Carabus (Neoplectes) lafertei Chaudoir, 1846

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 : 564-565

Carabus (Neoplectes) lafertei Chaudoir, 1846 , stat. resurr.

( Figs. 15–18 , 99–104 )

Material. 10♂♂, 10♀♀, Georgia, Samtskhe-Dzhavakheti, S slopes of Adzhar-Imereti Mt. Range , right bank of Tsinubanistskali river, 4 km NW of Gurkeli vill., 1159 m, N 41°44'59.90" / E43°05'27.60", pitfall traps, 30.04- 11.06.2015 (D. Fominykh & A. Zubov) ( CFDD, CTAY, CZAM) .

Distribution and habitat. Described from Abastumani. Inhabits the Trialeti mountains and the northern slopes of the Adzhar-Imereti mountains east of the Khanistskali river valley up to the Chkherimela river valley and its southern slopes eastwards Abaschemistskali (=Otskhe) river valley up to Kvisheti village. The specimens listed above were collected in actively exploited dry fir forests.

Remarks. This species has long been regarded as a subspecies of C. ibericus (e.g. Deuve, 2015). However, it shows differences in several important features of the male genitalia (see figures and identification key below) and also in some external characters: its body length is larger, elytra more elongate, elytral punctation more coarse, interspaces impressions deeper both in males and females, and the pronotum more rectangular and not contracted posteriorly. From morphological reasons this species seems to occupy a position intermediate between C. ibericus and C. chaudoirianus (see below).

Special attention should be paid to the specific affiliation of the subspecies montreuilianus Deuve, 2014, originally attributed to C. ibericus . We have no material from Tukhtamash Pass (Trialeti mountains), but based on morphology and geographic distribution (the Trialeti mountains are generally populated by C. lafertei ), it should be attributed to the latter species, i.e. Carabus (Neoplectes) lafertei montreuilianus Deuve, 2014 , stat. nov. However, the real taxonomic status of this form still requires refinement based on the serial material.

Figures

FIGURES 11 – 18. Dorsal habitus of the Carabus subgenus Neoplectes Reitter: 11 – 14 — Carabus ibericus Fisher von Waldheim, Cheratkhevi river; 15 – 18 — Carabus lafertei Chaudoir, Gurkeli env. Scale bar 10.0 mm.

FIGURES 99 – 104. Apical portion of aedeagus and fully inflated endophallus preparation of Carabus lafertei Chaudoir, Gurkeli env.: 99 – 101 — right lateral view; 102 – 104 — dorsolateral view. Scale bar 10.0 mm.