus (Neoplectes) martviliensis Retezár & Djavelidze, 1992 , stat. resurr.

( Figs. 51–55 , 153–158 , 210 )

Material. 18♂♂, 22♀♀, Georgia, Samegrelo , 3.5 km of Meore-Balda vill., between Abasha and Chachkheri rivers, SE slopes of Muchera Mt., 1009 m, N 42°31'33.20" / E 42°24'51.20", pitfall traps, 15.04.- 20.06.2015 (D. Fominykh & A. Zubov) ( CFDD, CTAY) ; 1♂, Georgia, Samegrelo , near Kinchkha-Perdi vill., right bank of Okatse (= Satsikvilo) river, 816 m, N 42°29' / E42°33', pitfall traps, 15.04.- 20.06.2015 (D. Fominykh & A. Zubov) ( CFDD) .

Distribution and habitat. Described from Tekhuri valley in Martvili vicinities. Inhabits the eastern and southern slopes of the Askhi Plateau between the left bank of the Tekhuri river and the right bank of the Tskhenis- Tskhali river. The specimens listed above were collected in a beech forest at 800–1050 m. Two sites were sampled in the vicinity of Mt. Muchera, the first a climax forest community, and the second a site with missing leaf litter as a result of a recent fire. The latter site had a population density about five times higher than the climax community, probably demonstrating the population phenomenon earlier discussed by Knysh and Zamotajlov (2005).

Remarks. A single male specimen with an extremely small body size was collected near Kinchkha-Perdi village. This is probably an aberrant individual, but further specimens of this population would need to be sampled to confirm this. Two specimens were collected at Muchera Mountain Mass, which possessed a rare bright green pronotal and elytral colouration.

We resurrect the specific status of this form based on the consistent differences in external morphology and male genitalia structure between C. martviliensis and C. mellyi (see identification key and illustrations below).

Figures

FIGURE 210. Carabus martviliensis Retezár & Djavelidze in nature, Georgia, Muchera env., 1000 m.

FIGURES 51 – 55. Dorsal habitus of Carabus martviliensis Retezár & Djavelidze: 51 — Kinchkha-Perdi env.; 52 – 55 — Muchera env. Scale bar 10.0 mm.

FIGURES 153 – 154. Apical portion of aedeagus and fully inflated endophallus preparation of Carabus martviliensis Retezár & Djavelidze, Kinchkha-Perdi env.: 153 — right lateral view; 154 — dorsolateral view. Scale bar 10.0 mm.

FIGURES 155 – 158. Apical portion of aedeagus and fully inflated endophallus preparation of Carabus martviliensis Retezár & Djavelidze, Muchera env.: 155 – 156 — right lateral view; 157 – 158 — dorsolateral view. Scale bar 10.0 mm.