Pterostichus (Lyrothorax) vagus, Muilwijk & Kataev & Wrase, 2024

Muilwijk, Jan, Kataev, Boris M. & Wrase, David W., 2024, Review of the subgenus Lyrothorax of the genus Pterostichus (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in the Western Palaearctic, with descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 5468 (2), pp. 255-274 : 267-269

Pterostichus (Lyrothorax) vagus sp. n.

( Figures 2c – 8c , 13–15c )

Type material. Holotype male, labelled “IR– Gorgan , Shaskola / Fagus orientalis primeval / 36.77083 N / 5438922 E / 17.7.2017 pitfall / leg. Jahed Razi // HOLOTYPE / Pterostichus (Lyrothorax) vagus sp. n. / Muilwijk, Kataev & Wrase des. 2024” (black print on red label). Deposited in SMNS.

Paratypes. [We added the following label: “ PARATYPE / Pterostichus (Lyrothorax) vagus sp. n. / Muilwijk, Kataev & Wrase des. 2024” (black print on red label) to all paratypes].

Iran. Māzandarān. 2 males, 1 female: “ 20 km S Āmol 361 m / 36°30’N, 52°30’E / 9.VI.2009 / Walter Grosser leg.” ( CDW) ; [aedeagus examined in both males]; 1 male, 1 female: “IR– Mazandaran / 36.296136 N / 53.44756 E / 29.07.2017 / leg. H.V. Barimani ” ( CMF, CJM) [aedeagus examined]; 1 male, 2 females: “IR– Mazandaran / 36.296136 N / 53.44756 E / 22.6.2017, H.V. Barimani leg.” ( CMF, CJM) ; 1 female: “IR– Mazandaran / 36.296136 N / 53.44756 E / 25.1.2017, H.V. Barimani leg.” ( CJM) ; 1 male: “ Dasht-nazir, S.E.Chalus , 1200 m, 11.VIII.1968, W. Heinz leg.” ( CWH); 1 male, 1 female: “Now-Kandeh, E Beshar, 500 m, 20.VIII.1968, W. Heinz leg.” (CWH) [aedeagus examined]; 1 male: “ IRAN Mazandaran / Now Kandeh / 14.V.1997 / Skorpik leg.” ( CDW) [aedeagus examined]; 1 male, 1 female: “ IRAN, 29.–30.V.2006 / Mazandaran prov. / 10 km S GALUGAH / (broadleaved forest, at light) / 36°41,2’N 53°46,3’E; 550 m / Jiří Hájek & Pavel Chvojka leg.” ( MNP) ; 1 male, 1 female: “N Iran, W. Elburz / Kalardasht pl. Rudbarak / 1850–2400 m / 13.8.1970 // Loc. no. 92 / Exp. Nat. Mus. / Praha leg.” ( MNP) ; 1 male: “ Iran [Mazandaran], SW Sari, Zirab, 30.VII.1961, I. Vasiliev leg.” ( ZIN) [aedeagus examined]; 1 female: “ IRAN: Mazandaran, 15 km NW Chalus, 36.555962°N 48.811021°E, 30–31.V.2017, D. Kasatkin leg.” ( ZIN) ; 1 male: “ Iran, Mazandaran / SE of Kiaser 1661 m / N 36°13’45”N / 53°33’33” / 28.VI.2018 A.S. Prosvirov leg.” ( CIK) [aedeagus examined]; 1 male: “N-Iran: Prov. Mazandaran / vic Kolyak , mountain slope / 36°28’18’’N, 51°40’14’’E / 5.V. 2010, 1840 m, A. Skale leg. (51)” ( CDW) [aedeagus examined]; 1 male: “N-Iran, Prov. Mazandaran / 36°34’24” N, 51°35’24” E / Now Shahr, S, Kheirud / Kenar Urwald, 400–900 m / 4.V.2012, leg. J. Weipert ” ( CDW) [aedeagus examined]; 1 male: “N-IRAN: Prov. Mazandaran, / vic. Now Shahr, Kheiroud / Kenar forest (distr. Goraz / bon), 36°31’38’’N, 51°38’ / 46’’E, 880 m, 02.V.2010 / leg. A. Weigel # 15” ( CDW) [aedeagus examined]; 1 male, 1 female: “ Ramsar Curti , 1100 m, N 36°52’09.62” E 50°32’49.94”, 21.vi.2003, I. Rapuzzi leg.” ( CJM) ; 1 male: “N Iran, Mazandaran, dint. Čūrti / Yiannat Rudbar , m 1150, 3.VII. 2003 / leg. D. Gianasso ” ( CGI) ; 1 male, 1 female: “N. Iran, Mazandaran / Curti 1200 m. / 03.07.2003 I.Rapuzzi leg.” ( CJM) ; 1 male, 1 female: “Wald s. Now-Kandeh / e. Beshar , / 500m / 20.VIII.1968 // Mazanderan / ( Iran) Heinz leg.” ( CWH) [aedeagus examined]; 1 male, 2 females: “ IRAN / Elburz / Roudbarak , 1500 m / 9.VIII.1972 G. Ledoux leg.” ( CDW) [aedeagus examined]; 1 male: “Prov. Mazandaran, N- / Elburz, Dohesar-Road, River / 36°40′00′′N, 50°49’57”E, 460 m / 01.06.2008, A. Skale leg. (18)” ( NME) [aedeagus examined]; 1 male, 2 females: “ Transkaspia, Saramsakli ” ( MFNB, MNP) [aedeagus examined]. Golestān. 1 male: “N Iran, p. Mazandarān / Nahār Hōrān 10 km S / 3645N 5428E, 16.VI.1999 / lgt. E. & P. Hajdaj ” ( CDW) [aedeagus examined]; 1 male, 1 female: “ IRAN: N Mazandaran / Nahár Khorán 65 km S Gorgan / 8– 10.IV.2000 / leg. J. Rejsek ” ( SMNS) ; 1 female: “ IRAN Naharkhoran / Südl. Gorgan 450–/ 1000 m 14.8.67 Heinz.” ( CWH) ; 1 male, 1 female: “ IRAN bor. 27.5.2001 / Mazandaran Gorgan / Nahar Horan env. / lgt. Orszulik ” ( CKO) ; 2 males, 2 females: “IR– Gorgan, Shaskola / Fagus orientalis primeval / 36.77083N / 5438922E / 11– 16.7.2017 pitfall / leg. Jahed Razi ” ( CMF, CJM) ; 1 female: “IR– Gorgan, Shaskola / 36.77083N / 5438922E / 30.5.2018 pitfall / leg. Jahed Razi ” ( CMF) ; 4 females: “IR– Gorgan, Shaskola / 36.77083N / 5438922E / 13– 16.8.2018 pitfall / leg. Jahed Razi ” ( CMF, CJM) ; 1 female: “IR– Gorgan, Shaskola / Fagus orientalis primeval / 36.77083N / 5438922E / 5.10.2018 pitfall / leg. Jahed Razi ” ( CMF) ; 1 male: “IR– Gorgan, Shaskola / 36.77083N / 5438922E / 5.11.2018 pitfall / leg. Jahed Razi ” ( CJM) ; 2 males, 1 female: “Pers. / Kopet-Dagh / Siared” ( MFNB, MNP) .

Specimens not designated as paratypes: Czech Republic. Jihomoravský kraj: 1 male, Břeclav, N 48°44’05.54” E 16°54’27.36”, 25.VI.1980, Soustružník leg. ( MNP); 4 males, 7 females, same data but 23.V.1983, K. Orszulik leg. ( CKO, CDW); 1 female, same data but: 5.VII.1983, W. Schawaller leg. ( SMNS); 1 female, same data but: 24.V.1983, K. Orszulik leg. ( CKO); 1 female, same data but: “v pile” [in sawmill], 24.V.1983, J. Stanovský leg. ( CRK); 2 males, 1 female, same data but: 20.V.1984, V. Vynálek leg. ( CVS, CDW); 2 females, same data but: 10.VIII,1982, J. Marek leg. ( CVS); 4 males, 1 female, same data but: 1.VI.1985, J. Stanovský leg. ( CJS); 1 male, same data but: “pila” [saw mill], 1.VI.1985, M. Černoch leg. ( CZM); 2 females, same data but: viii.1985, P. Bulirsch leg. ( CDW); 1 male, same data but: 11.vii.1985, pila, Bulirsch leg. ( CGI); 1 male, 5 females, same data but: 11.VII.1985, W. Heinz leg. ( SMNS); 3 males, 5 females, same data but: 1.VI.1985, J. Hejkal leg. ( MNP); 1 male, 2 females, same data but: 26.III.1986, Kuboň leg. ( CDW); 1 male, 1 female, same data but: 24.IV.1987, V. Skoupý leg. ( CVS); 2 males, same data but: 16.V.1987, Plecháč leg. ( CVS, CDW); 1 female, same data but: 31.III.1990, M. Janata leg. ( CPV); 1 male, 1 female, same data but: 3.IV.1991, J. Brádka leg. ( CVS); 1 male, same data but: 6.VII.1991, J. Brádka leg. ( CVS); 1 male, 1 female, same data but: 1.XI.1992, Hanzlík leg. ( CVS); 2 females, same data but: 11.V.2000, Z. Minařík leg. ( CVS); 1 male, same data but: “sklad kůry” [bark storage], 9.V.2003, R. Kmeco leg. ( CRK); 2 males, 2 females, Břeclav–Pohansko , 15.IV.1995, R. Škoda leg. ( CPV, CDW); 1 male, 1 female, ČSSR, Mor. mer. Břeslav , 14.VI.1986, M. Nikodým lgt. ( CIB). Zlínský kraj. 1 male, Bylnice, Vlárský průsmyk env., 300 m, N 49°04’00” E 18°00’51”, 18.VIII.1999, J. Hejkal leg. ( CJM). Středočeský kraj. 3 males, 1 female, Bohemia centr., Kralupy nad Vltavou , 30.III.1989, J. Brádka leg. ( CPB, CVS); 1 male, Bohemia centr., Kralupy nad Vltavou , 5751, 31.III.2012, J. Bednár leg. ( CVS) .

Specimens (probably) mislabelled. (see Remarks below). Turkmenistan: 2 males: “[SE Turkmenistan] env. Kushka / 19.V.969” // in a hole, on / the corpse of a viper” [in Russian] ( ZIN) [aedeagus examined in both].

Description. Habitus as in Figs 2c , 3c . Body length 12.0– 16.1 mm (in Iranian populations) N=56, 10.0– 12.5 mm (in Czech populations) N=71.

Pronotum transverse (PW/PL = 1.35–1.54), wider than head (PW/HW = 1.31–1.42); sides converging towards base, hind angles right-angled. Inner and outer basolateral foveae without or with a few punctures or wrinkles, inner fovea long, deep; inner and outer foveae not separated; with a keel between lateral bead and outer fovea; basal transverse impression absent; lateral gutter narrow, ending mostly before hind angles. Microsculpture consisting of micropores and very fine, irregular, transverse meshes, somewhat suppressed.

Elytra ovoid-elongate (EL/EW = 1.39–1.51). Basal margin continuing in a blunt hook with lateral sides. Intervals flat, or slightly convex. Series umbilicata with 15–22 punctures, which are more distant from each other in middle. Microsculpture consisting of irregular, transverse meshes.

Ventral side. Metepisternum slightly longer than wide, clearly less densely punctured than metasternum, punctures even coarse ( Fig. 4c ). Ventrite 7 of females with an apical impression with a more or less clear keel at outer sides, medially the impression divided by a keel ( Fig. 5c ). Specimens from the Czech Republic have no distinct apical impression. Microsculpture in apical impression consisting of deeply engraved isodiametric meshes.

Median lobe as in Figs 6c – 9c 1–3 . Length of median lobe 2.8–3.5 mm (in Iranian population), 2.5–3.0 mm (in Czech populations); robust; middle part bent at an angle of about 90 degrees to the basal part.

Margin of the folder of the membranous surface of the apical orifice (pft) short, about as long as wide, apically rounded, in some specimens outwards directed, terminal lamella (tl) slightly bent; left margin of terminal lamella with a small notch (tltl) ( Fig. 6c ); in dorsal view slightly sinuated outwards, right lateral margin slightly sinuated to the apex; apical margin mostly incised medially as in Figs 7c 1–3 (intraspecific variation is described below); width/ length (WL-tl) in Iranian populations: 1.89–3.06, in Czech populations: Moravia (Břeclav): 1.67–1.72; Bohemia (Kralupy nad Vltavou): 1.93–2.39. Gonoporal band in ventral view ( Fig. 8c ) wide, relatively short. Right pigmented band in ventral view wide (and mostly short), in middle slightly curved dorsally. Inflated endophallus elongated dorso-apically; apical lobe (al) large, branched; ostium lobe small (ol); preapical lobe (pl) and ventral lobe (vl) moderately developed ( Fig. 9c ).

Parameres. Right paramere short, flat, with ellipsoid apex ( Fig. 10c ); left paramere quadrangular, with two strongly sclerotized apophyses.

Female genitalia as in Fig. 11c , gonocoxite 1 with a row of apical setae, gonocoxite 2 with as a rule one ensiform seta ventro-lateral and three ensiform setae dorso-lateral. Specimens from the Czech Republic have gonocoxite 2 with two setae dorsolateral (as P. fritzei sp. n.).

Intraspecific variation. Specimens from Golestān are larger than those from Māzandarān. Terminal lamella length varies greatly (WL-tl: 1.89–3.06) ( Figs 7c 1–3 ), specimens with a long terminal lamella have in lateral view a slightly bent apex, specimens with a short terminal lamella have a more straight apex. A few males from Golestan have a rounded apical margin. The Czech specimens from Moravia correspond in this feature to the specimens from Iran. Contrary to that the specimens from Bohemia have a much shorter terminal lamella (WL-tl: 1.93–2.39) and deviate from specimens of the other Czech localities in Moravia ( Fig. 13 ). In addition, the apical margin of the terminal lamella in Czech specimens is strongly variable, mostly straight, sometimes incised medially, in Bohemia rounded. The foundation of the different populations of this introduced species is certainly based on only a few specimens, which, under the influence of the founder effect, presumably produced stronger morphological differences as the median lobes of specimens from Moravia and Bohemia show. Although Müller-Motzfeld (2006) stated that the pronotum is unpunctured in Czech specimens, only four out of 37 examined specimens have pronotum completely smooth. Specimens with punctured basal foveae were found at all three areas in the Czech Republic.

Derivatio nominis. The species name is the Latin adjective vagus (wandering) referring to the fact that the species was introduced to the Czech Republic.

Distribution. The natural range of P. vagus sp. n. comprises the Iranian provinces of Māzandarān and Golestan, where the species lives sympatricly with P. fritzei sp. n. (Map 15c). In the Czech Republic, where the species is introduced, it is found in three distant areas: 1) Moravia, Břeclav, 48°48´02´´N, 16°53´59´´E, ca. 160 m a.s.l., sawmill (and adjacent floodplain forest) ( Pulpán & Hůrka 1984, Hůrka 1996: first finding in 1980, Pulpán & Hůrka 1993, Veselý & Brádka 2006); 2) Moravia, Brumov-Bylnice, 49°04´00´´N, 18°00´51´´E, 300 m a.s.l., sawdust and bark heap (and two other nearby areas), first findings in 1994 ( Veselý & Brádka 2006); and 3) Bohemia, Kralupy nad Vltavou, about 50°15´42´´N, 14°18´59´´E, ca. 175 m a.s.l., sawmill, the first findings in 1989 ( Veselý & Brádka 2006).

Remarks. The locality “env. Kushka” in South East Turkmenistan is quite remote from other localities and is situated in a desert zone without Hyrcanian-type forests. It is likely to be accepted that these specimens were labelled incorrectly. Their median lobe is very similar to those from the Iranian province of Māzandarān.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habitus of lectotype and paralectotypes of P. caspius (Ménétriés, 1832), with labels including the handwritten bottom label by Ménétriés. Scale bar =10 mm.

FIGURE 2. Habitus in dorsal view and pronotum increased, (a) P. caspius (Ménétriés, 1832) from Talysh, (b) P. fritzei sp. n. holotype, (c) P. vagus sp. n., from different localities, c1 holotype, c2 from Bylnice, Czech Republic. Scale bar =10 mm.

FIGURE 3. Habitus in ventral view, (a) P. caspius (Ménétriés, 1832) from Talysh Mts., Hyrkan, (b) P. fritzei sp. n. holotype, (c) P. vagus sp. n. holotype. Scale bar = 10 mm.

FIGURE 4. Metepisterna and metasternum, (a) P. caspius (Ménétriés, 1832) from Gilan, South Siahkal, (b) P. fritzei sp. n. holotype, (c) P. vagus sp. n. holotype. c1 holotype, c2 from Asålem Pass.

FIGURE 5. Ventrite 7 (a1, b1– b2, c1– c2) and sternite 8 (a3–c3), (a) P. caspius (Ménétriés, 1832) a1, a3 from Talysh Mts., Hyrkan, (b) P. fritzei sp. n. from different localities, b1 from Asålem Pass, b2 from Nahár Khorán, b3 from Chalandar, (c) P. vagus sp. n., c1, c3 from Gorgan, Shaskola, c2 from Břeclav, Czech Republic. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 6. Median lobe in left lateral view, (a) P. caspius (Ménétriés, 1832) lectotype, (b) P. fritzei sp. n. from Khelard, (c) P. vagus sp. n. from Ramsar Curti, preputial field tooth (pft), terminal lamella (tl), tooth on terminal lamella (tltl). Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 7. Median lobe in dorsal view, (a) P. caspius (Ménétriés, 1832) from Astara, Istisu, (b) P. fritzei sp. n. from Kheyroud Forest, (c) P. vagus sp. n., from different localities, c1 from Ramsar Curti, c2 from “Saramsakli”, Māzandarān, c3 from Now Shahr, preputial field tooth (pft), right pigmented band (rpb), terminal lamella (tl). Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 8. Median lobe in ventral view, (a) P. caspius (Ménétriés, 1832) from Astara, Istisu, (b) P. fritzei sp. n. from Kheyroud Forest, (c) P. vagus sp. n. from Ramsar Curti, right pigmented band (rpb), gonoporal band (gb), terminal lamella (tl). Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 9. Median lobe inflated in left ventro-lateral view, (a) P. caspius (Ménétriés, 1832) from Astara, (b) P. fritzei sp. n. from Kolehsar, (c) P. vagus sp. n., from different localities, c1 from Shaskola, c2 from Břeclav, Czech Republic, preputial field tooth (pft), apical lobe (al), ostium lobe (ol), preapical lobe (pl), right pigmented band (rpb), gonoporal band (gb). Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 10. Right paramere, (a) P. caspius (Ménétriés, 1832) from Avrora, Hirkan forest, (b) P. fritzei sp. n. from Nahár Khorán, (c) P. vagus sp. n. from Now Shahr, Kheiroud. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 11. Female external genitalia in ventral view, (a) P. caspius (Ménétriés, 1832) from Avrora, Hirkan forest, (b) P. fritzei sp. n. from Shaskola, (c) P. vagus sp. n. from Nahár Khorán, gonocoxite 1 (gc1), gonocoxite 2 (gc2). Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 13. Median lobe P. vagus sp. n. from different localities in Czech Republic, (a) Břeclav, (b) Bylnice, (c) Kralupy nad Vltavou. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 14. Female genitalia, P. fritzei sp. n. from Minu–Dasht, spermatheca (sp), spermathecal gland (spg), apophyse seminal canal (asc), seminal canal (sc). Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 15. Distribution map. (a) P. caspius (Ménétriés, 1832), (b) P. fritzei sp. n., (c) P. vagus sp. n., the distribution in the Czech Republic is shown in the small embedded map.