A new cave-dwelling species of the genus Cimmerites Jeannel, 1928 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechini) from the West Caucasus

2011·1.4 MB·

by  I. A. Belousov

ZOOSYSTEMATICA ROSSICA, 20(1): 48–53 28 JULY 2011
A new cave-dwelling species of the genus Cimmerites Jeannel, 1928
(Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechini) from the West Caucasus
Новый пещерный вид рода Cimmerites Jeannel, 1928
(Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechini) с Западного Кавказа
I.A. BELOUSOV & A.G. KOVAL
И.А. БЕЛОУСОВ, А.Г. КОВАЛЬ
I.A. Belousov, All-Russian Institute for Plant Protection (VIZR), 3 Podbelskogo Shosse, St. Petersburg, Pushkin,
196608, Russia. E-mail: [email protected]
A.G. Koval, All-Russian Institute for Plant Protection (VIZR), 3 Podbelskogo Shosse, St. Petersburg, Pushkin, 196608,
Russia. E-mail: [email protected]
A new species of the genus Cimmerites Jeannel, 1928, C. maximovitchi sp. nov., is described
from the Akhunskaya Cave and Labirintovaya Cave, both located in the Akhun Karst Massif
on the Black Sea Coast of the West Caucasus (Krasnodar Territory, Russia). The new species
is rather isolated within the genus Cimmerites and occupies an intermediate position between
species related to C. kryzhanovskii Belousov, 1998 and species close to C. vagabundus Belousov,
1998. Though both C. maximovitchi sp. nov. and C. kryzhanovskii are still known only from
caves, these species are quite similar in their life form to other members of the genus which are
all true endogean species.
Новый вид рода Cimmerites Jeannel, 1928, C. maximovitchi sp. nov., описан из Ахунской и
Лабиринтовой пещер, расположенных в Ахунском карстовом массиве на Черноморском
побережье Западного Кавказа (Краснодарский край, Россия). Новый вид весьма
обо соблен в пределах рода, занимая промежуточное положение между видами, род-
ственными C. kryzhanovskii Belousov, 1998, и видами, близкими к C. vagabundus Belousov,
1998. Несмотря на то, что C. maximovitchi sp. nov. и C. kryzhanovskii пока известны только
из пещер, по своей жизненной форме они не отличаются от других представителей рода,
которые являются типично эндогейными видами.
Key words: West Caucasus, Russia, caves, endogeans, Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechini, Cim-
merites, new species
Ключевые слова: Западный Кавказ, Россия, пещеры, эндогейный, Coleoptera, Carabidae,
Trechini, Cimmerites, новый вид
INTRODUCTION hairs adherent, directed clearly backward),
the frons with supernumerary setae (both
Among blind genera of the West Cau- the frontal and the parietal setae present,
casus, members of the genus Cimmerites for details see Belousov, 1998); the labrum
Jeannel, 1928 are easily recognised by a trilobed, with prominent median part; the
combination of the following characters: mandibles slender and only weakly curved;
the body surface regularly pubescent (the the tooth on the right mandible small, ei-
© 2011 Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Scienсes
I.A. BELOUSOV & A.G. KOVAL. NEW CAVE-DWELLING CIMMERITES FROM WEST CAUCASUS 49
ther triangular or asymmetrically biden- TAXONOMIC PART
tate; the maxillary palpi asetose; the para-
Order COLEOPTERA
glossae glabrous or with indistinct hairs;
six or seven submental setae; the pronotal Family CARABIDAE
sides not ciliate; the posterior lateral seta Subfamily TRECHINAE
of the pronotum distinctly removed from
Tribe TRECHINI
the hind angles; the elytral base completely
Cimmerites Jeannel, 1928
bordered; the humeral margin serrate; the
apical striole long, finely but distinctly im- Cimmerites maximovitchi Belousov &
pressed, joining stria 5 anteriorly; two dis- Koval, sp. nov.
(Figs 1–2)
cal setiferous pores attached to stria 3; the
subapical (= preapical) pore normally on in-
Holotype. Male (genitalic preparation);
terspace 3, far distant from the elytral apex,
Russia, Krasnodar Terr., “W Caucasus, Sochi,
located at the apical anastomosis of striae 2 Akhunskaya Cave, traps, 16.V – 31.VIII. 1998.
and 3; visible abdominal sternites 4–5 with A.G. Koval leg.”; ZIN.
a transverse row of setae; the first protar- Paratypes. Russia, Krasnodar Terr.: 4 (3)
somere simple or dilated in males, the sec- males, 2 females, collected with holotype (MPU,
cAK, cIB); 1 (1) male, 1 female, same locality,
ond always simple. It is worth noting that
traps, 28 Aug. 1997 – 16 May 1998; leg. A. Koval
the shape of the labrum and mandibles, the
(cAK, cIB); 2 (1) males, 2 (1) females, same lo-
structure of the tooth on the right mandi-
cality, traps, 11 Aug. 1999 – 26 Aug. 2000; leg.
ble, the maxillary palpi completely glabrous
A. Koval (cAK, cAG); 3 males, 5 females, same
and the chaetotaxy of the abdominal ster- locality, traps, 26 Aug. 2000 – 19 Aug. 2001; leg.
nites are unique within the Nannotrechus- A. Koval (ZIN, cAK, cIB, cAG, cVZ); 5 (4) males,
complex (the Caucasian subset of the Neo- 2 females, same locality, traps, 19 Aug. 2001 – 6
trechus phyletic series sensu Jeannel, 1928) Aug. 2002; leg. A. Koval (ZIN, MPU, cAK, cIB);
and each of these characters is sufficient to 1 female, same locality, traps, 30 Aug. 2003 – 31
Aug. 2004; leg. A. Koval (cAK); 1 (1) male; “W
diagnose members of the genus. The new
Caucasus, Sochi, valley of Khosta River near
species described below matches perfectly
Akhun Mt., Labirintovaya Cave, traps, 26.VIII.
the diagnosis of the genus. It belongs to a
1998 – 23.VIII. 1999. A.G. Koval leg.”; cAK. 30
group of species characterised by the first
specimens (17 males, 13 females) measured.
protarsomere simple or nearly so in males, Description. Rather small-sized spe-
the tooth on the right mandible triangular, cies (as compared with most congeners),
and the elytral striation rather shallowly males and females approximately equal
impressed. in size, body length (without mandibles)
Measurements used in the present study 2.35–2.75 (on average, 2.53) mm. Habitus
were taken as described earlier (Belousov, slender and elongate, subcylindrical, dor-
1998). The number of specimens studied is sum convex. Colour of body, including legs
followed by the number of genitalic prepa- and antennae, uniformly amber-testaceous,
rations given in parentheses. rather pale. Body surface pubescent, mod-
The following abbreviations are used: erately shining.
MPU, Moscow Pedagogical University, Head medium-sized, 0.74–0.81 times as
Moscow; ZIN, Zoological Institute, Russian wide as pronotum (in females, on average,
Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg; larger: 0.79 versus 0.77 in males). Tempora
cAG, collection of A. Gitzen (Neuhofen, gently convex, subparallel-sided in the mid-
Germany); cAK, collection of A.G. Koval, dle. Frontal furrows slightly and regularly
Saint Petersburg; cIB, collection of I.A. Be- arcuate, nearly parallel in median part. La-
lousov, Saint Petersburg; cVZ, collection of brum distinctly trilobed, median lobe being
V. Zieris, Pardubice (Czech Republic). markedly shorter than lateral ones (Fig. 1).
© 2011 Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Scienсes, Zoosystematica Rossica 20(1): 48–53
50 I.A. BELOUSOV & A.G. KOVAL. NEW CAVE-DWELLING CIMMERITES FROM WEST CAUCASUS
0.95) times as long as ely-
tra, not reaching level of
anterior discal pores on
elytra and surpassing pro-
notal base by three apical
antennomeres. Third an-
tennal segment 0.98–1.13
(mean 1.05) times as long
as second and 2.00–2.74
(mean 2.34) times as long
as wide. Middle antenno-
meres considerably lon-
ger than wide. Additional
chaetotaxy of head as fol-
lows: two to five (in al-
most half the cases three)
frontal setae; if their num-
ber greater than two, an-
terior two setae normally
arranged transversely;
usually four (more seldom
three and quite seldom
two) parietal setae. Trans-
verse parietal impression
shallow but distinct. Nor-
mally two well-isolated
temporal setae and one
more seta located ventrad.
Two clypeal setae on each
side of head. Labium free,
though labial suture ex-
tremely fine. Labial tooth
rather narrow, distinctly
cleft at apex. Usually six
(occasionally seven) sub-
mental setae. Palpi slen-
der, their last segments
relatively long, gradually
narrowing toward apex.
Penultimate segment of
labial palpi quadrisetose.
Maxillary palpi glabrous.
Fig. 1. Cimmerites maximovitchi sp. nov., habitus.
Pubescence of head short
and irregular.
Mandibles slender, slightly curved in api- Pronotum (Fig. 1) weakly transverse,
cal third. Retinaculum of right mandible 1.13–1.27 (mean 1.19) times as wide as
small and narrow, subtriangular, though long, cordiform, strongly constricted at
usually with a small second denticle. An- base; sides distinctly sinuate in posterior
tennae of medium length, 0.92–1.04 (mean half. Posterior angles rather large, vari-
© 2011 Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Scienсes, Zoosystematica Rossica 20(1): 48–53
I.A. BELOUSOV & A.G. KOVAL. NEW CAVE-DWELLING CIMMERITES FROM WEST CAUCASUS 51
Fig. 2. Cimmerites maximovitchi sp. nov., male genitalia: median lobe of aedeagus, lateral view (a),
parameres (b), median lobe of aedeagus, dorsal view (c).
able in shape, from slightly acute to sub- shoulders subrectangular, their exterior
rectangular, pointed apically, their apices margins clearly serrate. Elytra 1.53–1.65
produced backward and occasionally out- (mean 1.60) times as long as wide, 1.31–
ward. Anterior angles rather strongly pro- 1.50 (mean 1.43) times as wide as pronotum
duced forward. Lateral margins narrowly (in males elytra on average larger, 1.44 ver-
reflexed. Pronotum at anterior margin sus 1.42 in females) and 1.64–1.96 (mean
1.06–1.16 (mean 1.10) times as wide as at 1.84) times as wide as head (1.87 in males
basal margin, and 1.34–1.47 (mean 1.39) versus 1.80 in females). Elytral apex slight-
times as wide at broadest part as at base. ly attenuated, more noticeably in females.
Basal margin slightly to moderately con- Basal border of elytra continuous, strongly
cave. Transverse prebasal impression reg- developed and more or less distinctly sinu-
ularly arcuate. Basal foveae not large but ate. Lateral margins beaded and rather nar-
comparatively deep. Median part of pro- rowly reflexed, more strongly in humeral
notal base with only a few irregular wrin- area. Elytral striae moderately impressed
kles. Transverse apical impression distinct and distinctly but not coarsely punctured,
though shallow, more distinctly developed nearly effaced on apical slope and except for
laterally. Posterior lateral seta clearly re- four or five inner striae in basal half of ely-
moved from hind angle, lateral margin dis- tra. Apical striole long and well-impressed,
tinctly salient at its level. Anterior lateral sinuate and connected to stria 5 anteriorly.
seta located in anterior quarter of prono- Apical carinula weak but distinct. First
tum length (26 %). Median line distinct, discal pore usually located at level slightly
becoming deeper near base. Pubescence of anterior to umbilicate pore 4, second one
pronotum long and regular. Lateral mar- weakly behind level of umbilicate pore 6,
gins glabrous, not ciliate. preapical pore at level between umbili-
Elytra rather narrow and convex, widest cate pores 7 and 8. Within humeral group
near mid-length, their sides broadly round- of umbilicate series, pores 1 and 2 closest,
ed and slightly angularly bent near middle, pores 2 and 3 m ost distant. Umbilicate pore
© 2011 Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Scienсes, Zoosystematica Rossica 20(1): 48–53
52 I.A. BELOUSOV & A.G. KOVAL. NEW CAVE-DWELLING CIMMERITES FROM WEST CAUCASUS
5 strongly removed from lateral margin as gin of the elytra, and posterior lateral seta of
compared to pore 6. Discal formula (for the pronotum markedly removed from the
details, see Belousov, 1998): 19–27 (mean hind angles (the lateral margin of the pro-
23), 51–58 (mean 54), 76–84 (mean 79). notum slightly protruding in front of the
Formula of umbilicate series: 4–5 (mean seta). Nonetheless, C. maximovitchi sp. nov.
4.6), 9–11 (mean 10.1), 17–19 (mean 18.3), can be easily distinguished from the above
20–26 (mean 24.6), 38–41 (mean 39.4), two species by its considerably greater
50–55 (mean 52.6), 72–79 (mean 74.6), size (2.34–2.74 mm versus 2.00–2.26 in its
81–90 (mean 86.3), thus, median group counterparts), a more ovate, less parallel-
only weekly distant from humeral one. Ely- sided habitus with the elytra widest and
tral pubescence average for genus. most convex near their mid-length, ante-
Microsculpture of dorsum isodiametric, rior angles of the pronotum more strongly
rather shallow, more so in middle of frons produced, lateral margins of the pronotum
and pronotum, becoming deeper on occiput much more strongly sinuate before the hind
and base of pronotum. angles, elytral striae shallower and less
Ventrites irregularly and densely pubes- strongly punctured (the outer striae at their
cent. Normally, apart from a pair of much base and most striae on the apical slope are
longer paramedian setae, five to eight hairs indistinct), and a quite variable shape of
present on each side of abdominal ventrites the aedeagus with the apex attenuated and
along their posterior margins. Anal ventrite pointed in lateral view. Additionally, the
with one pair of setae in male and two pairs new species differs from C. kryzhanovskii
in female. in having slightly longer antennae (on av-
Basal segment of male protarsi not di- erage, the elytra are 1.05 times as long as
lated, without distinct tooth on inner cor- antennae in the new species vs. 1.12 in C.
ner, but scarcely pointed here, and hence, kryzhanovskii), a proportionally smaller
its shape somewhat different from that in head (which, on average, is 0.54 times as
females. wide as elytra and 0.78 times as wide as pro-
Aedeagus (Fig. 2a–c) slender, with sim- notum vs. 0.58 and 0.81, respectively, in C.
ple and narrow apex distinctly curved up- kryzhanovskii), humeral umbilicate pores
ward in lateral view; lamella parallel-sided more distant from the elytral base, and some
for most of its length, broadly rounded at other characters of secondary importance.
apex in dorsal view. Parameres average in From C. kurnakovi, the new species differs,
length, rather stout, each bearing four apical apart from the above mentioned characters,
setae, left one slightly arcuate in distal half in a more cordiform shape of its pronotum,
and provided with a small ventral apophy- and, especially, a more slender median lobe
sis. Sagittal aileron well-developed. Copu- of the aedeagus with its apex much narrow-
latory piece spatulate, slightly sclerotised, er in lateral view.
located in apical third of aedeagal tube. As far as the male genital characters
Comparisons. The new species appears concerned, C. maximovitchi sp. nov. is most
to be most closely related to Cimmerites similar to C. vagabundus Belousov, 1998
kurnakovi Jeannel, 1960 from the Bzybian known from the Aibga Mountain Range
Mountain Range (Abkhazia) and C. kryzha- (Sochi region). The only difference is shape
novskii Belousov, 1998 from the Malaya Ka- of the median lobe which, in the new spe-
zatshebrodskaya Cave (Sochi region, Kras- cies, is more distinctly curved at the base in
nodar Territory, Russia). All these species lateral view, having its apical portion more
share the same set of main characters: an strongly attenuated. Externally, the new
elongate habitus, simple protarsi in males, a species differs readily from C. vagabundus
triangular-shaped retinaculum on the right and close C. subcylindricus Belousov, 1998
mandible, a strongly serrate humeral mar- from Iegoshka Mount (Sochi region) in the
© 2011 Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Scienсes, Zoosystematica Rossica 20(1): 48–53
I.A. BELOUSOV & A.G. KOVAL. NEW CAVE-DWELLING CIMMERITES FROM WEST CAUCASUS 53
following characters: a concolourous dor- this cave as well as all specimens from the
sum (in the two latter species, the elytra are Akhunskaya Cave were captured only in
distinctly paler than both the head and the the pitfall traps which were installed in the
pronotum); a more ovate habitus, with lon- most remote and difficult of access parts of
ger legs and antennae; more strongly pro- the caves, though traps were placed ran-
duced pronotal anterior angles; the sides of domly throughout all the caves.
the pronotum more strongly sinuate before Habitat. Though found only in caves,
the large and acute hind angles; a less paral- Cimmerites maximovitchi sp. nov. doesn’t
lel-sided elytra, with distinctly attenuated exhibit any special troglobitic adaptations
apex and more strongly rounded humeri, other than those usually occurring in en-
and, especially, a simple, non-dilated basal dogean species. In this respect, it is quite
segment of the male protarsi. similar to C. kryzhanovskii which is also
To summarize, despite of certain simi- known only from caves. A comparatively
larity with some congeners, C. maximovit- dry microclimate in the immediate vicinity
chi sp. nov. appears to be rather isolated of Akhun Mount may result in the species
within the genus Cimmerites and occupies becoming associated with deeper hypogean
an intermediate position between the two horizons, at least in summer.
groups of species mentioned above: that of Etymology. The species is named in
C. kryzhanovskii and that of C. vagabundus. memory of one of the founders of the Rus-
Distribution. The new species was found sian speleology, an outstanding scientist,
in two caves located in the Akhun Karst Professor Georgy Alexeevitch Maximo-
Massif not far from Khosta (Sochi region, vitch (Russia, Perm, 1904–1979).
Krasnodar Territory, Russia). One of these,
the Akhunskaya Cave, is situated on the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
western slope of Akhun Mount at an eleva-
tion of 350 m above sea level. It represents We heartily thank A.I. Roubchenya (Be-
one of few Caucasian labyrinth caves. In larus, Minsk) who helped us while collecting
its morphology, the cave is similar to some material in caves. Our special gratitude goes
to V.A. Koval (Saint Petersburg) for his long-
huge gypsum caves of Podolia (Ukraine).
term assistance in the field work. We are pleased
We have been exploring the Akhunskaya
to thank A.E. Korolev (Saint Petersburg) for
Cave since 1988. Nonetheless, a few speci-
mounting some type specimens. We are also in-
mens of the species described in the pres-
debted to the Gorbachevs’ and Gakayevs’ fami-
ent paper, had been firstly collected only 10 lies (Sochi) for their cordial hospitality during
years afterwards. In summer, the air tem- our stay in the area of investigations.
perature was observed to range between
8 and 11 °C. In this cave, C. maximovitchi REFERENCES
sp. nov. co-occurs with Caucasorites victori
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Nannotrechus Winkler du Caucase et de la Cri-
birintovaya Cave, is located in the valley of
mée (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechini). Pen-
the Khosta River in the southeastern spurs
soft, Sofia–Moscow–St. Petersburg. 256 p.
of the same mount at an elevation near 100
Jeannel, R. 1928. Monographie des Trechi-
m above sea level. Morphologically, the nae. Morphologie comparée et distribution
cave is a system of narrow corridors. It is géographique d’un groupe de coléoptères.
distinct in having rather high air tempera- (Troixième livraison). Les Trechini caver-
tures ranging from 12 to 15 °C the whole nicoles. L’Abeille, Journal d’Entomologie, 35:
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A single male specimen originated from Received February 7, 2011 / Accepted June 1, 2011
© 2011 Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Scienсes, Zoosystematica Rossica 20(1): 48–53