Harpalus depressus Audinet-Serville, 1821

Feronia languida Reiche & Saulcy, 1855

Within Platyderus, the members of Eremoderus are separated by the following set of distinctive characters: ventral sclerite of median lobe of aedeagus narrow and long (best seen at ventral view, Figs 10A–I, 11A–G); seminal canal and receptaculum of comparable lengths (Figs 13A–F, 14A–C, E, F, 15A–F); ventral margin of anterior side of mesofemur with four or more, rarely three (specimens of P. taghizadehi and P. weiratheri) setiferous punctures ventrally (Fig. 5A–I); proximal margin, i.e. the “apex” of urite IX symmetrical or nearly symmetrical (Fig. 7A–M).

Microsculpture and micropunctation. Dorsal surface of head with regular isodiametric to slightly transverse sculpticells that are more or less reduced on posterior half of clypeus and disc (most species) or with complete microreticulation of isodiametric sculpticells (taxa of “languidus” group), labrum with coarser such sculpticells than remainder of head. Elytral microreticulation distinct, usually more engraved and larger than on head and pronotum, represented by regular isodiametric sculpticells (some specimens of P. vanensis sp. nov. without micropunctation on elytral intervals 1–5). Dorsal surface of head and pronotum with scattered micropunctation hardly visible below magnification 90×, elytra with coarser, more distinct micropunctation, visible at magnification below 90× (micropunctation absent on dorsal surface of head and elytra in most taxa of “languidus” group, except for head of P. languidus). Punctation. Basal foveae of pronotum and adjacent lateral areas moderately punctate, punctures at sides usually not reaching anterior half (P. weiratheri, taxa of “lassallei” and “davatchii” groups), coarsely and densely punctate as punctures at sides usually reaching anterior half (P. chatzakiae n.sp., taxa of “iranicus-vanensis” group), or scarcely punctate to impunctate (P. afghanistanicus sp. nov., taxa of “languidus” group). Prosternum laterally and proepisternum moderately (most species) to coarsely, densely and deeply punctate (taxa of “iranicus-vanensis” group) or finely, sparsely and shallowly punctate to impunctate (taxa of “languidus” group). Prosternum medially and metasternum medially smooth. Mesepisternum, metasternum laterally and metepisternum indistinctly (P. afghanistanicus, taxa of “languidus” groups) or clearly punctate (taxa of resting species groups, as in P. vanensis sp. nov. more coarsely than in other species). Abdominal ventrite 1 punctate and/or wrinkled, sometimes impunctate, ventrites 2–3 wrinkled, punctate or impunctate at sides, smooth medially, ventrites 4–5 mostly impunctate and smooth, but sometimes finely wrinkled at sides, 6 usually impunctate and smooth in whole (ventrites 1–4 coarsely punctate at sides in eastern populations of P. vanensis sp. nov.). Chaetotaxy. Labrum with six equidistant setae, lateral two longer than medial four. Clypeus with two long anterolateral setae. Two supraorbital setae each side. Stipes with anterior and posterior setae, former about half the length of latter. Pair of long setae on apical margin of ligula. Penultimate labial palpomere with two long setae on internal margin and 2–4 rather short apical setae; terminal labial palpomere with some scattered, very short and fine hairs. Mentum with two short and fine paramedial setae (sometimes broken off). Submentum with two long medial setae and two very short and fine lateral setae (occurring in most species but often broken off) or without lateral setae (P. klapperichi sp. nov.). Pronotum with one lateral seta at second quarter and one basal seta near posterior angles. Elytron with parascutellar seta at junction of angular base of stria 1, puncture small; interval 3 with three (rarely two) discal setiferous punctures (in P. vanensis sp. nov., punctures hardly discernible because of coarse and deep macropunctation of interval), first one adjoining stria 3 (rarely in midst of interval 3 – P. chatzakiae sp. nov., adjoining stria 2 – P. irakensis sp. nov. or absent – in most specimens of “iranicus-vanensis” group), second and third punctures adjoining stria 2, first puncture situated in anterior third, second puncture in medial third or third quarter, and third puncture (lacking in P. chatzakiae sp. nov.) in posterior third to fifth; apical portion of stria 7 with two setiferous punctures, as posterior one situated closer to lateral gutter than to suture; umbilicate series consists of 16–17 (rarely 15 or 18 on one elytron) uniform punctures, not forming compact groups, anterior three punctures on lateral gutter, remaining ones on stria 8. Posterior side of profemur with three (most species) or more (P. brunneus, P. irakensis, P. jordanensis, P. languidus) long setae, one to two in basal third, one to two in medial third (near ventral edge), and one in proximal fifth (near knee). Anterior side of mesofemur ventrally usually with four or more setae, rarely with three setae; mesocoxa surface vaguely (most species) or densely pubescent (taxa of “languidus” group), with one posteromedial seta and one (most species) or one to four lateral setae (taxa of “weiratheri” and “languidus” groups); mesotrochanter with seta. Anterior side of metafemur ventrally mostly with one seta in basal third and one in medial third (additional setae existing in specimens of taxa from “languidus” group). Abdominal ventrites 3–5 with ambulatory setae; last ventrite with two setae in male and female. Head. Eyes subconvex, long, each with length little exceeding length of scapus; tempora oblique, straight or convexly converging to neck. Labrum as long as or slightly shorter than clypeus. Clypeus slightly concave in front, rarely straight (P. afghanistanicus sp. nov.). Mentum and submentum separate by distinct labial suture; mentum wide, short, deeply emarginate, without paramedial pits, median tooth, prominent, rounded anteriorly and bordered at base, epilobes well-exceeding median tooth in front, with posterior border medially concave. Thorax. Disc of pronotum barely to moderately convex; median line well-impressed, long but not reaching anterior and posterior margin; base with one sublinear fovea each side, impressed on basal third, foveae well-impressed (most species) or shallowly impressed (taxa of “languidus” group); anterior margin narrower than posterior margin, slightly concave each side, median projection covering pars stridens (stridulatory organs); anterior bead narrow, present laterally, impressed, present, lacking or indistinctly impressed in medial eighth to tenth; anterior angles well-projecting, rounded at tip; sides convex, straight or concave to base, lateral beads fine, complete to posterior angles; posterior margin concave in middle, slightly convex near angles; basal bead present laterally, present or reduced medially; posterior angles obtuse, projecting or not projecting laterally, rounded at tip. Prosternal process bordered, subovate, rounded at apex. Metepisternum narrowed behind, its internal margin as long as, or longer than, anterior margin. Elytra. Elytra coalesced along suture, widest at middle third or third quarter. Disc convex; humeri widely rounded. Basal bead arcuate medially, reaching or almost reaching scutellum, laterally forming obtuse angle with lateral margin and no denticle at humerus. Sides from basal margin towards middle third smoothly widened, from there to apex roundly narrowed. Parascutellar striole, if present, short, joining (rarely) or not joining (mostly) with stria 1; striae 1–6 usually reaching or almost reaching basal bead, 7 reaching or not reaching to it; base of stria 8 ending at third umbilicate puncture; striae 1, 7 and 8 apically separately joining lateral gutter; striae 1 and 2 mostly fused shortly before apex and reaching lateral gutter (if stria 2 not joining stria 1, it ends before lateral gutter); pairs of striae 3–4 and 5–6 fused before apex but neither joined stria reach lateral gutter (joined stria of pair 3–4 ending more apically than that of pair 5–6; in two specimens of P. felixi sp. nov., following aberration exists: striae 3 and 4 posteriorly, each of them fusing separately with stria 2 and joined stria reaching lateral gutter); parascutellar striola and striae 1–8 impunctate or finely punctate, shallow (taxa of “languidus” group), finely to moderately punctate and impressed (most species), or coarsely punctate and impressed (P. vanesis sp. nov.). Intervals subconvex (most species) to nearly flat (taxa of “languidus” group). Metathoracic wings reduced, scales-like, or absent. Abdomen. Ventrites 2 and 3 coalesced, suture between them mostly present, rarely lacking. Legs. Moderately to considerably long and slender. Tarsomeres 1–5 convex and smooth (most species; Fig. 6D, E) or partly flattened and slightly longitudinally grooved (P. brunneus, P. irakensis; Fig. 6A–C) on dorsal side, with two rows of setae on ventral side; male protarsomeres 1–3 distinctly dilated, with biseriate adhesive vestiture ventrally; mesotarsomeres 1–3 and metatarsomeres 1–3 laterally grooved or ungrooved. Male genitalia. Urite IX suboval, with proximal margin not or slightly asymmetrical (Fig. 7A–M). Median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view curved ventrally, with basal bulb protruding dorsally and having a well-developed, thick aileron and apex straight or turned up (Figs 8A–I, 9B–H); same in ventral view straight, subcylindrical, with long shaft (part restricted between basal bulb and apical lamella) and apical lamella more or less symmetrical (Figs 10A–I, 11A–G). Internal sac well-differentiated, containing two sclerites, a less sclerotized (reticulate), globular dorsal sclerite and a more sclerotized, elongate ventral sclerite (respectively, light grey colored and dark grey colored on Figs 8–11); in lateral view dorsal sclerite rounded (often a denser, saddle-shaped structure at proximal position is distinguished), and ventral sclerite is drop-shaped, both sclerites hardly distinctive to each other in lateral position than in ventral position; in ventral view dorsal sclerite is laterally rounded (forming one or two short curves from left side and one long curve from right side), and ventral sclerite is long and more or less narrow, with distal end straight or nearly straight (taxa of most species groups) or curved to left (“lassallei” and “davatchii” groups) and a position within internal sac parallel to longitudinal axis of median lobe (most species) or oblique to it (“weiratheri” group). Right paramere short, thin, more or less concave ventrally (Fig. 12A–N). Female genitalia (Figs 13A–F, 14A–C, E, F, 15A–F). Basal gonocoxite large to very large (five to ten times larger than apical gonocoxite), unsetose. Apical gonocoxite small, short, with narrow, falcate apex (mostly pointed, rarely blunt or rounded), one (taxa of “languidus” group, except for P. brunki sp. nov.) or two large dorsolateral ensiform setae (taxa of “weiratheri”, “iranicus-vanensis”, “lassallei”, “davatchii” group plus P. brunki sp. nov.), one large dorsomedial ensiform seta, and two long and fine apical nematiform setae in sensory pit (nematiform setae not found only in P. jordanensis sp. nov. and P. languidus). Bursa copulatrix small to moderately large, subconical or subquadrate, one-chambered in most species, two-chambered in P. irakensis sp. nov. Spermatheca relatively long, moderately differentiated, formed by seminal canal and receptaculum of similar length, seminal canal narrower, somewhat curved, receptaculum wide and straight; spermathecal gland very large, subelongate to round, with well-differentiated atrium; spermathecal canal short, connected in apical second fourth of spermatheca, either in basal third (taxa of “languidus” group, except P. brunki sp. nov. and P. insignitus) or medial third of receptaculum (two foregoing species plus taxa of remaining species groups).

Figure 1. 

Dorsal habitus. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) chatzakiae, sp. nov., holotype; B. P. (E.) weiratheri Mařan, 1940, lectotype and its labels; C. P. (E.) felixi, sp. nov., holotype; D. P. (E.) iranicus, sp. nov., male paratype, Cheri pass 20 km W Samsami, Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari Province, Iran; E. P. (E.) vanensis, sp. nov., holotype; F. P. (E.) vrabeci, sp. nov., holotype. Scale bars: 1 mm.

“weiratheri ” species group

Diagnosis. Representatives of this group share one trait, the ventral sclerite of internal sac obliquely situated with respect to the main axis of the median lobe in the ventral view and distinctly bent in middle in lateral view (Fig. 10A, B). Species from the other groups of Eremoderus have a ventral sclerite parallel to the main axis of the median lobe in ventral view and straight in the lateral view (Fig. 10C–I). This trait divides the subgenus into two groups that may separate, one including the taxa of the “weiratheri” group, and another – taxa of the remaining species groups.

Notes. The group includes P. weiratheri from Southwest Turkey and P. chatzakiae sp. nov. from Kalymnos Island (Greece, Dodecanese; see Fig. 16). The first species inhabits high altitudes in the western Toros Range, whereas the second one is a dweller of Mediterranean scrub habitat at lower altitudes.

Greece, Kalymnos Island, Stimenia Cave.

The Stimenia Cave is situated in the northeastern part of the Vathi Valley, in an area called St. Nikolas, on the Kalymnos Island, belonging to the Dodecanese.

Holotype ♂, ʻ8422, KALYMNOS Stimenia, end / road st18 9/6/2005, Lg Chatzaki’ (NHMC).

TME: 1 specimen. TGE: 1♂.

Latinized eponym based on the surname of Maria Chatzaki (Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Greece), a Greek arachnologist, who collected the holotype.

P. chatzakiae sp. nov. differs from P. weiratheri in wider body (BW: 2.85 mm, vs. 2.35–2.60 mm), more coarsely punctate disc of head (vs. finely punctate or nearly smooth disc of head), anterior elytral discal puncture situated in midst of interval 3 (vs. anterior discal puncture adjoining stria 3), and elytra both in relation to elytra width narrower (EL/EW= 1.60, vs. 1.63–1.71) and in relation to pronotum length shorter (EL/PL= 2.49, vs. 2.55–2.83).

Habitus. Large size for Platyderus species (BL: 8.05 mm; BW: 2.85 mm), with elongate, moderately convex body (Fig. 1A). Measurements and ratios. See Table 1. Color and lustre. Body dorsally and ventrally red-brown, head, pronotum and ventral surface slightly darker than elytra, appendages (antennae, palpi and legs) and elytral epipleura slightly lighter than elytra. Head, pronotum, and ventral surface rather shiny, elytra much less shiny. Microsculpture and punctation. Pronotum without regular microreticulation even on anterolateral and posterolateral parts. Elytral intervals, scutellum and basal margin with distinct isodiametric sculpticells; lateral gutter without microsculpture. Ventral surface with scarcely-visible isodiametric sculpticells (proepisternum) or with sculpticells slightly transverse (abdominal ventrites at sides) to not apparent. Head punctate and wrinkled on disc and posterior part of clypeus, labrum impunctate, without wrinkles, anterior part of clypeus and vertex sparsely punctate, without wrinkles. Pronotum coarsely and densely punctate in basal part and laterally, finely and sparsely punctate on disc and anterior part medially. Elytra with scanty micropunctation. Abdominal ventrite 1 moderately wrinkled, ventrites 2–6 smooth. Head. One-third narrower than pronotum wide (PW/HW= 1.34). Eyes almost flat. Labrum subrectangular, as long as clypeus, with anterior margin rather concave. Frontoclypeal suture distinct in middle, indistinct at sides. Frontal furrows subfoveolate, shallow. Paraorbital sulci straight, moderately deep, ended posteriorly after level of posterior margin of eye and slightly before level of posterior supraorbital pore. Thorax. Pronotum slightly wider than long (PW/PL= 1.19), with widest point at second quarter. Anterior and posterior transverse impressions slightly distinct medially, lacking laterally. Sides sinuate, convex medially and anteriorly, slightly concave posteriorly; anterior border distinctly beaded laterally, indistinctly in medial 1/15; posterior margin finely beaded. Metepisternum as long as wide, MA/MI= 0.97–1.03. Elytra. Elongate, less than one and two thirds as long as wide (EL/EW= 1.60), two and a half times as long as pronotum (EL/PL= 2.49), and about a third as wide as pronotum (EW/PW= 1.31), with widest point at medial third. Parascutellar striole and striae well-impressed, slightly punctate; parascutellar striole short, not joining stria 1; striae 1–3 (and 4 on right elytron) reaching basal bead, 5–7 not reaching it. Interval 3 with three discal setiferous punctures on left elytron and two on right elytron, first pair of large, foveolate punctures in midst of interval 3, second pair of smaller, punctiform punctures adjoining stria 2, third pair of punctures lack, instead an additional large, foveolate puncture present in midst of interval 3 of left elytron between first and second punctures. Umbilicate setiferous series with 17 punctures on left elytron and 16 punctures on right elytron. Legs. Posterior side of profemur with one seta in basal third and one seta in medial third. Anterior side of left mesofemur ventrally with five, right one with four equidistant setiferous punctures. Anterior side of metafemur ventrally with two long setae, one in basal third and one in medial third. Male genitalia. Urite IX suboval, with proximal margin slightly asymmetrical and pointed (Fig. 7A). Median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view, with short basal bulb, long and broad shaft moderately constricted proximally, and a short, straight apex; median lobe in ventral view straight, about 3.5 times longer than wide; apical lamella (dorsal view) short, symmetrical, subacuminate at tip, with sides straight. Internal sac in lateral view (Fig. 8A) with ventral sclerite partly visible (as a short plate); same in ventral view (Fig. 10A), with dorsal sclerite situated proximally and surrounding ventral sclerite from behind, ventral sclerite obliquely situated, broadened distally. Right paramere less concave ventrally (Fig. 12A). Female genitalia. Unknown.

The holotype was collected in a pitfall trap that was set (3 May–9 June 2005) at the end of a street leading to Stimenia Cave, west of Vathys Village (Maria Chatzaki pers. comm.). The habitat where the specimen was found consists of a homogenous degraded phrygana (Mediterranean open scrubland and grass community at low altitude). Approximate GPS coordinates of the location are: 36.9975 26.9607.

Kalymnos Island (Greece, Dodecanese; Fig. 16).

The mount Bozdağlar (Ancient Greek name: Tmōlos), with maximal elevation 2159 m a.s.l., is situated in the southwestern part of the Anatolian Peninsula.

Platyderus weiratheri: Jedlička 1963: 22; Lorenz 1998: 375; Hovorka and Sciaky 2003: 523; Lorenz 2005: 396; Hovorka 2017: 760.

Should consist of two male and three female specimens (Mařan ibid.) all of them syntypes according to Art. 73.2.1. (ICZN 1999). From these specimens, we found only one male syntype with extracted genitalia, here designated as lectotype. This specimen and its genitalia (with missing urite) are glued on two separate white cards on the same pin. The specimen designated herewith as lectotype is labelled as follows: ‘♂ [w, p] // Tmolos-Gbg., Lydien, / West-Klainasien. / Weirather, Innsbruck [w, p] // TYPUS [r, p] // Mus. Nat. Pragae / Inv. 927 [o, h/p] // Platyderus weiratheri m. Dr. Mařan det. [w, h&p] // lectotype label’ [NMPC]. The depositories and present state of remaining four type specimens remain unknown.

Turkey: Bozdağlar (= Mount Tmolus) situated on territories of districts of İzmir, Manisa and Aydin: 1♂, ‘Tmolos-Gbg., Lydien, / West-Kleinasien. / Weirather, Innsbruck // Platyderus spec. ? det. J. Müller (vergl. mit cyprius !) // Coll. Mus. / Vindob.’ (NMW); 1♂, 1♀, ‘Tmolos-Gbg., Lydien, / West-Kleinasien. / Weirather, Innsbruck // Coll. Mus. / Vindob.’ (NMW); 2♂♂, 1♀, ‘Tmolos-Gbg., Lydien, / West-Kleinasien. / Weirather, Innsbruck’ (NMW); 1♂, ‘Boz dağ, vt N / 1150–1200 m / 5–5–1995 // TURQUIE / Izmir / C. JEANNE // Collection / Machard’ (cMAC); 3♀♀, ʻTURKEY, vil. Izmir, Boz / dağlari, Boz dağ köy env. / 1500–1700 m a.s.l. / 30.5.–3.6.̍03, R.Lohaj lgt.’ (NMNHS, cWR).

TME: 11 specimens. TGE: 2♂♂, 1♀.

See “Diagnosis” of P. chatzakiae sp. nov.

Habitus. Specimens of large size for Platyderus species (BL: 7.00–8.10 mm; BW: 2.35–2.60 mm), with rather elongate, moderately convex body (Fig. 1B). Measurements and ratios. See Table 1. Color and lustre. Body dorsally and ventrally dark reddish, head and pronotum mostly lighter than elytra, appendages (antennae, palpi and legs) rufous, lighter colored than dorsal surface. Integument moderately shiny, head and pronotum slightly shinier than elytra. Microsculpture and punctation. Pronotum without regular microreticulation. Elytral intervals and scutellum with distinct isodiametric sculpticells; basal margin and lateral gutter with such sculpticells less evident or without microsculpture. Ventral surface with hardly visible isodiametric (proepisternum) or slightly transverse sculpticells (abdominal ventrites at sides) or mostly sculpticells not apparent. Head with some punctures and wrinkles only clypeus and frons, labrum, disc and vertex without punctures and wrinkles. Pronotum in basolateral part coarsely and sensely punctate, basal punctures reaching or not reaching the anterior half laterally, disc and anteroapical part mostly smooth, anterior third medially finely punctate and wrinkled. Elytral intervals mostly with a row of punctures, rarely without punctation. Abdominal ventrites 1–5 wrinkled at sides. Head. One-third or narrower than pronotum wide (PW/HW= 1.32–1.44). Eyes slightly convex. Labrum subrectangular, slightly shorter than clypeus, with anterior margin concave. Frontoclypeal suture distinct in middle, indistinct at sides. Frontal furrows barely distinct, small and shallow. Paraorbital sulci straight, moderately deep, ending backwards slightly before level of posterior supraorbital pore. Thorax. Pronotum about one eighth to one quarter wider than long (PW/PL= 1.13–1.27), with widest point at second quarter. Anterior and posterior transverse impressions slightly distinct medially. Sides sinuate, convex medially and anteriorly, slightly to hardly concave posteriorly; anterior border lack in medial 1/10. Metepisternum about as long as wide, MA/MI= 0.95–1.02. Elytra. Elongate, about two thirds longer than wide (EL/EW= 1.63–1.71), two and a half times or longer than pronotum (EL/PL= 2.55–2.83), and a third wider than pronotum (EW/PW= 1.29–1.40), with widest point at medial third or third quarter. Parascutellar striole and striae well-impressed, more coarsely punctate than in P. chatzakiae sp. nov. and less coarsely than in P. vanensis sp. nov.; striole short, not joining stria 1; striae 1–6 reaching or almost reaching basal bead, 7 reduced before. Interval 3 with three discal setiferous punctures on each elytron. Umbilicate setiferous series consisting of 15–16 (rarely 17) punctures on each elytron. Legs. Posterior side of profemur with one seta in basal third and one seta in medial third. Anterior side of mesofemur ventrally mostly with 4 equidistant setiferous punctures, rarely with 3 or 5 punctures (Fig. 5A). Anterior side of metafemur ventrally with two long setae, one in basal third and one in medial third. Male genitalia. Urite IX with proximal margin almost asymmetrical (Fig. 7B). Median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view as in P. chatzakiae, with shaft little longer (Fig. 8B); median lobe in ventral view straight, about 3.5 times longer than wide (Fig. 10B); apical lamella (dorsal view) as in P. chatzakiae. Internal sac as in P. chatzakiae, only ventral sclerite narrowed toward both proximal and distal ends, with widest point in middle (Fig. 10B). Right paramere on Fig. 12B. Female genitalia (Fig. 13A). Apical gonocoxite with pointed apex and two dorsolateral ensiform setae. Spermathecal canal connected in medial third of receptaculum.

Figure 2. 

Dorsal habitus. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) sp., female specimen, Karabet Pass, Turkey; B. P. (E.) lassallei, sp. nov., female paratype, E Qolqol, Mazandaran Province, Iran; C. P. (E.) klapperichi, sp. nov., holotype; D. P. (E.) ledouxi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, 10 km S Hasan Keif, Mazandaran Province, Iran; E. P. (E.) taghizadehi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, Tochal, Tehran Province, Iran. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Nothing is known about bionomics of this species.

Apparently endemic to the mountains of the Bozdağlar Mountain, in Southwest Turkey (Fig. 16).

“iranicus-vanensis ” group

Diagnosis. Includes species with basal foveae of pronotum and adjacent lateral areas coarsely and densely punctate with punctures at sides usually reaching anterior half. The prosternum laterally and proepisternum also coarsely and densely punctate. The ventral sclerite of internal sac of median lobe in ventral view is elongate, relatively wide, with straight distal end; the same in lateral view is significantly widened anteriorly having maximum width at the distal third about three or more times larger than width at the proximal third (Figs 8C–F, 10C–F). Most specimens lack also the first elytral discal puncture and have apical gonocoxite with proximal dorsolateral ensiform seta finer than the distal seta.

In addition, the Iranian congeners of the “iranicus-vanensis” group differ from those of the “davatchii” group in: (1) sides of pronotum nearly straight to the posterior angles (vs. sides of pronotum concave to the posterior angles) and (2) pronotum appreciably wider than long (PW/PL >1.20, vs. PW/PL <1.20). For further differences between taxa of the group dealt with here and P. lassallei see “Diagnosis” under the “lassallei” species group.

Habitat. The habitats of the Eremoderus-species in the Zagros (Iran) consist mostly of subalpine slopes, partly near snowfields, and seldom of cultivated grasslands and small orchards. Outside the cultivated grasslands along the rivers and streams the vegetation is xerophilic. The altitude of the area where P. felixi sp. nov. was collected is appreciably lower than that of the localities of P. iranicus sp. nov.

“iranicus ” subgroup

Notes. This complex includes two allopatric, high altitudinal species, P. felixi and P. iranicus with parascutellar striole, striae 1–8 scarcely punctate and moderately impressed and quite short and crooked right parameres (Fig. 12C, D).

Iran, Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari Province, 10 km W Naghan Town, 31.9410, 50.6014, 1492–1505 m.

The distance from Naghan Town to the type locality is about 10 km in straight line and the direction is to the west of the town. The GPS coordinates and height indicated are more or less correct as they well correspond to the river that flows towards the village of Do Polan. In fact, the type locality is closer to the last village than to Naghan Town.

Holotype ♂, ‘IRAN, / Chahār Mahāll vā Bachtīārī / 10km W Naghan Town / 31°56'27"N, 050°36'05.5"E / 1492–1505m, 02.04.2007 / leg. Jan Muilwijk’ (HMIM). Paratypes: 4♀♀, labeled as holotype (cMUI); 1♂, ‘IRAN, / Chahār Mahāll vā Bachtīārī / 10km W Naghan Town / 31°56'27"N, 050°36'05.5"E / 1492–1505m, 02.04.2007 / leg. R.F.F.L. Felix’ (cFEL).

TME: 6 specimens. TGE: 2♂♂, 1♀.

Latinized patronym name after Ron Felix (Berkel-Enschot, Netherlands), an enthusiastic coleopterologist working on the taxonomy of carabid beetles, with great collecting skills, who collected part of the type series of the new species.

It is distinct from P. iranicus sp. nov. in the pronotum significantly wider than head (PW/HW ≥1.45, vs. PW/HW ≤1.45) and elytra noticeably less wide in relation to length (EL/EW ≤1.55, vs. EL/EW ≥1.55). In addition, median lobe of aedeagus (lateral view) of the new species is larger, with shaft broader and apex barely bent up (P. iranicus has significantly narrower shaft and apex more distinctly bent up; Fig. 8C, D).

Habitus. Specimens of moderate size for Platyderus species (BL: 6.00–7.00 mm; BW: 2.20–2.50 mm), with relatively short, moderately convex body (Fig. 1C). Measurements and ratios. See Table 1. Color and lustre. Integument uniformly reddish-brown, appendages somewhat lighter than body. Surface moderately shiny. Microsculpture and punctation. Disc of head with less distinct microsculpture. Pronotum with regular isodiametric sculpticells posterolaterally and slightly stretched isodiametric sculpticells anterolaterally, microsculpture faint to absent in middle. Ventral surface (excl. gula) microsculptured, sculpticells isodiametric (mentum, submentum, pro-, mes-, and metepisternum, prosternum and abdominal ventrites laterally) or slightly stretched isodiametric (genae, medial surface of prosternum, metasternum, abdominal ventrites medially and legs). Head. As wide as a half of pronotum (mean PW/HW= 1.49). Eyes moderately convex. Labrum subrectangular, as long as clypeus, with anterior margin straight. Frontoclypeal suture distinct in middle but very fine, lacking at sides. Frontal furrows shallow, punctiform. Paraorbital sulci moderately deep, ending slightly before or at level of posterior supraorbital pore. Thorax. Pronotum distinctly wider than long (mean PW/PL= 1.31), with widest point at second quarter. Anterior and posterior transverse impressions indistinct. Anterior bead present medially, very fine. Sides convex anteriorly, nearly straight posteriorly. Metepisternum slightly longer than wide, MA/MI= 0.90–0.95. Elytra. Cylindrical, one and a half time as long as wide (mean EL/EW= 1.52), wider and quite longer than pronotum (mean EW/PW= 1.31; mean EL/PL= 2.62). Parascutellar striole and striae moderately impressed, wide; striole short, not joining stria 1; striae 1–6 reaching basal bead, 7 reduced before. Following aberration exists in two specimens, striae 3 and 4 posteriorly, each of them fusing separately with stria 2 and joined stria reaches lateral gutter, otherwise striae posteriorly as in subgeneric description. Interval 3 with three or two minute discal setiferous punctures situated as follows: anterior puncture (in most specimens missing on one or both elytron) adjoining stria 2, in middle of interval 3 or adjoining stria 3, remaining two punctures adjoining stria 2. Umbilicate setiferous series mostly consists of 16 punctures on elytron, rarely with 17 punctures. Legs. Posterior side of profemur with one seta in basal third and one in medial third. Mesofemur with four setiferous punctures on anterior side ventrally (Fig. 5B). Anterior side of metafemur ventrally with two long setae, one in basal third and one in medial third. Male genitalia. Urite IX small, oval, with proximal margin slightly asymmetrical and rounded (Fig. 7C). Median lobe of aedeagus curved in lateral view, with short basal bulb, long and broad shaft moderately constricted proximally, and apex hardly reversely turned up; median lobe in ventral view straight, ca. 3.7 times longer than wide; apical lamella more or less asymmetrical. Internal sac in lateral view (Fig. 8C) with ventral sclerite distinctly broadened and rounded distally; same in ventral view (Fig. 10C), with dorsal sclerite forming a concave left protuberance and a convex right curve, and ventral sclerite narrow and completely straight. Right paramere rather short and crooked (Fig. 12C). Female genitalia (Fig. 13B). Apical gonocoxite with pointed apex and two dorsolateral ensiform setae. Spermathecal canal connected in medial third of receptaculum.

Figure 3. 

Dorsal habitus. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) afghanistanicus, sp. nov., holotype; B. P. (E.) arabicus, sp. nov., holotype; C. P. (E.) brunki, sp. nov., holotype; D. P. (E.) brunneus brunneus Karsch, 1881, lectotype and its labels; E. P. (E.) brunneus brunneus Karsch, 1881, male specimen, 50 km W of Ben Gardane, Medenine Governorate, Tunisia; F. P. (E.) brunneus ferrantei Reitter, 1909, lectotype and its labels. Scale bars: 1 mm.

The new species lives in sympatry with Platyderus (s. str.) umbratus (Ménétriés, 1832). However, P. felixi has pronotum more coarsely punctate in basolateral parts with punctures almost reaching the lateral margin, mesotibia with four setiferous punctures on its anterior side ventrally, and short urite with apex more symmetrical (Fig. 7C), whereas P. umbratus possesses pronotum shallowly punctate in base with punctures mostly limited to the basal impressions, mesotibia with two setiferous punctures on its anterior side ventrally, and long urite with apex curved to left (as in Fig. 7O).

The specimens were hand collected by R. Felix and J. Muilwijk close to the village Do Polan along the river course. The vegetation there consisted of (over)-grazed grassland, fields and small orchards; characteristic of a cultivated landscape.

Southwest Iran: Central Zagros Mountain Chains (Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari Province, Kiar County; Fig. 17).

Iran, Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari Province, 7 km NE Naghan Town, 31.97472, 50.77694, 2400 m.

Holotype 1♂, ‘IRAN, / Chahār Mahāll vā Bachtīārī / 7km NE Naghan Town / 31°58'29"N, 050°46'37"E 2400m / 03.04.2007, leg. Jan Muilwijk’ (HMIM). Paratypes: 1♀, labelled as holotype (cMUI); 1♀, ‘IRAN (Chahār Mahāll vā Bachtīārī) / Zagros Mts. / Boldaghi vill. (nr Choghaklor lake) / 3 km S Sibak, 2600–2700 m / 31°51'47"N, 50°55'24” E / (subalpine slopes with snowfields / under stones) / 20.IV.2018 Wrase & Laser [07]’ (cWR); 1♂, ‘IRAN (Chahār Mahāll vā Bachtīārī) / Zagros Mts., Zard Koh Mt. / Cheri pass 20 km W Samsami / 2775 m, 32°09'55"N/ 50°10'37"E / (subalpine slopes/under stones) / 21.IV.2018 Wrase & Laser [08]’ (cWR); 5♂♂, 1♀, ‘IRAN, Zagros Mts., P: / Chahar Mahal va / Bachtiari, Zard Koh Mt. / pass, subalpine slope // 2770m, 21.IV.2018 / 32°09'55"N/ 50°10'37"E / leg. M. Hartmann’ (cNME); 10♂♂, 5♀♀, 32°09'55"N, 50°10'37"E Iran / Zagros Mts., p. Chahār Mahāll / vā Bachtīārī, Zard Koh Mts., pass / 20km W Samsami, subalpine / slopes 21.IV.2018 2.775m NN / leg.: Schnitter IR49’ (NME); 12♂♂, 2♀♀, ‘IRAN: Zagros Mts., p.Chahār Mahāll / vā Bachtīārī, Zard Koh Mts.,pass 20km / W Samsami, 32°09'55"N, 50°10'37"E / 2775m, 21.IV.2018, subalp. slopes / leg. A.Weigel #49’ (NME); 1♀, ‘IR Chaharmahal and / Bakhtiari Cheri pass / 4.vi.2018 3000m / 32°09'31"N, 50°10'47"E / Muilwijk J.’ (cMUI); 1♂, ‘IR Chaharmahal and / Bakhtiari Cheri pass / 5.vi.2018 2450m / 32°10'36"N, 50°10'06"E / Muilwijk J.’ (cMUI); 9♀♀, ‘IR Chahar Mahaal Va / Bakhtiari Chery pass / 31.v.2019 Muilwijk J. / 2950–3260 m / 32°10'51"N, 50°09'59"E (cMUI, HMIM); 1♂, 2♀♀, ‘IRAN (Chahār Mahāll vā Bachtīārī) / Zagros Mts., 5 km SW Asad Abad / 32°20'30"N/ 50°32'59"E / ca 2400 m (subalpine slopes/ / under stones) / 19.IV.2018 Wrase & Laser [03]’ (cWR); 3♂♂, 32°20'30"N, 50°32'59"E Iran / Zagros Mts., p. Chahār Mahāll / vā Bachtīārī, Asad Abad 5 km SW / snow field, high pasture / 19.IV.2018 2.500–2.770m NN / leg.: Schnitter IR 44’ (NME); 1♂ (genitalia lost after study), 3♀♀, ‘IRAN Zagros Mts., P: Chahar / Mahall va Bachtiari, Asad / Abad 5 km SW, 32°20'30"N, / 50°32'59"E snow field, high / pasture, 19.IV.2018, 2.500– / 2.770m, leg. A. Weigel #18–04’ (NME); 3♂♂, ‘IRAN: Zagros Mts., p.Chahār Mahāll / vā Bachtīārī, Asad Abad 5 km SW, / 19.IV.2018, 32°20'30"N, 50°32'59"E / 2500–2770m, snow field, high / pasture leg. A. Weigel #44’ (NME); 1♂, ‘IRAN, Zagros Mts., P: / Chahar Mahal va / Bachtiari, Asad Abad / 5 km SW, 2500–2770m // 19.IV.2018, snow field / high pasture, 32°20'30"N, 50°32'59"E / leg. M. Hartmann, #3/18’ (NME); 4♂♂, 3♀♀, ‘IR Esfahan Kamran Pass / 1.vi.2019 Muilwijl J. / 3000–3300m / 32°45'49"N, 50°02'34"E’ (cMUI); 1♂, ‘IR Esfahan Pashadagan / 2.vi.2019 / Muilwijl J. 3000–3300m / 32°45'48"N, 49°59'52"E’ (cMUI).

Figure 4. 

Dorsal habitus. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) insignitus insignitus Bedel, 1902, male specimen, SW Tiznit, Sous-Massa Region, Morocco; B. P. (E.) irakensis, sp. nov., holotype; C. P. (E.) jordanensis, sp. nov., holotype; D. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), lectotype and its labels; E. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), male specimen, “Jerusalem Syria”, Jerusalem District, Israel. Scale bars: 1 mm.

TME: 72 specimens. TGE: 16♂♂, 3♀♀.

Adjective, derived from the name of the country where the species was collected.

See “Diagnosis” under P. felixi sp. nov.

Habitus. Specimens of small size for Platyderus species (BL: 4.30–6.65 mm; BW: 1.50–2.30 mm), with relatively short, moderately convex body (Fig. 1D). Measurements and ratios. See Table 1. Color and lustre. Integument uniformly yellow-brown to reddish-brown, appendages somewhat lighter than body. Surface moderately shiny. Microsculpture and punctation. Clypeus, vertex and disc of head with reduced microsculpture. Pronotum with regular isodiametric sculpticells posterolaterally and scarcely-visible to absent microsculpture in middle and anteriorly. Ventral surface with microsculpture and dorsal punctation as in P. felixi sp. nov. Head. About two thirds as wide as pronotum (mean PW/HW= 1.37). Eyes moderately convex. Labrum subrectangular, as long as or slightly shorter than clypeus, with anterior margin straight. Frontoclypeal suture and frontal furrows as in P. felixi sp. nov. Paraorbital sulci moderately deep, ending before level of posterior supraorbital pore. Thorax. Pronotum wider than long (mean PW/PL= 1.27), with widest point at second quarter. Anterior and posterior transverse impressions indistinct. Anterior bead lacking in medial 1/10 to 1/8. Sides convex anteriorly, straight posteriorly. Metepisternum somewhat longer than wide, MA/MI= 0.9–1.0. Elytra. Cylindrical, one and a half times or more as long as wide (mean EL/EW= 1.61), wider than pronotum and relatively long in relation to pronotum length (mean EW/PW= 1.31; mean EL/PL= 2.66). Parascutellar striole and striae as in P. felixi sp. nov. Interval 3 with two or three minute discal setiferous punctures, anterior puncture being mostly absent. Umbilicate setiferous series consisting mostly of 15 or 16 punctures. Legs. Posterior side of profemur with one seta in basal third and one in medial third. Anterior side of mesofemur ventrally with four setiferous punctures (Fig. 5C). Anterior side of metafemur ventrally with two long setae, one in basal third and one in medial third. Male genitalia. Median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view as in P. felixi sp. nov., but significantly narrower, with shaft less protruding dorsally and more constricted proximally (Fig. 8D); median lobe in ventral view straight, ca. 3.7 times longer than wide; apical lamella nearly symmetrical (Fig. 10D). Internal sac in lateral view as in P. felixi sp. nov., but with ventral sclerite truncate distally; same in ventral view as in P. felixi sp. nov. Right paramere as that of P. felixi sp. nov. but somewhat finer (Fig. 12D). Female genitalia (Fig. 13C). Apical gonocoxite with blunt apex and two dorsolateral ensiform setae. Spermathecal canal connected in medial third of receptaculum.

The holotype and one female paratype were collected along an artificial lake situated in a valley northwest of village Aliabad. They were caught at grassland with lots of stones situated along this lake. The vegetation there consisted of grassland, fields and small orchards – as a whole a cultivated landscape. Other ground beetles collected at this place, together with the new species, were Carabus maurus osculatii Villa, 1844, Poecilus festivus (Chaudoir, 1868) and Amblystomus niger (Heer, 1841).

Cheri Pass environments were represented by overgrazed grasslands with rocks and stones at lower altitudes and stone slopes with sparse vegetation and snow fields at higher altitudes. Similarly, Kamran Pass habitats were consisted of overgrazed grasslands at lower altitude and of stony (sub)alpine slopes with sparse vegetation and snow fields at higher altitudes.

Habitats around Asad Abad represent grasslands on subalpine slopes; specimens there were collected under stones, sometimes near edges of snowfields.

Southwest Iran: Central Zagros Mountain Chains. So far, four isolated populations are known: (1) Borujen County; (2) Kuhrang County (type locality); (3) Shahr-e Kord County (locality southwest Asad Abad); (4) Fereydunshahr County (Kamran Pass), the first three in Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari Province, the fourth one in Isfahan Province (near border area with Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari Province).

The two specimens collected 7 km northeast of Naghan Town represent the nearest population of P. iranicus sp. nov. to the type locality of P. felixi sp. nov., ca. 17 km in a straight line (Fig. 17). The specimen from the environments of the Choghaklor Lake was collected together with three specimens of Platyderus (s. str.) umbratus (Men.).

The distance between the population from the type locality (near Cheri Pass) and that one southwest of Asad Abad is ca. 45 km in a straight line. On the other hand, the distance between Cheri Pass and locality northeast of Naghan Town is ca. 62 km in a straight line. Respectively, the distance between the locality southwest of Asad Abad and that one northeast of Naghan Town is about 47 km in a straight line. The distance between the type locality (near Cheri Pass) and the locality of Kamran Pass is about 67 km in a straight line (the same distance is between the populations from the Kamran Pass and that of Asad Abad). The distance between the Kamran Pass (Fereydunshahr County) and the locality northeast of Naghan Town is about 112 km in a straight line.

Figure 5. 

Mesofemora, anterior side (A–D: left mesofemur, E–I: right mesofemur; white arrows and dots indicate position of setiferous punctures). A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) weiratheri Mařan, 1940, female specimen, Boz dağ köy env., Izmir District, Turkey; B. P. (E.) felixi, sp. nov., topotype female paratype; C. P. (E.) iranicus, sp. nov., topotype female paratype; D. P. (E.) lassallei, sp. nov., female paratype, Iran, Mazandaran Province, E Qolqol; E. P. (E.) klapperichi, sp. nov., holotype; F. P. (E.) taghizadehi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, Tochal, Tehran Province, Iran; G. P. (E.) afghanistanicus, sp. nov., holotype; H. P. (E.) brunneus ferrantei Reitter, 1909, lectotype; I. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), female specimen, Netanya 1.3.97, Central District, Israel. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

“vanensis ” subgroup

Notes. By its parascutellar striole and striae 1–8 more coarsely and densely punctate and more deeply impressed, the species from Eastern Turkey differ from those of the “iranicus” subgroup.

Turkey, Van Province, Gevaş Town environs.

Gevaş Town is situated on the southern shore of Van Lake. The holotype was perhaps collected in vicinities of the town.

Holotype : 1♂, ‘TURCIA or. Van / Gevas 29.6.1993 / lgt. J. Růžička // Platyderus / cf. / punctiger / (REICHE & SAULCY) / WRASE det. 2008’ (cWR). Paratypes: 1♀, ‘TURKEY OR. / GEVAS env., 2100–2600m / (CADIR DAGI) / 1993–06–29, Klíma lgt. // Platyderus / cf. / punctiger / (REICHE & SAULCY) / WRASE det. 2008’ (NMNHS); 1♂, 1♀, ‘Resadiye 1900m / TR: Bitlis 6.91 / coll. B. Lassalle’ (cLAS); 1♀, ‘CE TURKEY, prov. Bitlis / 38°37'N, 42°16'E 2290m / Şentepe env. / Nemrut Mt. – crater / 24.VI.08 lgt. E.Hajdaj // COLL. / E. & P. HAJDAJ / JEŽOV / Czech Republic’ (cHAJ); 5♂♂, 2♀♀, ‘TR, Bitlis, Yelkenli / Van lake, ca. 1800 m / ~ 38°28'N, 42°32'E / 21.IV.–20.V.2014 / pitfall, leg. C. Reuter’ (NMNHS, cREU, cWR); 1♀, ‘col de Buglan 1500m / TR Mus 6.88 / col. B. Lassalle’ (cLAS); 1♂, ‘E Turkey, Mus / 8km SE Solhan, Buglan / Gec., 1700–1800m / 38°56'N, 41°08'E 18. – / 20.VI.05 lgt. E.&P.Hajdaj’ (cHAJ); 3♂♂, 5♀♀, ‘TR, Bingöl / Muş / Buğlan Geçidi, 1640 m / 21.IV. – 11.V.2014 / pitfall, leg. C. Reuter’ (NMNHS, cREU, cWR).

TME: 22 specimens. TGE: 4♂♂, 2♀♀.

An adjective derived from the geographical name Van.

The new species is most closely related to P. vrabeci sp. nov., but easily differs from it by the apical lamella of the median lobe (dorsal and ventral view) that is less symmetrical and shorter (Fig. 10E), conical shape of bursa copulatrix (Fig. 13D, E), darker coloration of the integument, elytral striae and striole more coarsely punctate and smaller value PW/PА (1.32–1.41, vs. 1.41–1.42).

Habitus. Specimens of middle size for Platyderus species (BL: 6.85–8.40 mm; BW: 2.25–2.70 mm), with subelongate, slender body (Fig. 1E). Measurements and ratios. See Table 1. Color and lustre. Body dorsally and ventrally mostly reddish-brown, appendages (antennae, palpi and legs) lighter colored than body, some specimens from Buğlan Geçidi with elytra almost black, and head, pronotum and ventral surface reddish-brown. Integument rather shiny. Microsculpture and punctation. Pronotum and elytral intervals 1–5 (rarely also 6–7) without distinct sculpticells or with very faint ones, intervals 6–9 mostly (all specimens from Yelkenli) with distinct isodiametric sculpticells. Ventral surface mostly without visible sculpticells, sometimes with scarcely-visible isodiametric meshes. Pronotum coarsely and densely punctate in basal third and adjacent lateral areas, punctures at sides often reaching medial third. Abdominal ventrites 1–4 punctate at sides. Head. About two thirds as wide as pronotum (PW/HW= 1.30–1.43). Antennae long, with last three antennomeres exceeding base of pronotum. Eyes long, subconvex. Labrum subrectangular, with anterior margin slightly concave. Frontal furrows shallow, subfoveolate. Paraorbital sulci moderately deep, ending slightly before level of posterior supraorbital pore. Thorax. Pronotum wider than long (PW/PL= 1.13–1.24), widest point at anterior third. Anterior transverse impression barely distinct, posterior one distinct medially. Sides sinuate, convex anteriorly, concave posteriorly; anterior bead reduced in medial 1/10. Metepisternum slightly longer than wide, MA/MI= 0.87–0.93. Elytra. Elongate, about one and two thirds as long as wide (EL/EW= 1.61–1.73), two and a half times as long as pronotum (EL/PL= 2.52–2.74), and one third wider than pronotum (EW/PW= 1.22–1.36), with widest point at medial fifth. Parascutellar striole and striae deeply impressed (specimens from Buğlan Geçidi with striae 7–8 less impressed than others); parascutellar striole short, not connected with stria 1. Interval 3 with three discal setiferous punctures. Umbilicate setiferous punctures consisting of 16–17 (rarely 18) each side. Legs. Posterior side of profemur with one seta in basal third and one in medial third. Mesofemur with three or four setiferous punctures (three specimens with two on one side) on anterior side ventrally. Anterior side of metafemur ventrally with two long setae, one in basal third and one in medial third. Male genitalia. Median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view, with elongate basal bulb, long and broad shaft moderately constricted proximally, and short, straight apex; median lobe in ventral view straight, about 3.4 times longer than wide; apical lamella (dorsal view) short, symmetrical, rounded at tip, with sides straight or slightly convex. Internal sac in lateral view (Fig. 8E) with ventral sclerite distinctly broadened and rounded distally; same in ventral view (Fig. 10E), with dorsal sclerite forming a slightly sclerotized and short left-sided protuberance and a convex and long right-sided curve, and ventral sclerite narrow and nearly straight (only just scarcely bent to left). Female genitalia (Fig. 13D, E). Apical gonocoxite with semi-pointed apex and two dorsolateral ensiform setae. Spermathecal canal connected in medial third of receptaculum.

Christoph Reuter (CR) and Bernard Lassalle (BL) kindly provided us with information on habitat preferences. The specimens found by CR near Yelkenli were collected in a stunted oak forest. Underground is karst rock, in the middle of the tiny valley flows a small stream that still carries water, at least in spring. The series found by CR at Buğlan Geçidi, 1640 m, was collected in a semi-open landscape with a low, sparse oak forest of rather small, thin trees, a lot of scrubland, in between meadows, at least in some places, again karst rock, weathered rocks, and a lot of foliage. BL declare that he found a female specimen at Buğlan Geçidi, 1500 m, in “oak bushes”; same stated that, in Resadiye one male and one female of the new species was collected in small oak grove in a little valley.

Figure 6. 

Metatarsus, dorsal view. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) brunneus brunneus Karsch, 1881, left metatarsus, female specimen, Aziziyah, Jafara District, Libya; B. P. (E.) brunneus ferrantei Reitter, 1909, left metatarsus, female specimen, Holot Haluza, Southern District, Israel; C. P. (E.) irakensis, sp. nov., left metatarsus (black arrows indicate longitudinal grooves on metatarsomeres 2, 3 and 4), holotype; D. P. (E.) jordanensis, sp. nov., right metatarsus, holotype; E. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), right metatarsus, male specimen, Naẖal Prat, Judea and Samaria Area, Israel. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Turkey (provinces of Bingöl and Muş: Buğlan Geçidi; Bitlis Province; Van Province; Fig. 16). In Bitlis Province, the species inhabits the Nemrut volcanic massif west of Bitlis Town and the mountain region south of the Yelkenli (= Reşadiye) Bucaği. In Van Province, P. vanensis sp. nov. lives around Gevaş Town and in the Çadir Daği, a massif situated south of the town aforementioned. In the border area of provinces of Bingöl and Muş, it lives along the pass Buğlan Geçidi.

Turkey: 1♀, ‘Col. Karabet 3000m / TR. Van / 18 VII 84 Machard / Collection Machard’ (cMAC).

TME: 1 specimen. TGE: 0.

It is distinct from individuals of P. vanensis sp. nov. by flatter elytral intervals and less coarsely punctate elytral striae. Measurements and ratios shown on Table 1.

The specimen was collected by PM just before the pass Karabet Pass (eastern slope), on the road coming from Yukari-Narlica köyü village towards the pass. There is a large cirque on the left with many snowfields and streams descending from them; it was found in gravel between the rivulets, at an altitude of about 2800 m.

Karabet Pass [= Karabet Geçidi] (Turkey, Eastern Anatolia Region, Van Province).

The single female remains unidentified due to the lack of a male specimen. In addition, the characters of the elytral intervals and striae are not sufficiently diagnostic to propose a new name for this form.

Turkey, Adıyaman Province, Nemrut Dağı, NE of Adıyaman.

The Nemrut Dağı, a mount in Southeastern Anatolia, elevated over 2150 m a.s.l., not far from the upper reaches of the Euphrates. It belongs to the Taurus Mountains and lies 86 kilometers northeast of Adıyaman in the province of the same name.

The GPS coordinates indicated on original labels are imprecise. They were taken from a map after the time of collecting (V. Vrabec, pers. comm.).

Holotype ♂, ‘S Turkey: NEMRUT DAGI / (NE from Adiyaman), UTM: DC60 / 38.00N/38.35E, 1700–1900 m / mount. pastures, stone fields / 27.–28.IV.1997, V. Vrabec lgt.’ (cWR). Paratype: 1♀, labelled as holotype (NMNHS).

TME: 2 specimens. TGE: 1♂, 1♀.

Patronymic, named after Vladimír Vrabec, an entomologist interested in beetles and butterflies, who collected the type series of the new species.

It differs from P. vanensis sp. nov. by the uniformly lighter coloration of the body, by the elytra and strioles much less coarsely and deeply punctate, and by slightly higher value of ratio PW/PА (1.41–1.42, vs. 1.32–1.41). The apical lamella in P. vrabeci sp. nov. is also more symmetrical and elongate (Fig. 10F) and the bursa copulatrix is rounded (Fig. 13F).

Habitus. Specimens of relatively large size for Platyderus species (BL: 7.30–7.45 mm; BW: 2.40–2.50 mm), with elongate, moderately convex body (Fig. 1F). Measurements and ratios. See Table 1. Color and lustre. Body and appendages rusty red, head slightly darker than pronotum and elytra. Integument moderately shiny, head and pronotum shinier than elytra. Microsculpture and punctation. Pronotum without microreticulation. Elytral intervals and scutellum with distinct isodiametric sculpticells, basal margin and lateral gutterof elytra without evident microsculpture. Ventral surface largely with sculpticells not apparent or with scarcely-visible isodiametric (proepisternum, abdominal ventrites 1–5 laterally) or slightly transverse sculpticells (abdominal ventrite 6). Head with punctures and wrinkles only on posterior part of clypeus and areas in and around frontal furrows, rest of dorsal surface smooth. Pronotum coarsely punctate in basal third, with some punctures at sides reaching medial third; disc and apical third smooth. Elytral intervals with a row of irregular punctures. Abdominal ventrites smooth to very finely wrinkled at sides. Head. One-third or less as wide as pronotum (PW/HW= 1.38–1.42). Eyes moderately convex. Labrum subrectangular, as long as clypeus, with anterior margin slightly concave. Frontoclypeal suture distinct, impressed in middle, less distinct to obliterate at sides. Frontal furrows moderately distinct and impressed, subfoveolate. Paraorbital sulci straight, moderately deep, backward barely reaching posterior margin of eye, not reaching level of posterior supraorbital pore. Thorax. Pronotum about a quarter wider than long (PW/PL= 1.21–1.25), with widest point at second quarter. Anterior and posterior transverse impressions barely distinct. Sides sinuate, convex medially and anteriorly, concave posteriorly; bead of anterior border present throughout, rather fine; bead of posterior border present laterally and submedially, reduced to lacking at medial 1/10. Metepisternum as long as wide, MA/MI= 0.95–1.01. Elytra. Elongate, about two thirds as long as elytra wide (EL/EW= 1.63–1.66), two times and two thirds as long as pronotum (EL/PL= 2.63–2.71), and one and a third as wide as pronotum (EW/PW= 1.32), with widest point at beginning of third quarter. Parascutellar striole and striae well-impressed, moderately punctate (less coarsely than P. weiratheri and P. vanensis sp. nov.); parascutellar striole short, not joining stria 1; striae 1–6 reaching basal bead, 7 shortened a little before. Interval 3 with three discal setiferous punctures, as first lack on left eytron of paratype. Umbilicate setiferous series with 16 punctures on each side in holotype, with 17 punctures on left elytron and 15 ones on right elytron in paratype. Legs. Posterior side of profemur with one seta in basal third and one in medial third. Mesofemur with 3–4 setiferous punctures on anterior side ventrally. Anterior side of metafemur ventrally with two long setae, one in basal third and one in medial third. Male genitalia. Urite IX suboval, with proximal margin slightly asymmetrical and pointed (Fig. 7D). Median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view similar to that of P. vanensis, but slightly narrower and with apex a little longer (Fig. 8F); same in ventral view straight, about 3.2 – 3.3 times longer than wide (Fig. 10F); apical lamella (dorsal view) less symmetrical and more elongate than in P. vanensis sp. nov. Internal sac in lateral view (Fig. 8F) with ventral sclerite distinctly broadened and rounded distally; same in ventral view (Fig. 10F), with ventral sclerite somewhat more broadened distally than that of P. vanensis sp. nov. Right paramere on Fig. 12E. Female genitalia (Fig. 13F). Apical gonocoxite with semi-pointed apex and two dorsolateral ensiform setae. Spermathecal canal connected in medial third of receptaculum.

Figure 7. 

Urite, ventral view. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) chatzakiae, sp. nov., holotype; B. P. (E.) weiratheri Mařan, 1940, E: topotype male specimen; C. P. (E.) felixi, sp. nov., holotype; D. P. (E.) vrabeci, sp. nov., holotype; E. P. (E.) lassallei, sp. nov., holotype; F. P. (E.) ledouxi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, 10 km S Hasan Keif, Mazandaran Province, Iran; G. P. (E.) taghizadehi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, Tochal, Tehran Province, Iran; H. P. (E.) afghanistanicus, sp. nov., holotype; I. P. (E.) brunneus brunneus Karsch, 1881, male specimen, 50 km W of Ben Gardane, Medenine Governorate, Tunisia; J. P. (E.) brunneus ferrantei Reitter, 1909, male specimen, Holot Haluza, Southern District, Israel; K. P. (E.) jordanensis, sp. nov., holotype; L. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), lectotype; M. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), male specimen, Naẖal Prat, Judea and Samaria Area, Israel; N. P. (Platyderus) sp., male specimen, Boz Dağlar Mtn., Turkey; O. P. (P.) reticulatus (Chaudoir), male specimen, Tashehzeh, Nowshahr County, Mazandaran Province, Iran. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Slopes with pastures and stone fields covered with snow patches at the time of collecting at an altitude of 1700–1900 m. Several trees in poor condition and a few flowering wild representatives of Hyacintus spp. were observed around the place of collecting (V. Vrabec, pers. comm.).

Nemrut Daği (Turkey, Southeastern Anatolia, Province of Adıyaman; Fig. 16).

“lassallei” species group

Notes. The species of the “lassallei” and the “davatchii” group share a synapomorphy, the distal end of the ventral sclerite of the median lobe is curved to the left (ventral view).

Iran, Mazandaran Province, Nur County, between Nur City and Lavij Village, 500–1300 m.

Bernard Lassalle (pers. comm.) stated that the holotype was caught with soil traps in the period 8–25 June 2000. The place of the exposition of traps was: “south of Nur, on the road between Nur and Lavij, in a mixed forest, between 500–1300 m”. However, having in mind that the northern outskirts of Lavij Village are situated at about 600 m altitude, we consider that the real altitude at which the specimen was caught is between 500 and 600 meters.

Holotype ♂, ‘sud Nur 500–1300m / IR:Mazanderan 6.00 / coll. B.Lassalle’ (cLAS). Paratypes: 1♂, ‘IRAN, Prov. Mazandaran / [IR08–01] Sari County, / Mohammadabad, Elburz Mts., / N-Slope, NE Sangdeh, 1533m, / 36°04'06.6"N, 53°09'57.8"E, / Fagus forest, leaves debris, / sifted, 29.V.2008, leg. A. Pütz’ (cWR); 1♀, ‘IRAN, Prov. Mazandaran / [IR08–03A] Sari County, / Mohammadabad Elburz Mts., / N-Slope, E Qolqol, / 36°10'26.7"N, 53°16'29.2"E, / 916m, sifted, 30.V.2008, / leg. A. Pütz’ (cPTZ); 1♂, 2♀♀, ‘N.IRAN-Mazandaran prov. / Maji to Vemzela rd. 1360 m / 36°07'10.8"N, 53°11'50.9"E / 1–5.VI.2018, Václav Čutka leg.’ (NMNHS); 1♂, 1♀, ‘N.IRAN-Mazandaran prov. / Sárí-Talarem env, 36°13'21"N, 53°15'49.6"E, 965m, forest / 1–5.VI.2018, Václav Čutka leg.’ (cKME); 1♂, ‘N.IRAN-Mazandaran prov. / Galugah-Niala env. 1390 m / 36°37'38.8"N, 53°50'15.6"E / 4.VI.2018, Václav Čutka leg.’ (cKME).

TME: 9 specimens. TGE: 5♂♂, 1 ♀.

Latinized patronym based on the surname of Bernard Lassalle (Boissy-les-Perche, France), whose assiduous efforts in the field contributed substantial numbers of Carabid beetles that are very interesting or new to science.

This species is distinct from the other species of the subgenus in the following set of characters: (1) large size of body (8.00–8.50 mm, Table 2); (2) deep black color of body and reddish-brown appendages; (3) dorsal surface of head and pronotum basal foveae with more extensive punctation (incl. micropunctation); (4) median lobe of aedeagus (lateral view) less noticeably curved basally, with apex not turned up.

In addition to the aforementioned characters, the new species differs from species of the “davatchii” group (which together with P. lassallei are the only Eremoderus–representatives that inhabit Alborz Range) in the wider pronotum (PW/PL >1.20, vs. PW/PL < 1.19) with sides to base more convex, the less long elytra (EL/EW <1.58–1.60, vs. EL/EW > 1.60), and the larger and longer median lobe (1.4 mm long and 4.3–4.4 times longer than wide, measurements taken ventrally). The median lobes of P. ledouxi and P. taghizadehi are proportionally smaller and less long (1.1–1.3 mm long and 3.7–3.9 times longer than wide) more clearly curved basally, with apex somewhat turned up (lateral view).

Habitus. Specimens of large size for Platyderus species (BL: 8.05–8.50 mm; BW: 2.95–3.05 mm), with suboval and subconvex body (Fig. 2B). Measurements and ratios. See Table 2. Color and lustre. Head, pronotum and elytra black, ventral part of body dark brown, appendages distinctly lighter than body, reddish-brown. Integument moderately shiny. Microsculpture and punctation. Disc of head with reduced sculpticells. Pronotum with regular isodiametric sculpticells posterolaterally and stretched isodiametric sculpticells anterolaterally, microsculpture very faint to absent on disc. Ventral surface largely with obsolete microsculpture, slightly stretched isodiametric sculpticells present on mentum, submentum and sternal parts laterally, slightly transverse sculpticells present on sternal part medially; gula, abdominal ventrites and legs without microreticulation. Prosternum laterally punctate. Head. About two thirds as wide as pronotum (mean PW/HW= 1.39). Antennae long, with last three antennomeres exceeding base of pronotum. Eyes large and convex. Labrum subrectangular, with anterior margin slightly concave. Frontal furrows slightly impressed, subfoveolate. Paraorbital sulci moderately deep, ending slightly before level of posterior supraorbital pore. Thorax. Pronotum distinctly wider than long (mean PW/PL= 1.23), widest at second quarter. Anterior transverse impressions barely distinct to indistinct, posterior one well-distinct medially. Sides convex anteriorly, slightly to barely concave posteriorly; bead of anterior margin present laterally, reduced in medial 1/10; bead of posterior margin present throughout (in one paratype reduced to absent in medial 1/8). Metepisternum as long as wide, MA/MI about 1.0. Elytra. Suboval, one-and-a-half times as long as wide (mean EL/EW= 1.51), wider and much longer in relation to pronotum (mean EW/PW= 1.38; mean EL/PL= 2.58). Stria 7 reaching or ending before. Elytral interval 3 with three discal setiferous punctures, anterior puncture adjoining stria 3, remaining two punctures adjoining stria 2. Umbilicate setiferous series of 16 punctures on each elytron. Legs. Posterior side of profemur with one seta in basal third and one in medial third. Anterior side of mesofemur ventrally (Fig. 5D) mostly with three-four setiferous punctures (one specimen with five punctures on one mesofemur, whereas another with two such also on one mesofemur). Anterior side of metafemur ventrally with two long setae, one in basal third and one in medial third. Male genitalia. Urite IX large, with right shoulder straight to apex and proximal margin widely rounded (Fig. 7E). Median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view arcuate ventrally, with apex almost straight; same in ventral view straight, ca. 4.3–4.4 times longer than wide, with apical lamella symmetrical. Internal sac in lateral view well-differentiated, with ventral sclerite long and narrow (Fig. 8G), in ventral view with dorsal sclerite forming a short left-sided curve and a long right-sided curve, and ventral sclerite straight, narrow, with distal end curved to left (Fig. 10G). Right paramere relatively large, rather concave ventrally (Fig. 12F). Female genitalia (Fig. 14A). Apical gonocoxite with semi-pointed apex and two dorsolateral ensiform setae. Spermathecal canal connected in medial third of receptaculum.

Figure 8. 

Median lobe of aedeagus, left lateral view. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) chatzakiae, sp. nov., holotype; B. P. (E.) weiratheri Mařan, 1940, lectotype; C. P. (E.) felixi, sp. nov., holotype; D. P. (E.) iranicus, sp. nov., holotype; E. P. (E.) vanensis, sp. nov., holotype; F. P. (E.) vrabeci, sp. nov., holotype; G. P. (E.) lassallei, sp. nov., holotype; H. P. (E.) ledouxi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, 10 km S Hasan Keif, Mazandaran Province, Iran; I. P. (E.) taghizadehi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, Tochal, Tehran Province, Iran; J. P. (Platyderus) sp., male specimen, vicinity of Izmir City, Turkey. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

By dorsal coloration, form of pronotum and elytra, the new species is similar to P. reticulatus (Chaudoir, 1842), the only member of the nominotypical subgenus that lives in sympatry with P. lassallei on north slopes of the Alborz Range. However, the latter has the anterior side of mesofemur ventrally mostly with three-four setae (vs. two such setae in P. reticulatus) as well as completely different shapes of the urite and median lobe of aedeagus.

According to the label data, the species occurs on northern slopes in Fagus orientalis or mixed forests in altitudes of about 500–1600 m a.s.l. Specimens were collected by sifting leaves debris or with pitfall traps.

North Iran: Central Alborz Range (Fig. 17). The three records known until today come from three counties of the Province of Mazandaran, Nur County, Sary County and Galugah County. The areas between these counties are probably also populated by P. lassallei sp. nov.

“davatchii ” species group

Diagnosis. This group includes P. davatchii, P. ledouxi, P. taghizadehi and P. klapperichi sp. nov., which are adapted to inhabit higher altitudes and open habitats in the Alborz Range (Fig. 17). Compared with P. lassallei sp. nov., the species in question have a more elongate and parallel body of smaller size and lighter color of the integument (see also “Diagnosis” under “lassallei” species group).

The species from the “davatchii” group differs from those of the “iranicus” subgroup, in: (1) the sides of pronotum are clearly concave toward the posterior angles (vs. sides of pronotum hardly concave or straight toward the posterior angles), (2) PW/PL < 1.20 (vs. PW/PL > 1.22), and (3) EL/EW ≥ 1.63 (vs. EL/EW ≤ 1.63).

Habitat. The habitat of the species of the “davatchii” group is similar to that of the two Iranian species from the Zagros Mountains (see “Habitat” under “iranicus-vanensis” species group). In the high mountain zone of Elburz the Eremoderus-species were collected in natural mountain pastures, covered with snow in winter.

Notes. Having not been able to examine the type material of Pierre Morvan, we treated P. davatchii Morvan, 1970, P. taghizadehi Morvan, 1974 and P. ledouxi Morvan, 1974 as valid species. Based on original descriptions and new material at hand, we were able to ascertain the identity of the last two species. Without available material for study, the identity of P. davatchii remains unknown for the time being.

The type locality in the Iranian province of Qazvin, in Qazvin County, in the vicinities of Alamut Castle, 2700 m, may conditionally confine to the high area of the Central Alborz Range situated northward of the upper current of Shāh Rūd River, eastward of the Ovan Lake and westward of the upper currents of Seh Hazar River. It may concern the area situated north-northeast of ruins of the Alamut Castle.

Figure 9. 

Median lobe of aedeagus, left lateral view (black arrows on D, F–H indicate convexity of ventral margin of apex of median lobe). A. Platyderus (Platyderus) sp., male specimen, Boz Dağlar Mtn., Turkey; B. P. (Eremoderus) afghanistanicus, sp. nov., holotype; C. P. (E.) brunneus brunneus Karsch, 1881, male specimen, 50 km W of Ben Gardane, Medenine Governorate, Tunisia; D. P. (E.) brunneus ferrantei Reitter, 1909, male specimen, Holot Haluza, Southern District, Israel; E. P. (E.) insignitus insignitus Bedel, 1902, male specimen, SW Tiznit, Sous-Massa Region, Morocco; F. P. (E.) jordanensis, sp. nov., holotype; G. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), lectotype; H. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), male specimen, Naẖal Prat, Judea and Samaria Area, Israel. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Platyderus davatchii: Morvan 1970: Morvan 1974: 149; Lorenz 1998: 375; Hovorka and Sciaky 2003: 522; Lorenz 2005: 395; Azadbakhsh and Nozari 2015: 84; Hovorka 2017: 757.

Holotype ♀ preserved in private collection Pierre Morvan (Carentoir, France). Not examined.

None.

The holotype was collected under a large stone near a stream, on a north slope at ca. 2700 m altitude.

Only known from type location in North Iran: Central Alborz Range (Fig. 17).

Based on the habitus drawing and features noted in the original description (Morvan 1970: 194, fig. 6), P. davatchii is without doubt an Eremoderus-species. For the time being, it is the westernmost and the least known representative of the “davatchii” species group. Study of the holotype or topotypical male specimens of P. davatchii is a key issue that can help to decide whether its closest neighbor, P. ledouxi, is a separate species or its synonym. The distance between the population from Alamut Region (Qazvin County), referred to the former species, and the population south of Kelārdascht [= Hasankif; = Rudbarak] (Chalus County: Kelārdascht District), referred to the latter species is about 40–50 km in straight line.

The record about P. davatchii from “10 km S Hasan Keif” (Lohaj and Mlejnek 2007) actually concerns P. ledouxi.

Iran, Alborz Mountains, Damavand, 2000 m.

The locality is situated in the Province of Tehran, in the Damavand County (Central Alborz Range). Data on the label are insufficient to locate whether the holotype has been collected in the surrounding area of the Damavand City or in foothills of the Mount Damavand.

Figure 10. 

Median lobe of aedeagus, ventral view. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) chatzakiae, sp. nov., holotype; B. P. (E.) weiratheri Mařan, 1940, lectotype; C. P. (E.) felixi, sp. nov., holotype; D. P. (E.) iranicus, sp. nov., holotype; E. P. (E.) vanensis, sp. nov., holotype; F. P. (E.) vrabeci, sp. nov., holotype; G. P. (E.) lassallei, sp. nov., holotype; H. P. (E.) ledouxi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, 10 km S Hasan Keif, Mazandaran Province, Iran; I. P. (E.) taghizadehi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, Tochal, Tehran Province, Iran; J. P. (Platyderus) sp., male specimen, vicinity of Izmir City, Turkey; K. P. (P.) sp., male specimen, Boz Dağlar Mtn., Turkey. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Holotype ♂, ‘IRAN, Demavand / 2000 m, Elbursgeb. / 2.VI.1960 / leg. J. Klapperich’ (HNHM).

TME: 1 specimen. TGE: 0.

The species is named in honor of the German entomologist and collector of insects Johann Friedrich Klapperich (1913–1987), famous by its very successful expeditions to Southern China, the near and Middle East, and who collected the holotype of this new species.

It differs from other representatives of the “davatchii” group by very small size of body (BL <7 mm) and pronotum less wide in relation to head (PW/HW= 1.27). In addition, it differs from P. taghizadehi by anterior side of mesofemur ventrally with four setiferous punctures (vs. three setiferous punctures in P. taghizadehi).

Habitus. Specimen of small size for Platyderus species, with elongate and convex body (Fig. 2C). Measurements and ratios. See Table 2. Color and lustre. Body uniformly dark brown (castaneous), antennae, palpi and legs reddish-brown. Integument moderately shiny. Microsculpture and punctation. Microsculpture of head faint to absent on clypeus and frons, present on vertex. Pronotum with isodiametric sculpticells only posterolaterally, remaining surface without distinct microsculpture. Lateral parts of pro- and metasternum, pro-, mes-, and metepisternum, abdomen and legs with slightly stretched isodiametric sculpticells; ventral part of head, prosternum and metasternum medially without or with reduced sculpticells. Pronotum basal half with several transverse wrinkles. Head. Narrower than pronotum (PW/HW= 1.27). Frontal furrows slightly impressed, shapeless, wrinkled. Paraorbital sulci moderately deep, ending at level close to posterior supraorbital pore. Frons behind frontal furrows wrinkled. Thorax. Pronotum barely wider than long (PW/PL= 1.09), with widest point at second quarter. Anterior transverse impression distinct, posterior transverse one indistinct between adjacent wrinkles. Sides moderately curved apicad and basad, convexly anteriorly, concavely posteriorly; beads of anterior margin and posterior margin present laterally, very faint to reduced in medial 1/8. Metepisternum somewhat longer than wide, MA/MI about 0.8. Elytra. Cylindrical, about one and two thirds as long as wide (EL/EW= 1.70), wider and considerably longer than pronotum (EW/PW= 1.40; EL/PL= 2.60). Stria 7 ending at first umbilicate puncture on left elytron or after reaching first forming a kink connecting with the basal rim on the right elytron. Two or three discal setiferous punctures, anterior puncture near stria 3 on left elytron, and lacking on right elytron, remaining two punctures adjoining stria 2. Umbilicate setiferous series of 15 setiferous punctures on left elytron, with 16 punctures on right elytron. Legs. Posterior side of profemur with one seta in basal third and one in medial third. Anterior side of mesofemur ventrally with four setiferous punctures (Fig. 5E). Anterior side of metafemur ventrally with two long setae, one in basal third and one in medial third. Male genitalia. Unknown (see “Notes”). Female genitalia. Unknown.

The species can be easily distinguished from P. lassallei by characters noted in section “Diagnosis” (under P. lassallei).

Like other representatives of the “davatchii” group, P. klapperichi inhabits high-mountain meadows around and above 2000 m a.s.l.

North Iran, Central Alborz Range, most likely in vicinities of Damavand City (Fig. 17).

The aedeagus with attached parameres and urite IX were lost after the extraction.

The Takht-e Soleyman Massif, a subrange of the Central Alborz Range, is located in the Province of Mazandaran (Chalus County, Keraldasht District). For the type locality Morvan indicated as biotope a beech forest in the vicinity of Rudbarak village, situated at ca. 1800 m altitude. This site lies in the upper valley of the Sardabrud River, northeast of the Takht-e Suleyman Massif.

Platyderus davatchii: Morvan 1970: Lohaj and Mlejnek 2007: 12. P. ledouxi: Lorenz 1998: 375; Hovorka and Sciaky 2003: 522; Lorenz 2005: 396; Azadbakhsh and Nozari 2015: 84; Hovorka 2017: 758.

Holotype ♂ in MNHN, not examined; paratype ♀ in private collection Pierre Morvan (Carentoir, France), not examined.

Iran: Mazandaran Province: 1♂, ‘N Iran p. Mazandarán / 10 km S Hasan Keif / 2300m 3625N 5102E [36°25'N, 51°02'E] / 17.VI.2000 lgt. Hajdaj E.P. // Collectio / Hajdaj // Platyderus / cf. / davatchii Morv. / D.W. Wrase det. 01’ (cHAJ); 1♂, 1♀, ‘IR Mazandaran 10km SW / Rudbarak 36°24'00.1"N, 51°2'07.5"E 2500m / 16.06.17 Seiedy/Muilwijk’ (cMUI).

TME: 3 specimens. TGE: 2♂♂, 1♀.

Similar to P. taghizadehi, but differs from it in pronotum much wider than head (PW/HW >1.40), with apex more constricted compared with widest point (PW/PA >1.40), elytra in relation to pronotum narrower (EW/PW <1.38), and anterior side of mesofemur ventrally with four setiferous punctures. Male specimens of P. ledouxi can be additionally distinguished from males of P. taghizadehi by median lobe at lateral view larger (1.2–1.3 mm, vs. 1.1–1.2 mm, with a longer shaft (Fig. 8H).

(based on non-type material). Habitus. Specimens of moderate size for Platyderus species (BL: 7.35–7.90 mm; BW: 2.45–2.55 mm), with elongate and subconvex body (Fig. 2D). Measurements and ratios. See Table 2. Color and lustre. Integument uniformly dark brown, appendages barely lighter than body. Surface moderately shiny. Microsculpture and punctation. Pronotum with regular isodiametric sculpticells posterolaterally and slightly transverse ones anterolaterally, microsculpture faint to absent in middle. Ventral surface (excluding gula) microsculptured, mentum, submentum and proepisternum with regular isodiametric microsculpture, abdominal ventrites and femora with slightly stretched isodiametric sculpticells. Head. Significantly narrower than pronotum (mean PW/HW= 1.48). Antennae long, with last three antennomeres exceeding base of pronotum. Eyes long, subconvex. Labrum subrectangular, with anterior margin slightly concave. Frontal furrows small, shallow, subfoveoulate. Paraorbital sulci moderately deep, ending at level of posterior supraorbital pore or lightly before. Thorax. Pronotum slightly wider than long (mean PW/PL= 1.15), widest at second quarter. Anterior and posterior transverse impressions indistinct. Sides rather convex anteriorly, fairly concave posteriorly; mean PW/PA= 1.46, mean PW/PB= 1.25; bead of anterior margin present laterally, reduced in medial 1/8 to 1/10; bead of posterior margin reduced to absent in medial 1/8. Metepisternum slightly longer than wide, MA/MI about 0.9. Elytra. Long, cylindrical, about one and two thirds as long as wide (mean EL/EW= 1.67), one time and a third as wide as pronotum (mean EW/PW= 1.33; mean EL/PL= 2.55). Stria 7 reaching basal margin. Three elytral discal setiferous punctures in interval 3 (one specimen with four punctures on one elytron, as an additional puncture exists at fourth sixth, between second and third normal punctures), anterior puncture usually adjoining stria 3 (in two specimens adjoining stria 2 on one elytron), remaining two punctures adjoining stria 2 (in specimens from Rudbarak env., right elytron with medial pore adjoining stria 3). Umbilicate setiferous series of 16–17 punctures on each elytron (one specimen with 18 punctures on one elytron). Legs. Posterior side of profemur with one seta in basal third and one seta in medial third. Anterior side of mesofemur ventrally with four setiferous punctures. Anterior side of metafemur ventrally with two long setae, one in basal third and one in medial third. Male genitalia. Urite IX elongate, suboval, with proximal margin rather pointed (Fig. 7F). Median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view with shaft longer than in P. taghizadehi, and significantly more curved than in P. lassallei, and with apex turned up; median lobe in ventral view straight, ca. 3.85 times longer than wide, with apical lamella nearly symmetrical. Internal sac in lateral view (Fig. 8H) with ventral sclerite elongate, widened medially and distally; same in ventral view (Fig. 10H) with dorsal sclerite forming two left-sided protuberances and a large right-sided curve, and ventral sclerite narrow, straight, with distal end curved to left. Right paramere thin, concave ventrally (Fig. 12G). Female genitalia (Fig. 14B). Apical gonocoxite with blunt apex and two dorsolateral ensiform setae. Spermathecal canal connected in medial third of receptaculum.

All specimens above examined were collected in open places at high altitudes between 2300 m and 2700 m a.s.l. The specimens collected by JM in June 2017 have been caught under stones in a high-mountain meadow covered with lots of flowers, without bushes or trees. The place was definitely not dry during the time of visiting and perhaps covered with snow a few weeks before.

The type series of P. (Eremoderus) ledouxi and P. (Platyderus) chodjaii Morvan, 1974 were collected together (cfr. Morvan 1974), demonstrating that the two species occur sympatrically.

North Iran: the Central Alborz Range, in area of the upper valley of Sardabrud River, northeast of the Takht-e Suleyman Subrange (Fig. 17).

Although not able to study the holotype, based on the original description of P. ledouxi and the illustrations of the median lobe of aedeagus and internal sac (Morvan 1974: 148–149, figs 17–24), we have no doubt that the material examined belongs to this species.

See also “Notes” under P. davatchii Morvan.

The Mount Sutak Kuh is situated in the province of Mazandaran (southwestern part of Nur County), and lies in the Central Alborz Range, at ca. 3500 m altitude. Its approximate GPS coordinates are 36.153, 51.456, referring to a point situated ca. 300 m higher than the height Morvan mentioned (ibid.). The type locality locates somewhere between the Sutak Kuh Peak, in the north, and the Dīzīn Ski Resort, in the south. Roughly, it may be defined as a site in the plot Kandovān Tunnel – Āzād Kuh Peak – Kholeno Lake – Dīzīn Ski Resort. Spatially, it is a point geographically situated midway between the type localities of P. ledouxi (vicinities of Rudbarak) and P. klapperichi sp. nov. (vicinities of Damavand City).

Figure 11. 

Median lobe of aedeagus, ventral view. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) afghanistanicus, sp. nov., holotype; B. P. (E.) brunneus brunneus Karsch, 1881, male specimen, 50 km W of Ben Gardane, Medenine Governorate, Tunisia; C. P. (E.) brunneus ferrantei Reitter, 1909, male specimen, Holot Haluza, Southern District, Israel; D. P. (E.) insignitus insignitus Bedel, 1902, male specimen, SW Tiznit, Sous-Massa Region, Morocco; E. P. (E.) jordanensis, sp. nov., holotype; F. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), lectotype; G. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), male specimen, Naẖal Prat, Judea and Samaria Area, Israel. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Platyderus taghizadehi: Lorenz 1998: 375; Hovorka and Sciaky 2003: 523; Lorenz 2005: 396; Azadbakhsh and Nozari 2015: 84; Hovorka 2017: 759.

Holotype ♂ in private collection Pierre Morvan (Carentoir, France). Not examined.

Iran: Tehran Province: 1♀, ʻIR Alburz Dizin / 36°2'00.6"N, 51°26'00.5"E / 3300–3600m 10.06.17 / Muilwijk J // Platyderus taghizadehi / Morvan / Muilwijk 2017’ (cMUI); 1♂, ‘IR Tehran Tochal / 35°53'26.2"N, 51°24'25.1"E / 3550m 27.06.17 / Seiedy/Muilwijk // Platyderus taghizadehi / Morvan / Muilwijk 2017’ (cMUI).

TME: 2 specimens. TGE: 1♂, 1♀.

A species of medium size for Platyderus, with anterior side of mesofemur ventrally with three setiferous punctures. It is distinct from the closely related P. ledouxi by pronotum about a third wider than head (PW/HW= 1.31–1.33), with apex compared with widest point less constricted (PW/PA <1.40), and elytra in relation to pronotum significantly wider (EW/PW >1.38). See also “Diagnosis” under P. ledouxi.

(based on non-type material). Habitus. Moderately large-sized specimens for Platyderus species (BL: 7.10–7.20 mm; BW: 2.40 mm), with elongate and slender body (Fig. 2E). Measurements and ratios. See Table 2. Color and lustre. Integument of body orange-brown, appendages slightly lighter than body. Surface moderately shiny. Microsculpture and punctation. Pronotum largely with reduced sculpticells or without microsculpture, traces of isodiametric sculpticells present only laterally. Ventral surface (excluding gula and prosternal process) microsculptured, genae, mentum, submentum, proepisternum and ventrites 2–3 medially with regular isodiametric meshes, abdominal ventrites laterally and legs with slightly stretched isodiametric sculpticells. Prosternum scarcely punctate. Head. Two thirds as wide as pronotum (mean PW/HW= 1.32). Head. Significantly narrower than pronotum (mean PW/HW= 1.48). Antennae long, with last three antennomeres exceeding base of pronotum. Eyes long, little convex. Labrum subrectangular, with anterior margin concave. Frontal furrows small, subfoveolate. Paraorbital sulci moderately deep, ending slightly before level of posterior supraorbital pore. Thorax. Pronotum sub-quadrate, barely wider than long (mean PW/PL= 1.09), widest at second quarter. Anterior and posterior transverse impressions indistinct. Sides rather sinuate, convex anteriorly, concave posteriorly; mean PW/PA= 1.35, mean PW/PB= 1.18; bead of anterior margin present laterally, reduced in medial 1/6; bead of posterior margin reduced to absent in medial 1/5 to 1/3. Metepisternum longer than wide, MA/MI about 0.9. Elytra. Long, cylindrical, one and two thirds as long as wide (mean EL/EW= 1.67), wider and much longer than pronotum (mean EW/PW= 1.42; mean EL/PL= 2.57). Stria 7 not reach basal margin. Elytral interval 3 with three discal setiferous punctures (specimen from Dizin with four punctures on left elytron, as an additional one between second and third normal puncture) located as follows: anterior puncture adjoining stria 2, stria 3 or in middle of interval 3, medial puncture adjoining stria 2 or in midst of interval 3, posterior puncture adjoining stria 2. Umbilicate setiferous series consisting of 16 punctures on each elytron in specimen from Tochal, and with 15 punctures on each elytron in specimen from Dizin. Legs. Posterior side of profemur with one seta in basal third and one in medial third. Mesofemur with three setiferous punctures on anterior side ventrally (Fig. 5F), but one specimen has two punctures on one mesofemur. Anterior side of metafemur ventrally with two long setae, one in basal third and one in medial third. Male genitalia. Urite IX small, suboval, with proximal margin slightly asymmetrical (Fig. 7G). Median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view with shaft shorter than that in P. ledouxi and more curved than that in P. lassallei sp. nov., and with apex turned up; median lobe in ventral view straight, ca. 3.7 times longer than wide, with apical lamella slightly asymmetrical. Internal sac of same structure as in P. ledouxi, but dorsal sclerite in ventral view with left-sided protuberances somewhat larger. Right paramere shorter and more crooked than that of P. ledouxi (Fig. 12H). Female genitalia (Fig. 14C). Apical gonocoxite with pointed apex and two dorsolateral ensiform setae. Bursa copulatrix smaller than that of P. ledouxi. Spermathecal canal connected in medial third of receptaculum.

All specimens hitherto known were found in open places at high altitudes between 3300 m and 3600 m. The two specimens collected by JM in June 2017 were caught from under stones in rather steep green mountain meadows (without bushes or trees). At the time of its collection the place was not dry, probably due to the thaw just a few weeks before and to some water streamed down.

North Iran, Central Alborz Range (Fig. 17). The species occurs in the area where three Iranian provinces, Mazandaran, Alborz and Tehran, are touching each other.

Three metric measurements made by Morvan (1974: 147), i.e. width (1.15 mm), length (1.13 mm) of pronotum and length of elytra (2.1 mm), are certainly wrong. If these are correct, then we should have a total length of the pronotum and elytra 3.23 mm, but then the length of head should be at least 4 mm as far as the holotype of P. taghizadehi has length of body 7.5 mm (ibid.: 147).

Being a male specimen, the holotype of P. taghizadehi (or topotypic males) must be studied for two reasons. Firstly, this investigation can support the current taxonomic affinity with P. ledouxi because the distance in a straight line between the population of P. ledouxi southwest of Rudarbak and the type locality of P. taghizadehi is only about 50 kilometers and it is unclear whether the Chalus River acts as a biogeographical barrier. Furthermore, it is necessary to confirm the conspecificity of the populations from Sutak Kuh Peak and Tochal Peak (here last referred to as P. taghizadehi), so that the two local forms of P. taghizadehi can be distinguished from P. klapperichi sp. nov. (from Damavand County).

“afghanistanicus ” species group

“Afghanistan, Habatah, 1.300 m”.

The precise location remains unestablished as far as several possibilities for the name “Habatah” exist: Haybatay Ghar; Haībaṯaī Ghunḏêy [= Haibatai Ghundey]; and Haybati. Given the altitude of 1300 m a.s. l. pointed on the label, a quite possible location may be the upper course of Gomal River, Afghan Province of Paktika (see Fig. 17).

Holotype ♂, ‘Afghanistan’ [w, p] // Habatah / 1.300m 17.6.1964 / leg. Kullman [w, h] // genus / ? / det. Ing. Jedlička [w, h&p] // Collectio / Moravské museum, / Brno [w, p]’ (MMBC).

TME: 1 specimen. TGE: 1♂.

This species is distinguished from all other members of the subgenus by: (1) yellow-brown color of body; (2) ventral surface largely impunctate; (3) pronotum with posterior angles not projecting laterally and basal bead complete; (4) metepisternum as long as wide; and (5) ventral sclerite of median lobe in lateral view not appreciably broadened distally (Fig. 9B).

Habitus. Specimens of small size for Platyderus (BL: 6.80 mm; BW: 2.25 mm), with oblong, moderately convex body (Fig. 3A). Measurements and ratios. See Table 2. Color and lustre. Body dorsally and ventrally, including appendages yellow-brown. Head, pronotum and ventral surface moderately shiny, elytra less shiny than dorsal surface of head and pronotum. Microsculpture and punctation. Pronotum with isodiametric sculpticells on posterolateral parts and slightly transverse ones on anterior third, with disc having scarcely visible microsculpture. Ventral surface with scarcely-visible regular isodiametric (proepisternum, ventrites laterally) or slightly transverse sculpticells (metacoxae, ventrites medially), or microsculpture not apparent (remaining part). Pronotum almost impunctate, with a few large punctures near posterior angles and several longitudinal wrinkles on anterior transverse impression. Ventral surface, including mesepisternum, metepisternum and abdominal ventrites impunctate; prosternum medially, proepisternum and metasternum laterally with shallow punctures; abdominal ventrites 1–2 wrinkled submedially. Head. More than one-third narrower than pronotum wide (PW/HW= 1.40). Antennae long, with last three antennomeres exceeding base of pronotum. Eyes slightly convex. Labrum subrectangular, with anterior margin straight. Frontal furrows short, shallow. Paraorbital sulci shallow, narrow, ending before level of posterior supraorbital pore. Thorax. Pronotum about a quarter wider than long (PW/PL= 1.24), widest at second quarter. Anterior transverse impressions distinct, posterior one well-impressed laterally reaching basal foveae. Sides not sinuate, convex anteriorly, nearly straight posteriorly; anterior bead present laterally, absent in medial 1/10; lateral and basal beads present throughout. Metepisternum nearly as long as wide, MA/MI= 0.95–0.97. Elytra. Elongate, about one and two thirds as long as elytra width (EL/EW= 1.63), two and three quarters as long as pronotum (EL/PL= 2.78), and one third as wide as pronotum (EW/PW= 1.36), with widest point at medial third. Striae moderately punctate and impressed; parascutellar striole nearly connected with stria 1; base of stria 1 very short, joining stria 2 and reaching parascutellar pore; striole and basal portion of stria 1 slightly impressed, remaining part of stria 1 and other striae well-impressed. Interval 3 with three discal setiferous punctures each side. Umbilicate setiferous punctures 16 each side. Legs. Posterior side of profemur with one seta in basal third and one in medial third. Anterior side of right mesofemur ventrally with five (Fig. 5G), left one with four setiferous punctures. Anterior side of metafemur ventrally with two long setae, one in basal third and one in medial third. Male genitalia. Urite IX small, oval, with proximal margin nearly symmetrical (Fig. 7H). Median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view slender, with narrow basal bulb, broad shaft with proximal part slightly constricted, and short, straight apex (Fig. 9B); median lobe in ventral view straight, about 4 times as long as wide; apical lamella (dorsal view) short, symmetrical, rounded at tip, with sides straight to very slightly convex. Internal sac in lateral view (Fig. 9B) with ventral sclerite broad and nearly equally wide in its length; same in ventral view (Fig. 11A), with dorsal sclerite seemingly separated from ventral sclerite, and ventral sclerite narrow, widened distally. Right paramere fine, moderately concave ventrally (Fig. 12I). Female genitalia. Unknown.

Figure 12. 

Right paramere, external face. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) chatzakiae, sp. nov., holotype; B. P. (E.) weiratheri Mařan, 1940, lectotype; C. P. (E.) felixi, sp. nov., holotype; D. P. (E.) iranicus, sp. nov., holotype; E. P. (E.) vrabeci, sp. nov., holotype; F. P. (E.) lassallei, sp. nov., holotype; G. P. (E.) ledouxi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, 10 km S Hasan Keif, Mazandaran Province, Iran; H. P. (E.) taghizadehi Morvan, 1974, male specimen, Tochal, Tehran Province, Iran; I. P. (E.) afghanistanicus, sp. nov., holotype; J. P. (E.) brunneus brunneus Karsch, 1881, male specimen, 50 km W of Ben Gardane, Medenine Governorate, Tunisia; K. P. (E.) brunneus ferrantei Reitter, 1909, male specimen, Holot Haluza, Southern District, Israel; L. P. (E.) jordanensis, sp. nov., holotype; M. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), lectotype; N. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), male paralectotype, “Syria”. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Afghanistan (? “Habatah”); Fig. 17.

“languidus ” species group

Diagnosis. Species are distinct from those of the other Eremoderus species groups by: (1) dorsal surface of body with complete or nearly complete microreticulation of isodiametric sculpticells, with transverse sculpticells lacking or highly restricted; (2) basal foveae of pronotum shallowly impressed, foveae and adjacent lateral areas impunctate or scarcely punctate; (3) basal bead of pronotum reduced to absent in basal 1/3 to 1/2; (4) elytral striae scarcely impressed, impunctate or slightly punctate, and elytral intervals rather flat; (5) mesocoxa with two to four long lateral setae, rarely one seta (polysetose state of character shared only by taxa of “weiratheri” group).

In addition, the species have anterior side of the mesofemur ventrally with five to seven (rarely four) setiferous punctures. In addition, all taxa save P. brunki sp. nov. share apical gonocoxite with one dorsomedial ensiform seta.

Notes. This group includes seven species, P. languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), P. brunneus Karsch, 1881, P. insignitus Bedel, 1902, P. arabicus sp. nov., P. brunki sp. nov., P. irakensis sp. nov. and P. jordanensis sp. nov. (Figs 18, 19). Most probably, the Macaronesian species P. alticola Wollaston, 1864 and P. lancerottensis Israelson, 1990 also belong to this group (see Israelson 1990: 166, fig. 4).

Saudi Arabia, “Hedjaz”.

Nothing is known about the exact places and circumstances of its collecting. The Hedjaz Range is a mountain range located in the Hejazi region, the western part of the country. It is very likely, as in the case of two Saudi Arabian species of Acinopus, A. brittoni Wrase & Kataev, 2016 and A. arabicus Wrase & Kataev, 2016 (Wrase and Kataev 2016), that P. arabicus lives in higher altitudes where habitats with enough moisture are present.

Holotype ♀, ‘Hedjaz [w, h] // Ex-Musaeo / H.W. Bates / 1892 [w, p]’ (MNHN). Paratype: 1♀, ‘El Hahaz / Millinger [sic] [w, p] // El Hedjaz. / Millingen. / 1915–38.’ [w, p] // Platyderus / languidus / Reiche / E.B. Britton det. / 1946 [w, h&p]’ (NHMUK).

Imprecise locality: 1♀, ‘Bagdad [w, h] // Ex-Musaeo / H.W. Bates / 1892’ [w, p] (MNHN).

TME: 3 specimens. TGE: 1♀.

The specific epithet is a Latinized adjective, based on the name of the region in which this species can be found.

Among members of “languidus” group, P. arabicus sp. nov. and P. jordanensis sp. nov. are taxa with pronotum most constricted toward apex (PW/PA: 1.44–1.48 and 1.39–1.52, respectively; Table 3). However, pronotal forms differ. Whereas the former has a subelliptic pronotum with sides to base straight or slightly convex and less constricted, the latter has a subquadrate pronotum with sides to base slightly concave and more constricted (PW/PB: 1.09–1.15 and 1.15–1.22, respectively). In addition, P. arabicus has a darker, brown or chestnut color of integument and 5–6 setiferous punctures of anterior side of mesofemur ventrally, whereas P. jordanensis sp. nov. has a lighter, reddish-brown to rufous color and 4 setiferous punctures of anterior side of mesofemur ventrally.

It is also closely related to P. brunki sp. nov. but two species differ by a set of morphometric ratios (see “Diagnosis”, under P. brunki sp. nov.).

Habitus. Specimens of large size for Platyderus species (BL: 8.20–9.40 mm; BW: 2.85–3.25 mm), with elongate, moderately to rather convex body (Fig. 3B). Measurements and ratios. See Table 3. Color and lustre. Body and appendages uniformly dark reddish-brown, only terminal palpomeres slightly lighter. Integument slightly to moderately shiny, head and pronotum shinier than elytra. Microsculpture and punctation. Pronotum with evident microreticulation throughout, sculpticells regular isodiametric to slightly stretched. Elytra (intervals, scutellum, basal margin and lateral gutter) with distinct isodiametric sculpticells. Ventral surface with well-impressed isodiametric or slight transverse sculpticells, only epipleura, mesosternum and middle coxa with sculpticells scarcely-visible. Head impunctate, smooth or nearly smooth, with a few, very shallow wrinkles on clypeus posterior half and frontal furrows laterally. Pronotum surface mostly smooth, only basal area between foveae longitudinally wrinkled and along lateral margin with few punctures that do not reach anterior half (paratype also with several wrinkles in front of anterior transverse impression). Elytral intervals impunctate or with scattered and very shallow punctures. Abdominal ventrite 1 wrinkled medially, 2–6 smooth, neither wrinkled nor punctate. Head. More than one-third narrower than pronotum wide (PW/HW= 1.41–1.43). Eyes moderately convex. Labrum subrectangular, slightly shorter than clypeus, with anterior margin concave. Frontoclypeal suture slightly distinct in middle, indistinct at sides. Frontal furrows very shallow, subfoveolate. Paraorbital sulci straight, backward barely reaching posterior margin of eye, not reaching level of posterior supraorbital pore. Thorax. Pronotum about one time and one tenth as wide as long (PW/PL= 1.07–1.11), with widest point at medial third. Anterior transverse impression indistinct to slightly distinct, posterior transverse impression barely distinct. Sides not sinuate, smoothly convex medially and anteriorly, nearly straight posteriorly; anterior bead present laterally, lack in medial 1/8–1/10; basal bead present laterally, reduced to varying degrees or non-existent in medial half. Metepisternum as long as wide, MA/MI= 1.00. Elytra. Elongate, about one –and-a-half times as long as elytra wide (EL/EW= 1.54–1.62), two and a half times as long as pronotum (EL/PL= 2.47–2.56), and one and a half as wide as pronotum (EW/PW= 1.44–1.49), with widest point at beginning of third quarter. Parascutellar striole punctiform to sublinear, very shallow; striae 1–6 more impressed than striole and striae 7 and 8, moderately to indistinctly punctate; parascutellar striole short, not joining stria 1; base of stria 1 ending in parascutellar pore, striae 2–5 reaching basal bead, 6 and 7 ending little before. Interval 3 with three discal setiferous punctures on right elytron (medial one of left elytron lacking in two specimens). Umbilicate setiferous series with 15 punctures on left elytron and 16 on right elytron in holotype, with 16 punctures on each side in paratype. Legs. Posterior side of profemur with one seta in basal third and one in medial third. Mesofemur with 4 setiferous punctures on anterior side ventrally. Anterior side of metafemur ventrally with two to three long setae, one in basal third and one to two in apical half. Male genitalia. Unknown. Female genitalia (Fig. 14E). Apical gonocoxite with pointed apex and one dorsolateral ensiform seta. Spermathecal canal connected in basal third of receptaculum.

From P. irakensis sp. nov., that inhabits areas northeast of the Al-Hedjaz region, P. arabicus differs in: (1) dark brown color of body (vs. orange-brown color of body); (2) head narrower, compared to pronotum (PW/HW: 1.41–1.43, vs. PW/HW: 1.30–1.32); (3) pronotum with anterior angles more pointed and sides to apex more constricted (PW/PA: 1.44–1.48), vs. pronotum with anterior angles less pointed and sides to apex less constricted (PW/PA: 1.34–1.38); (4) elytra less long, compared to pronotum (EL/PL: 2.47–2.56, vs. EL/PL: 2.65–2.72); (5) meso- and metatarsomeres dorsally neither flattened nor grooved (vs. meso- and metatarsomeres dorsally partly flattened and slightly grooved).

Like other representatives of the “languidus” group with known habitat preferences (P. languidus, P. brunneus, P. brunki sp. nov.), P. arabicus sp. nov. could inhabit the wetter parts of desert and semi-desert habitats.

The new species is known from the region of Hedjaz in Saudi Arabia, which includes the western part of the country (Fig. 19). Likely to be endemic to the Hedjaz Mountains. As far as the specimen with the locality “Bagdat” is concerned, we believe that this inscription is either due to a mislabeling or a genuine observation. If it is the latter case, then the species probably occurs in the Iraqi areas on the border with Saudi Arabia, southwest of the city of Baghdad.

The specimen from “Bagdad” differs from the two type specimens in the larger, more quadratic and slightly wider pronotum (vs. smaller and somewhat narrow pronotum) and having less prominent anterior angles (vs. somewhat more prominent anterior angles). That is why, we have some doubt if this specimen really belongs to P. arabicus.

Yemen, ‘Amran Governorate, Thula District, between Kaukaban and Shibam, approximate GPS coordinates: 15.503, 43.901.

Holotype ♀, ‘YEMEN, ~ 40 km NW Sanaa, / Kaukaban/Shibam, small waste- / waterstream, ruralic vegetation, / sand, 2700–2930 m Handaufsam. / 15°30'9.98"N, 43°54'2.66"E / 02. Dez. 2009, legit. Ingo Brunk [p, w] // Coll. / I. Brunk / Dresden/Germ [h, pn]’ (cBRU).

Remains of a specimen of uncertain sex in bad condition (only pronotum and elytra preserved), ‘UNDER A STONE // YEMEN / El Errein, nr. Haz, / about 16 miles N.W. / of San’a, ca. 9,300ft. [= 2835 m] / 3.ii.1938.// B.M. Exp. to / S.W. Arabia. / H. Scott & / E.B. Britton. / B.M. 1938–246, // Platyderus / languidus / Reiche / E.B. Britton det. / 1946’ (NHMUK).

TME: 2 specimens. TGE: 1♀.

Latinized patronym based on the surname of Ingo Brunk (Dresden, Germany), who collected the first well-preserved representative of the new species.

Platyderus brunki sp. nov. readily differs from all other Eremoderus-taxa in its smallest value in ratio PW/PL (Table 3). It is most closely related to P. arabicus; both species are the only two within “languidus” group with darkest coloration of integument and sides of pronotum not sinuate from widest point to base (P. irakensis has also sides of pronotum not sinuate to base, but much lighter coloration of integument and higher value in ratio EL/PL). The new species is distinct from P. arabicus sp. nov., in: (1) pronotum with anterior angles more rounded at tips (vs. pronotum with anterior angles more pointed at tips, Fig. 3B, C); (2) pronotum nearly as long as wide, PW/PL: 1.02–1.05 (vs. pronotum appreciably wider than long, PW/PL: 1.07–1.11); (3) pronotum subcordate, less constricted anteriorly, PW/PA: 1.38–1.42, with greater value in ratio PA/PB: 0.80–0.88 (vs. pronotum subquadrate, more constricted anteriorly, PW/PA: 1.44–1.48, with smaller value in ratio PA/PB: 0.76–0.79); (4) elytra compared to pronotum slightly shorter, EL/PL: 2.40–2.44 (vs. elytra compared to pronotum slightly longer, EL/PL: 2.47–2.56). Females are different from all other representatives of the “languidus” group by the presence of two, instead of one, dorsolateral ensiform setae on the apical gonocoxite (Fig. 14F).

Habitus. Specimens of large size for Platyderus species (BL of holotype: 9.50 mm; BW: 3.30 mm), with elongate, moderately convex body (Fig. 3C). Measurements and ratios. See Table 3. Color and lustre. Body and appendages uniformly reddish-brown, with palpi and antennae slightly lighter. Integument slightly to moderately shiny, head and pronotum shinier than elytra. Microsculpture and punctation. Microreticulation of pronotum and elytra as in P. arabicus sp. nov. Ventral surface largely with well-impressed isodiametric or slight transverse sculpticells, epipleura, mesosternum and middle coxa with sculpticells less apparent. Head (holotype) nearly smooth, impunctate, wrinkles present only on clypeus and frons, including frontal foveae and area surrounding them. Pronotum surface largely smooth, only apical part medially in front of anterior transverse impression and basal area medially behind posterior transverse impression longitudinally wrinkled, as well as each side along lateral margin with a few shallow punctures not reaching anterior half. Elytral intervals without apparent punctation. Abdominal ventrites nearly smooth, impunctate, 3–5 with a few fine wrinkles at sides. Head (holotype). About two-thirds as wide as pronotum (PW/HW of holotype: 1.36). Eyes long, slightly convex. Labrum subrectangular, as long as clypeus, with anterior margin concave. Frontoclypeal suture distinct in middle, indistinct at sides. Frontal furrows shallow, subfoveolate. Paraorbital sulci straight, backward barely reaching posterior margin of eye, not reaching level of posterior supraorbital pore. Thorax. Pronotum almost as wide as long (PW/PL= 1.02–1.05), with widest point at second quarter (holotype) or medial fifth (specimen from “El Errein, nr. Haz”). Anterior and posterior transverse impressions slightly distinct medially, indistinct laterally. Sides not sinuate, smoothly convex anteriorly and medially, straight (specimen from “El Errein, nr. Haz”) or convex posteriorly (holotype); anterior bead present laterally, lacking in medial 1/8 to 1/10; basal bead present laterally, reduced to absent in medial half; posterior angles rounded (holotype) or obtuse (specimen from “El Errein, nr. Haz”). Metepisternum as long as wide, MA/MI= 1.00. Elytra. Elongate, about one and a half times as long as elytra (EL/EW= 1.58–1.59), two and a half times as long as pronotum (EL/PL= 2.40–2.44), and a one and half as wide as pronotum (EW/PW= 1.48), with widest point at medial third. Parascutellar striole scarcely distinct, very shallow; striae more impressed than striole, barely punctate; parascutellar striole not joining stria 1; striae 1–5 and sometimes 6 reaching basal bead, 7 ending little before. Interval 3 with three discal setiferous punctures, medial one larger than others, in midst of interval 3 (holotype) or near stria 2 (specimen from “El Errein, nr. Haz”), anterior and posterior punctures smaller, adjoining stria 3 (posterior puncture lacking on right elytron of holotype). Umbilicate setiferous series with 16 or 17 punctures of each elytron. Legs. Posterior side of profemur with one seta in basal third and one in medial third. Left mesofemur with 5, right one with 4 setiferous punctures on anterior side ventrally. Anterior side of metafemur ventrally with two long setae, one in basal third and one in medial third. Male genitalia. Unknown. Female genitalia (Fig. 14F). Apical gonocoxite with pointed apex and two dorsolateral ensiform setae. Spermathecal canal connected in medial third of receptaculum.

The holotype was collected by sifting the waste-water vegetation and soil at a humid place where waste water falls down (Ingo Brunk, pers. comm.). The correct altitude of the type locality is ca. 2700 m a. s. l. The locality is situated approximately half-way on a very steep walking path starting from Kawkaban (town on the top of the Mount Kawkaban) downwards to Schibam Kawkaban (town on the bottom of the mountain). Together with the holotype, numerous specimens of Trechus (Arabotrechus) rougemontiellus Belousov, 2017 and few Bembidion spp. were collected.

Figure 13. 

Spermathecal complex and gonocoxites, ventral view. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) weiratheri Mařan, 1940, topotype female specimen; B. P. (E.) felixi, sp. nov., topotype female paratype; C. P. (E.) iranicus, sp. nov., topotype female paratype; D. P. (E.) vanensis, sp. nov., topotype female paratype; E. P. (E.) vanensis, sp. nov., female paratype, col de Buglan 1500 m, border area of Bingöl and Muş provinces, Turkey; F. P. (E.) vrabeci, sp. nov., topotype female paratype. Scale bars: 0.5 mm. Abbreviations: ag – apical gonocoxite; at – atrium; bc – bursa copulatrix; bg – basal gonocoxite; co – common oviduct; rc – receptaculum; sg – spermathecal gland; smc – seminal canal; spc – spermathecal canal.

Yemen (Sana’a Governorate), see Fig. 19.

A species of Platyderus (Eremoderus), with mesotarsomeres and metatarsomeres dorsally more or less flattened and grooved (Fig. 6A, B), cordate pronotum, with sides from widest point to base markedly (nominotypical subspecies) or barely concave (ssp. ferrantei) and posterior angles obtuse, with tips laterally more (nominotypical subspecies) or less protruding (ssp. ferrantei), and median lobe of aedeagus with basal bulb more slanting to shaft (Fig. 9C, D).

Habitus. Moderately to large-sized species (BL: 7.60–9.30 mm; BW: 2.70–3.40 mm), with elongate and moderately convex body (Fig. 3D, F). Measurements and ratios. See Table 3. Color and lustre. Body, palpi, antennae and most of legs yellow-brown to reddish- brown, with head usually darker than pronotum and elytra and femora lighter than tibiae and tarsomeres. Integument slightly shiny (less shiny than in P. languidus). Microsculpture and punctation. Pronotum with evident microreticulation, sculpticells regularly isodiametric. Elytral intervals, scutellum and lateral gutterwith distinct isodiametric sculpticells; basal margin with reduced microreticulation. Ventral surface with impressed slight transverse sculpticells or with sculpticells scarcely-visible. Head impunctate, usually smooth, clypeus and areas laterad of frontal furrows sometimes with fine longitudinal wrinkles. Surface of pronotum impunctate, largely smooth, only basal area medially behind posterior transverse impression longitudinally wrinkled, rarely apical part medially in front of anterior transverse impression also wrinkled; basal foveae and adjacent lateral areas smooth, smoother than those in P. languidus. Elytral intervals without apparent punctation. Abdominal ventrite 1 finely wrinkled in whole, 2–5 finely wrinkled at sides. Head. About one-third as wide as pronotum (PW/HW= 1.28–1.41). Eye long, moderately convex. Labrum subrectangular, as long as clypeus, with anterior margin concave medially. Frontoclypeal suture distinct in middle, reduced to disappeared at sides. Frontal furrows small, rather shallow, punctiform. Paraorbital sulci straight, fine, backward surpassing posterior margin of eye, nearly reaching level of posterior supraorbital pore. Thorax. Pronotum one-tenth to one-fifth wider than long (PW/PL= 1.10–1.21), with widest point at second quarter. Anterior transverse impression absent, posterior transverse impression short, barely distinct. Sides convex medially and anteriorly, slightly concave to straight in base; anterior bead present laterally, lacking or present in medial eight to tenth; basal bead present laterally, reduced to absent in medial fifth to half. Metepisternum slightly longer than wide or nearly as long as wide, MA/MI= 0.87–1.00, with greater values occurring in specimens of ssp. ferrantei. Elytra. Oblong, about one-and-a-half times to one and two thirds as long as wide (EL/EW= 1.52–1.72), two-and-a-half times or little more as long as pronotum (EL/PL= 2.46–2.72), and one and a third to a one-and-a-half times as wide as pronotum (EW/PW= 1.35–1.48), with widest point at medial third. Parascutellar striole and striae 1–7 very shallow to indistinct, stria 8 evident, clearly deeper than other striae (nominotypical form) or parascutellar striole and striae 1–7 distinct, slightly impressed, stria 8 somewhat deeper than other striae (ssp. ferrantei); parascutellar striole, if present, not joining stria 1; striae 1–8 superficially to moderately punctate; bases of striae 1–7 more or less reduced, not reaching basal bead (nominotypical form) or distinct, reaching basal bead (ssp. ferrantei). Interval 3 with three discal setiferous punctures. Umbilicate setiferous series with 16 or 17 punctures on each side. Legs. Posterior side of profemur with one or two setae in basal third and one or two in medial third. Mesofemur with 4–7 setiferous punctures on anterior side ventrally (Fig. 5H). Anterior side of metafemur ventrally with a few long setae, one in basal third and one to three in apical half. Male genitalia. Urite IX suboval, with proximal margin slightly asymmetrical, insignificantly turned to left (Fig. 7I, J). Median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view slender, with narrow basal bulb, long shaft and short, straight apex (Fig. 9C, D); median lobe in ventral view straight, 3.4–3.5 times longer than wide (Fig. 11B, C); apical lamella (dorsal view) short, scarcely asymmetrical, rounded at tip, with right side straight and left side slightly concave. Internal sac in lateral view (Fig. 9C, D) with ventral sclerite long, broadened and rounded distally; same in ventral view (Fig. 11B, C), with dorsal sclerite large, reticulate, with left-sided and right-sided protuberances distinct, and ventral sclerite narrow and distally very slightly curved to left. Right paramere as on Fig. 12J, K. Female genitalia (Fig. 15A, B). Apical gonocoxite with rounded apex and one dorsolateral ensiform seta. Spermathecal canal connected in basal third of receptaculum.

Due to minor morphological differences, the populations from the lower course of Nile River and Southwest Israel are treated as a distinct subspecies of P. brunneus (see Fig. 18). Moreover, no verifiable records of the species are so far known from the vast area between Misrata District (Libya) and Cairo Governorate (Egypt).

This taxon was described from “Bir Milrha” (Murqub District, Libya; locality cannot be localized) and “Uadi Mbellem” (Misrata District, Libya; locality with approximate GPS coordinates: 31.167, 15.050) both localities in the Gebèl Tarhúna Plateaux. As a result of current lectotype designation, the former place becomes the type locality of P. brunneus brunneus. Platyderus elegans was first discovered from “Sud de la Tunisie” (Bedel, 1900), and for the second time – from “Aïn Segoufta à l’O. du Dj. Bon-Hedma” (Bedel, 1902); the second location refers to present Jebel Bou-Hedma National Park, situated on Gafsa Governorate and Sidi Bouzid Governorate, Tunisia.

Figure 14. 

Spermathecal complex and gonocoxites, ventral view. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) lassallei, sp. nov., female paratype, Iran, Mazandaran Province, E Qolqol; B. P. (E.) ledouxi Morvan, 1974, female specimen, 10 km SW Rudbarak, Mazandaran Province, Iran; C. P. (E.) taghizadehi Morvan, 1974, female specimen, Alburz Dizin, Tehran Province, Iran; D. P. (Platyderus) umbratus (Ménétriés), female specimen, Iran, Kohgiluyeh va Boyer-Ahmad Province, Sisakht; E. P. (E.) arabicus, sp. nov., holotype; F. P. (E.) brunki, sp. nov., holotype. Scale bars: 0.5 mm. For abbreviations see captions on Fig. 13.

Platyderus elegans: Bedel 1902: 211, 214–215; Csiki 1931: 768; Lorenz 1998: 375; Hovorka and Sciaky 2003: 522; Lorenz 2005: 395; Hovorka 2017: 757. Platyderus languidus (data for brunneus Karsch): Bedel 1902: 211, 214–215; Csiki 1931: 769; Hovorka and Sciaky 2003: 521; Lorenz 2005: 396; Hovorka 2017: 756.

Platyderus brunneus Karsch, 1881. The original type series of Karsch consisted of six syntypes, 4♂♂, 2♀♀, all stored in MFNB. Their examination revealed the presence of two diagnosable taxa. One male and one female specimen were found to represent the subspecies ferrantei (see section “Type material” under P. brunneus ferrantei). The other four specimens belong to P. brunneus brunneus, the first of them designated lectotype and other three paralectotypes: ♂, ‘60906 [p, w] // Bir Milrha / Exp. Rohlfs. [h, tq] // Hist.-Coll. (Coleoptera) / Nr. 60906 / Platyderus brunneus Klug, / Karsch* / Bir Milrha / Zool. Mus. Berlin [p, w] // SYNTYPE / Platyderus / brunneus Karsch, 1881 / labelled by MFNB 2017 [p, r]’; ♂, ‘Uadi M’bellem / Exp. Rohlfs. [h, tq] // Hist.-Coll. (Coleoptera) / Nr. 60906 / Platyderus brunneus Klug, / Karsch* / Uadi M’bellem, Exped. / Rohlfs / Zool. Mus. Berlin [p, w] // SYNTYPE / Platyderus / brunneus Karsch, 1881 / labelled by MFNB 2017 [p, r]’; ♂, ‘gn 2469. [h, w] // Hist.-Coll. (Coleoptera) / Nr. 60906 / Platyderus brunneus Klug, / Karsch* / Bir Milrha & Uadi M’bellem, / Exped. Rohlfs / Zool. Mus. Berlin [p, w] // SYNTYPE / Platyderus / brunneus Karsch, 1881 / labelled by MFNB 2017 [p, r]’; ♀, ‘Hist.-Coll. (Coleoptera) / Nr. 60906 / Platyderus brunneus Klug, / Karsch* / Bir Milrha & Uadi M’bellem, / Exped. Rohlfs / Zool. Mus. Berlin [p, w] // SYNTYPE / Platyderus / brunneus Karsch, 1881 / labelled by MFNB 2017 [p, r]’.

The synonymy of Platyderus brunneus with P. languidus was proposed by Bedel (1902: 211). Revision of the type material and study of the original descriptions of the both aforementioned forms and that of P. elegans, as well the study of other Eremoderus-specimens from North Africa and the Levant, revealed that P. brunneus and P. elegans represent a single species in contrast with P. languidus which is a separate species not occurring in North Africa.

Tunisia: Medenine Governorate: 1♂, 1♀, ‘TUNISIA c. or. / 50 km W of Ben Gardane / 22.4.1998 / R. Borovec lgt. // Platyderus / elegans Bedel / JEANNE det. 2003 // COLL. WRASE / BERLIN’ (cWR).

Libya: Nuqat al Khams District: 1♀, ‘BUKAMASH [near Zuwarah City] / 04–II–2006 / LIBYA P.Weill’ (cWEI). Jafara District: 1♀, ‘AZIZIYAH P.Weill / 30–I–2010 LIBYE // Platyderus / languidus. R & S / Det. P. Weill 2010’ (cWEI). Tripoli District: 1♂, ‘02–III–2002 / JANZUR / LIBYA – TRIPOLITANIA // JC Ringenbach Leg. / Platyderus languidus’ (cWEI).

Three additional records from Libya that concern P. brunneus brunneus are pointed out for P. languidus in the webpage http://jcringenbach.free.fr/website/beetles/carabidae/Platyderus_languidus.htm, namely: ‘East of Tajura’, 04/01/2002, JCR Leg.’; ‘Road Yafran-Az Zintan, 25/12/2001, JCR Leg.’; ‘Sidi As Sa’ih 03/02/2006, PW Leg.’. The webpage is part of the database http://jcringenbach.free.fr/website/beetles/carabidae/carablibya.htm created by Jean-Claude Ringenbach (Pardies-Piétat, France) and Patrick Weill (Pau, France) and representing online checklist of Libyan ground-beetles.

TME: 9 specimens. TGE: 2♂♂, 1♀.

Nominotypical subspecies differs from ssp. ferrantei in parascutellar striole and elytral striae 1–7 very shallow, almost indistinct, with bases not reaching basal bead (vs. parascutellar striole and elytral striae 1–7 distinct, slightly impressed, with bases reaching basal bead). In addition, the former has the pronotal anterior margin proportionally broader, compared to the posterior margin (vs. anterior margin of pronotum proportionally narrower, compared to posterior margin, see PA/PB, Table 3).

Two of the three Libyan specimens were collected under stones or plant debris. Bukamash and Aziziyah are two biotopes of Tripolitania located in a semi-desert zone (Jaffarah Plain), with a few sparse trees and abundant ground vegetation, mainly in early spring (Patrick Weill, pers. comm.).

Tunisia, Libya (Fig. 18).

Hovorka (2017: 757) placed P. elegans in Platyderus (s. str.). Present study proved however that the species currently validly known as P. brunneus is indeed a member of subgenus Eremoderus.

Nothing is known about the exact locality and circumstances of collecting. At time of collecting, the city of Cairo was entirely situated on the east bank of the Nile River. Nevertheless, it is possible for the subspecies ferrantei to occur on both sides of the Nile River, as moisture should favor the species’ occurrence and distribution in certain less human-influenced habitats.

Platyderus ferrantei: Csiki 1931: 768; Lorenz 1998: 375; Hovorka and Sciaky 2003: 522; Lorenz 2005: 395; Abdel-Dayem 2012: 200–201; Hovorka 2017: 758.

Platyderus ferrantei Reitter, 1909. Holotype, female in HNHM, with the following labels: ‘Aegiptus / Cairo Ferrante’ [h, w] // Ferrantei / m. / Cairo. [h, w, written by Reitter himself] // coll. Reitter [p, w] // Holotypus 1909 / Platyderus / Ferrantei / Reitter [p, h, w/r, subsequently added]’.

The holotype designations in many type series, stored in HNHM, made by the late Zoltán Kaszab (or one of his co-workers) are invalid because in most cases these are syntypes. In this case, the labelling as holotype was correct, as it is only one specimen on which the description was based.

Platyderus brunneus Karsch, 1881. One female specimen and one male specimen from type series of P. brunneus are conspecific with the holotype of P. ferrantei. They are labelled as follows: 1♀, ‘2469 [p, w] // Hist.-Coll. (Coleoptera) / Nr. 2469 / Sphodrus brunneus / Aegypt., Ehrenberg / Zool. Mus. Berlin [p, w] // SYNTYPE / Platyderus / brunneus Karsch, 1881 / labelled by MFNB 2017 [p, r] // brunneus / m. Karsch* / Egypt Ehrbg. [h, tl]’ (MFNB); 1♂, ‘2470 [p, w] // Syria. Ehr: / lxxiii . 196. [h, y] // Hist.-Coll. (Coleoptera) / Nr. 2470 / Sphodrus brunneus / Syria, Ehrenberg / Zool. Mus. Berlin [p, w] // SYNTYPE / Platyderus / brunneus Karsch, 1881 / labelled by MFNB 2017 [p, r]’ (MFNB). The male specimen has non-chitinised genitalia and a paler coloration (see Karsch 1881: 44), indicating the immaturity of the specimen.

Figure 15. 

Spermathecal complex and gonocoxites, ventral view. A. Platyderus (Eremoderus) brunneus brunneus Karsch, 1881, female specimen, Bukamash, Nuqat al Khams District, Libya; B. P. (E.) brunneus ferrantei Reitter, 1909, female specimen, Holot Haluza, Southern District, Israel; C. P. (E.) insignitus insignitus Bedel, 1902, female specimen, Plage Aglou, Sous-Massa Region, Morocco; D. P. (E.) irakensis, sp. nov., holotype; E. P. (E.) jordanensis, sp. nov., female paratype, N Wadi Musa, Ma’an Governorate, Jordan; F. P. (E.) languidus (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855), female specimens, Israel, Netanya 22.xii.1996, Central District, Israel. Scale bars: 0.5 mm. For abbreviations see captions on Fig. 13.

Israel: Southern District: 1♂, 1♀, ‘Israel / Holot Haluza / 1.iii.2008 / Ittai Renan’ (SMNH-TAU); 1♀, ‘Israel / Holot Haluza / 25.IV.2009 / I. Renan’ (SMNH-TAU); 2♀♀, ‘Israel / Holot Haluza / 2.iii.2010 / I. Renan’ (SMNH-TAU).

TME: 8 specimens. TGE: 1♂, 1♀.

See “Diagnosis” under the nominotypical subspecies.

The subspecies considered here differs from easterly occurring representatives of the “languidus” group, i.e. P. languidus, P. jordanensis sp. nov. and P. arabicus sp. nov., by the meso- and metatarsomeres dorsally somewhat flattened and grooved. Its median lobe of aedeagus is more arcuate ventrally and with ventral margin of apex straight (this of P. languidus is appreciably less arcuate ventrally, whereas that of P. jordanensis has ventral margin of apex convex). Other differences between P. brunneus ferrantei and P. jordanensis sp. nov. are listed in section “Comparisons” under the latter taxon.

Supplementary distinctions between P. brunneus ferrantei and P. arabicus sp. nov., are: a/ head compared to pronotum wider, PW/HW: 1.29–1.39 (vs. head narrower, PW/HW: 1.41–1.43); b/ pronotum appreciably wider than long, PW/PL: 1.14–1.21, less constricted to apex, PW/PA: 1.34–1.42, with anterior margins compared to posterior margin long, PA/PB: 0.82–0.89 (vs. pronotum less wider, PW/PL: 1.07–1.11, more constricted to apex, PW/PA: 1.44–1.48, with anterior margin compared to posterior margin much narrower, PA/PB: 0.76–0.79).

P. irakensis and P. brunneus ferrantei share meso- and metatarsomeres dorsally flattened and slightly grooved. The two taxa can be reliably diagnosed by a combination of three ratios – PW/PB, EL/EW and EL/PL (Table 3).

The Israeli site is located in the sand dunes of Western Negev. The species lives on the shifting dunes, together with Atlantomasoreus groneri Assmann, Renan & Wrase, 2015, Discoptera arabica Fairmaire, 1896, Scarites striatulus Dejean, 1825, Thermophilum sexmaculatum (Fabricius, 1787), Graphipterus serrator (Forsskål, 1775) (or G. multiguttatus (Olivier, 1790)), and a species of the Cymindis setifeensis/suturalis group(s). For a detailed description of the habitat see those of Anthia sexmaculata, A. groneri and G. serrator in Assmann et al. (2015a, 2015b) and Renan et al. (2018). Photographs of the habitat are given by Assmann et al. (2015a, fig. 7b, p. 62) and Renan et al. (2018, fig. 14, p. 59).

Northeast part of Egypt (not yet found in Sinai Peninsula, but possibly occurring there), southwestern part of Israel (Southern District), see Fig. 18. The record from Holot Haluza is the first record for P. brunneus (s.l.) for Israel and for the Asian continent.

This species differs from P. brunneus brunneus in pronotum less constricted to base (PW/PB: 1.12–1.17, vs. PW/PB: 1.21–1.28) and with apex appreciably narrower than base (PA/PB: 0.80–0.85, vs. PA/PB: 0.88–0.92). Median lobe of aedeagus somewhat longer than that in P. brunneus (s.l.), with ventral sclerite longer and not forming a distal kink (Figs 9E, 11D).

Habitus. Moderately large species (BL: 6.60–8.70 mm; BW: 2.20–3.00 mm), with elongate, narrow and moderately convex body (Fig. 4A). Measurements and ratios. See Table 3. Color and lustre. Chestnut-colored as palpi, with antennae and legs usually lighter than rest of body, head somewhat darker than pronotum and elytra. Integument shiny. Microsculpture and punctation. Pronotum and elytra with isodiametric sculpticells. Ventral surface with impressed slight stretched isodiametric sculpticells or with microsculpture less apparent or scarcely-visible. Head impunctate, usually smooth, but lateral areas adjacent to frontal furrows sometimes with fine wrinkles. Surface of pronotum impunctate, largely smooth, basal area medially behind posterior transverse impression longitudinally wrinkled, rarely apical part medially in front of anterior transverse impression also wrinkled; basal foveae and adjacent lateral areas smooth. Elytral intervals without apparent punctation. Abdominal ventrite 1 finely wrinkled in whole, 2–5 finely wrinkled at sides. Head. About two thirds as wide as pronotum (PW/HW= 1.35–1.45). Eye long, convex. Labrum slightly shorter than clypeus, subrectangular, with anterior margin concave medially. Frontoclypeal suture more or less distinct in middle, indistinct or disappeared at sides. Frontal furrows very small, shallow, punctiform. Paraorbital sulci fine, backward not reaching level of posterior supraorbital pore. Thorax. Pronotum about a tenth to a fifth wider than long (PW/PL= 1.06–1.17), widest point at second quarter. Anterior transverse impression absent, posterior transverse impression very shallow, barely distinct. Sides convex medially and anteriorly, slightly concave to base (somewhat more concave than in P. brunneus); anterior bead present laterally, reduced or lack in medial eight to tenth; basal bead present laterally, reduced to absent in medial fifth to half. Metepisternum slightly longer than wide or nearly as long as wide, MA/MI= 0.79–0.86. Elytra. Oblong, about one-and-a-half times, or a little more, as long as elytra (EL/EW= 1.57–1.65), two-and-a-half times as long as pronotum (EL/PL= 2.41–2.61), and a half as wide as pronotum (EW/PW= 1.40–1.51), with widest point at medial third. Parascutellar striole and striae 1–7 rather shallow, impunctate or slightly punctate, stria 8 deeper than other striae; parascutellar striole not joining stria 1; bases of striae 1–7 mostly reduced, not reaching basal bead, rarely reaching it. Interval 3 with three discal setiferous punctures. Umbilicate setiferous series with 16 or 17 punctures on each side. Legs. Posterior side of profemur with one seta in basal third and one in medial third. Mesofemur mostly with 5–6 setiferous punctures on anterior side ventrally, rarely with 4 punctures. Anterior side of metafemur ventrally mostly with one seta in basal third and one in medial third or apical half (single specimen with two setae in basal half and two in apical half on one femur). Male genitalia. Median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view arcuate, with narrow basal bulb, long shaft and short, straight apex (Fig. 9E); same in ventral view straight, about 3.6–3.7 times longer than wide; apical lamella (dorsal view) short, almost symmetrical, rounded at tip and slightly concave at each side. Internal sac in lateral view (Fig. 9E) with ventral sclerite long, slightly broadened distally; same in ventral view (Fig. 11D), with dorsal sclerite large, forming two small left-sided protuberances and a broad right-sided protuberance, and with ventral sclerite narrow, straight and slightly broadened distally. Female genitalia (Fig. 15C). Apical gonocoxite with rounded apex and one dorsolateral ensiform seta. Spermathecal canal connected in medial third of receptaculum.

Platyderus insignitus: Bedel 1902: 214; Csiki 1931: 769; Antoine 1957: 235–236; Jeanne 1996: 398; Lorenz 1998: 375; Hovorka and Sciaky 2003: 521; Lorenz 2005: 395; Machard 2017: 102; Machard 2019: 199. Platyderus insignitus insignitus: Hovorka 2017: 756.

Five syntypes should be present in MNHN, according to original description. Not examined.

Morocco: Casablanca-Settat Region: 1♀, ‘Marokko (region Doukkala-Abda) / Bir Jdid between El Jadida / and Casablanca / 4.2.2003, leg. M. Egger’ (cWR). Marrakesh-Safi Region: 1♀, ‘SW-Morocco, 31.28 N / 09.46W, DIABAT (4 km / S Essaouira), 60 m // J. Kaláb leg., 17.XI.2003 / bushes, sandy dunes, / steppe’ (cASL). Sous-Massa Region: 1♂, ‘MAROKKO, s. w. TIZNIT / umg. TIZNIT, 50 m / Strand-AGLOU / I. Puchner, 2.III.2000’ (cDOS); 1♀, ‘SW-Morocco, 29.48N/09.50W / AGLOU PLAGE, 30 m, / J. Kaláb leg., 26–28.xi.2004 / sandy/grassy places, / half-desert’ (cWR); 1♀, ‘MOROCCO, Plage Aglou / NW Tiznit / 29°45'N, 9°54'W / 6 m, 6.V.2011 / lgt. P. Kabátek’ (cWR).

TME: 5 specimens. TGE: 1♂, 1♀.

See “Diagnosis” of P. insignitus presaharensis.

Nothing is known about the bionomics of this species.

According to the available data, P. insignitus insignitus is endemic to Morocco (Fig. 18). Antoine (1957: 236) stated that it is a sublittoral species living in the area between Oum er Rbia River to the north and the Anti-Atlas Mountain Range to the south. Machard (2017, 2019) noted that it inhabits the “Littoral atlantique de Casablanca à Agadir”. The new data from the environs of Tiznit show that the species occurs south of the city of Agadir as well.

Platyderus insignitus presahariensis [sic]: Hovorka 2017: 756.

Holotype probably in Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona. Not examined.

None.

Differs from nominotypical subspecies by pronotum sides more parallel to pronotum base and not sinuate before posterior angles, which are right and rounded, somewhat longer antennae, with antennomeres 9–11 exceeding pronotum base, and elytral striae well-impressed (Lagar Mascaró 1978: 31).

The holotype was collected in the cave Kef Aziza, a 4.5 km long cave near river Oued Guir and village of Ksar Tazougart, one of the longest caves in Morocco. It seems to be a trogloxene or subtroglophile that tends to temporarily inhabit subterranean habitats, but also strongly associated with aboveground habitats.

Errachidia Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Eastern-Central Morocco (Fig. 18).

Iraq, Al Anbar Governorate, Ar Rutba District, ca. 115 km east of Ar-Rutbah Town.

Holotype ♀, ‘IRAQ, Al-Anbar / Rutba, singled / 115 km. E of town / 8.I.1978 [w, h] // No. 350 / Topál & Zilahy [w, h]’ (HNHM); paratype ♀, ‘IRAQ, Al-Anbar / Rutba, singled / at 30 km W of / town, 9.I.1978 [w, h] // No. 351 / Topál & Zilahy [w, h]’ (NMNHS).

TME: 2 specimens. TGE: 1♀.

The specific epithet is a Latinized adjective, referring to the name of the country in which this new species was found.

Platyderus irakensis is distinct from all other species of “languidus” group by the orange-brown color of integument (Fig. 4B), mesotarsomeres and metatarsomeres dorsally flattened and slightly grooved (Fig. 6C), pronotum with sides to base slightly convex and posterior angles laterally not prominent, and distal enlargement of bursa copulatrix (Fig. 15D); the last character may be an autapomorphy. Among Asian representatives of species group, it is the form with the highest mean values for EL/PL (= 2.69) and EL/EW (= 1.63), and, together with P. arabicus sp. nov., the one possessing lowest index for PW/PB (= 1.10).

Habitus. Specimens of moderate size for Platyderus species (BL: 8.30–9.00 mm; BW: 2.90–3.20 mm), with elongate and fairly convex body (Fig. 4B). Measurements and ratios. See Table 3. Color and lustre. Body and appendages orange-brown, with head somewhat darker than the rest of the body and ventral surface lighter than dorsal surface. Integument slightly to moderately shiny, head and pronotum as shiny as elytra, ventral surface somewhat shinier than dorsal surface. Microsculpture and punctation. Pronotum with evident microreticulation, sculpticells regular isodiametric. Elytral intervals, scutellum and lateral gutter with distinct isodiametric sculpticells, sculpticells of basal margin more or less reduced. Ventral surface with isodiametric or slight transverse sculpticells, less apparent on epipleura and middle coxa. Head impunctate and smooth, only frontal furrows and lateral ends of clypeus, with very fine and short wrinkles. Pronotum surface mostly smooth, only apical part medially in front of anterior transverse impression and basal area medially behind posterior transverse impression longitudinally wrinkled; basal foveae and adjacent lateral areas shallowly punctate. Elytral intervals without evident punctures. Abdominal ventrites 1–3 finely wrinkled at sides, smooth medially. Head. About one time and a third as wide as pronotum (PW/HW= 1.30–1.32). Eyes long, moderately convex. Labrum subrectangular, barely shorter than clypeus, with anterior margin concave medially. Frontoclypeal suture distinct in middle, reduced at sides. Frontal furrows punctiform, shallow. Paraorbital sulci straight, fine, backward surpassing posterior margin of eye, not reaching level of posterior supraorbital pore. Thorax. Pronotum about a tenth wider than long (PW/PL= 1.13), with widest point at medial third. Anterior transverse impression indistinct; posterior transverse impression indistinct to barely distinct. Sides not sinuate, shallowly convex anteriorly, barely convex posteriorly; anterior bead present laterally, lacking or present in medial ninth to tenth; basal bead present laterally, reduced to absent in medial third. Metepisternum slightly longer than wide, MA/MI= 0.91–0.95. Elytra. Elongate, about one and two thirds as long as wide (EL/EW= 1.62–1.63), two and two thirds as long as pronotum (EL/PL= 2.65–2.72), and almost one and a half times as wide as pronotum (EW/PW= 1.45–1.47), with widest point at first half of third quarter. Parascutellar striole and striae 1–8 shallowly impressed, superficially to indistinctly punctate; striole short, not joining stria 1; bases of striae not reaching basal bead (except for stria 2 in paratype). Interval 3 with three discal setiferous punctures (posterior puncture lacking on left elytron of holotype), all adjoining stria 2; one additional discal puncture adjoining stria 4 at anterior quarter of right elytron of paratype. Umbilicate setiferous series with 16 punctures on left elytron and 17 on right elytron in holotype, respectively, with 16 and 15 punctures in paratype. Legs. Posterior side of profemur with one or two setae in basal third and one in medial third. Mesofemur mostly with 4 or 5 setiferous punctures on anterior side ventrally. Anterior side of metafemur ventrally with a few long setae, one in basal third and one-two in apical half. Male genitalia. Unknown. Female genitalia (Fig. 15D). Apical gonocoxite with rounded apex and one dorsolateral ensiform seta. Bursa copulatrix two-chambered, with a shorter, but wider basal part and a longer, but narrower apical enlargement. Spermathecal canal connected in basal third of receptaculum.

In addition to characters mentioned in “Diagnosis”, the new species differs from P. jordanensis sp. nov., by: (1) head wider, compared to pronotum (PW/HW: 1.30–1.32, vs. PW/HW: 1.35–1.42); (2) pronotum with sides less constricted anteriorly and posteriorly (PW/PA: 1.34–1.38 and PW/PB: 1.09–1.11, vs. PW/PA: 1.39–1.52 and PW/PB: 1.15–1.22); (3) elytra longer compared to their width and the length of the pronotum (EL/EW: 1.62–1.63 and EL/PL: 2.65–2.72, vs. EL/EW: 1.56–1.60 and EL/PL: 2.41–2.60).

For differences between P. irakensis sp. nov. and P. arabicus sp. nov. and such between P. irakensis sp. nov. and P. languidus, see “Comparisons” under the latter species.

Nothing is known about the bionomics of this species.

It is currently known from two localities situated in the Ar Rutba District, which is the largest district of Al Anbar Governorate, Western Iraq (Fig. 19). The holotype was collected about 115 km east of Ar-Rutbah Town whilst the paratype was found about 30 km west of the same town. Most of the area of the Ar Rutba District is a high plateau.

Jordan, Ma’an Governorate, Al-Betrā’ District, Little Petra, archaeological area, 30.3667, 35.4333.

Holotype ♂, ‘JORDAN (Ma’an) / Little Petra, ca. 1000 m / archaeological area / 30°22'N/35°26'E / (narrow shaft beside / stony staircase) / 25.III.2016 Wrase & Laser [12B] [w, p]’ (cWR). Paratypes: 1♀, ‘Jordanien 1024 m / Prov Ma’an / W. Ziegler 9.3.2015 [w, p] // N Wadi Musa / 30°24’.15"N, 35°26’.53"E [w, p]’ (cZIEG); 1♂, ‘Jordania / Prov. Ma’an / n Wadi Musa 1023m / W.Ziegler 25.3.2016 [w, p] // Jabal al Bayda (Project / 30°24'291"N, 35°26'743"E [w, p]’ (NMNHS); 1♂ ‘S-Jordan: Wadi Rum / Qatar Spring / 29.51°N / 35.41°E / 1000–1100 m asl [w, p] // dry wadi with Ficus trees, 21.III.2017 / leg. Th. Assmann [w, p]” (cAL); 1♂, ʻS-Jordan: Little Petra, ca. 1000m / wadis with Mediterranean trees in vicinity to the archaeological site / 30.34°N, 035.46°E / 25.III.2016 / leg. Th. Assmann [w, p]’ (cAL).

TME: 5 specimens. TGE: 4♂♂, 1♀.

The specific epithet is a Latinized adjective, based on the name of the country in which this species was found.

Differs from all other species of the “languidus” group by the following set of characters: (1) meso- and metatarsomeres dorsally convex and smooth (Fig. 6D); (2) posterior angles of pronotum incompletely rounded, with tips protruding laterally (Fig. 4C); and (3) ventral margin of apex of median lobe (lateral view) evidently convex thus apex appears bent up (Fig. 9F).

Platyderus jordanensis sp. nov. and P. languidus share a trait that can be a mark for their close relationships, the apical gonocoxite without nematiform setae.

Habitus. Specimens of large size for Platyderus species (BL: 8.70–9.90 mm; BW: 3.00–3.45 mm), with rather elongate and moderately convex body (Fig. 4C). Measurements and ratios. See Table 3. Color and lustre. Body and appendages uniformly light reddish-brown, palpomeres and legs somewhat lighter than rest of body. Integument slightly to moderately shiny, head and pronotum shinier than elytra. Microsculpture and punctation. Surface of pronotum with evident microreticulation, sculpticells regular isodiametric. Elytra (intervals, scutellum, basal margin and lateral gutter) with distinct isodiametric sculpticells. Ventral surface largely with more or less impressed isodiametric or slight transverse sculpticells. Head impunctate, nearly smooth, with a few, fine and shallow wrinkles in and laterally of frontal furrows. Pronotum surface mostly smooth, only basal area between foveae longitudinally wrinkled and adjacent lateral areas with rare and superficial punctures that do not reach anterior half. Elytral intervals without apparent punctation. Abdominal ventrite 1 finely wrinkled medially, smooth laterally, other ventrites neither wrinkled nor punctate. Head. One-third or more as wide as pronotum wide (PW/HW= 1.35–1.42). Eyes long, moderately convex. Labrum subrectangular, shorter than clypeus, with anterior margin concave medially. Frontoclypeal suture distinct in middle, indistinct at sides. Frontal furrows small, punctiform. Paraorbital sulci straight, backward surpassing posterior margin of eye, hardly reaching level of posterior supraorbital pore. Thorax. Pronotum about a tenth wider than long (PW/PL= 1.08–1.13), with widest point at medial third. Anterior transverse impression absent; posterior transverse impression barely distinct. Sides sinuate, convex medially and anteriorly, slightly concave posteriorly; anterior bead present laterally, lacking or present in medial 1/10; basal bead present laterally, reduced to absent in medial third or medial half. Metepisternum somewhat longer than wide, MA/MI= 0.88–0.91. Elytra. Elongate, about one and a half times or little more as long as elytra width (EL/EW= 1.56–1.60), two-and-a-half-times as long as pronotum (EL/PL= 2.41–2.60), and a bit less than a half as wide as pronotum (EW/PW= 1.39–1.46), with widest point at medial third. Parascutellar striole linear, as impressed as other striae, not joining stria 1; striae 1–8 and striole slightly to indistinctly punctate; base of stria 1 ending in parascutellar pore, striae 2–5 reaching or barely not reaching basal bead, 6 and 7 ending little before basal bead. Interval 3 with three discal setiferous punctures. Umbilicate setiferous series with 16 punctures on each elytron in three specimens examined, including holotype. Legs. Posterior side of profemur with one or two setae in basal third and one in medial third. Mesofemora with 6 (holotype) or 5 (both paratypes) setiferous punctures on anterior side ventrally. Anterior side of metafemur ventrally with two long setae, one in basal third and one in medial third. Male genitalia. Urite IX subtriangular, with proximal margin symmetrical and pointed at apex (Fig. 7K). Median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view slender, with narrow basal bulb, shaft broad with proximal part slightly constricted, and short, straight apex (Fig. 9F); median lobe in ventral view straight, 3.7 times longer than wide; apical lamella (dorsal view) rather short, nearly symmetrical, rounded at tip, with sides straight to slightly concave. Internal sac in lateral view (Fig. 9F) with ventral sclerite slightly broadened and rounded distally; same in ventral view (Fig. 11E), with dorsal sclerite large, having small left-sided and large right-sided protuberance, and ventral sclerite straight and rather narrow. Right paramere as on Fig. 12L. Female genitalia (Fig. 15E). Apical gonocoxite with widely rounded apex and one dorsolateral ensiform seta. Spermathecal canal connected in basal third of receptaculum.

In additions to characters mentioned in “Diagnosis”, P. jordanensis sp. nov. differs from geographically close P. brunneus ferranei by pronotum less wide (PW/PL: 1.08–1.13, vs. PW/PL: 1.14–1.21), with anterior margin narrower than posterior margin (PA/PB: 0.78–0.87, vs. PA/PB: 0.88–0.92).

For differences between P. jordanensis, from one side, and P. languidus, P. irakensis and P. arabicus, from other side, see sections “Comparisons” (under the first two species) and “Diagnosis” (under P. arabicus).

In Little Petra P. jordanansis sp. nov. lives in wadis that have a canyon-like profile and some Mediterranean tree species. There it lives together with Laemostenus quadricollisquadricollis L. Redtenbacher, 1843, Trechus crucifer Piochard de la Brûlerie, 1876, Calathus cinctus Motschulsky, 1850, Cymindis andreae Ménétriés, 1832, and Carabus impressus Klug, 1832. In Wadi Rum the single specimen was found in a dry wadi with Retama shrubs and single Ficus trees in the shade of the walls of the head of the canyon-like valley. It occurs together with ground beetles that are mainly typical for desert habitats (Laemostenus aegyptiacus Schatzmayr, 1936, Singilis filicornis Peyerimhoff, 1907, Cymindis hierichontica Reiche & Saulcy, 1855, Merizomena castanea Klug, 1832, and Amara maindroni Bedel, 1907). A photograph of the habitat of the latter is given by Casale and Assmann (2017: 22, fig. 35).

Figure 16. 

Distribution of species from subgenus Eremoderus in the western Aegean Sea Region and Turkey: Platyderus chatzakiae sp. nov. (red circle), P. weiratheri (blue circles), P. vanensis sp. nov. (brown circles), and P. vrabeci sp. nov. (yellow circle).

According to the data available, the species is the representative of the group “languidus” in the southern part of Jordan, stretching from the vicinity of Little Petra to areas close to the Saudi Arabian border (Fig. 19). As Wadi Rum is in the most southern part of Jordan, the species may also occur in Northwest Saudi Arabia.

The specimens were collected from: “Des bords du Jourdain et de la mer Morte” (Reiche and Saulcy 1855: 610).

Platyderus languidus: Chaudoir 1866: 108–109; Piochard de la Brûlerie 1876: 428, 430; Bedel 1902: 211; Sahlberg 1903: 3–4; Bedel 1906: 91; Csiki 1931: 769; Jedlička 1963: 20, 22; Israelso 1990: 165; Jeanne 1996: 398; Lorenz 1998: 375; Hovorka and Sciaky 2003: 521; Lorenz 2005: 396; Hovorka 2017: 756.

Feronia languida Reiche & Saulcy, 1855. Consists of four syntypes, 2♂♂, 2♀♀ in MHNG, all conspecific. All the specimens quite dirty and damaged. Three of them were preserved in pinned condition, whereas a male below designated as paralectotype, together with the extracted genitalia (without the urite preserved), was glued on a card; originally this specimen was pinned. The last specimen has been labelled as holotype by the late Claude Jeanne, but such a treatment was incorrect because at least four type specimens exist belonging to one species, all of them bearing the well-known yellow handwritten labels of Louis Jérome Reiche (1799–1890); all specimens have the status of syntypes.

Figure 17. 

Distribution of species from subgenus Eremoderus in Iran and Afghanistan: Platyderus felixi sp. nov. (red circle), P. iranicus sp. nov. (blue circles), P. lassallei sp. nov. (yellow circles), P. davatchii (green triangle), P. ledouxi (red triangle), P. taghizadehi (blue triangle), P. klapperichi sp. nov. (black triangle), and P. afghanistanicus sp. nov. (red question mark).

We chose for lectotype designation a male specimen with the label “Jordanis” in order to retain the type locality “Jordanis” that is in accordance with the locality that was given in the description (Reiche and Saulcy 1855). Although rather damaged, we took a picture of its habitus and examined its genitalia (Fig. 4D). Afterwards, the lectotype specimen was glued onto a white card, and its genitalia were embedded in Euparal on a second smaller white card pinned below the specimen.

The four specimens are labelled, as follows: lectotype ♂, ‘Jordanis [h, y] // Coll. Reiche [p, w] // PARATYPE Feronia / languida R. & S / C. JEANNE des. 1990 [p, h, r] // Platyderus / languidus R. & S. / JEANNE det. 1990 [p, w]’; paralectotype ♂, ‘Platyderus / languidus. Reiche / Soc. Ent. 1855. 610 / Syria [h, y] // Coll. Reiche [p, w] // HOLOTYPE Feronia / languida R. & S. / C. JEANNE des. 1990 [p, h, r] // Platyderus / languidus R. & S. / JEANNE det. 1990 [p, w]’; paralectotype ♀, ‘Nazareth [h, y] // Coll. Reiche [p, w] // PARATYPE Feronia / languida R. & S / C. JEANNE des. 1990 [p, h, r] // Platyderus / languidus R. & S. JEANNE det. 1990 [p, w]’; paralectotype ♀, ‘Palæstina [h, y] // Coll. Reiche [p, w] // // PARATYPE Feronia / languida R. & S / C. JEANNE des. 1990 [p, h, r] // Platyderus / languidus R. & S. JEANNE det. 1990 [p, w]’.

Figure 18. 

Distribution of species from subgenus Eremoderus in continental North Africa and the southern Levant: Platyderus brunneus brunneus (blue circles), P. brunneus ferrantei (yellow circles), P. insignitus insignitus (red circles), and P. insignitus presaharensis (brown circle).

Besides, all the four specimens have two supplementary labels subsequently added (Fig. 4D), one printed in MHNG, ‘Platyderus / langidus [sic] Reiche / ‘Syrie’ [pencil crossed off] / Label MHNG 2010 [p, w]’, and, one lectotype [or paralectotype] label added by the first revising authors in the context of this work.

A further fifth syntype exists in MNHN, but in view of its too damaged body and imprecise location, it was not subject of lectotype designation (see “Imprecise locality”).

Imprecise locality: single specimen of uncertain sex, with missing left antennae, fore tarsi, middle and hind legs ‘languida Reiche [h, w] // cotype de Reiche cite par Chaudoir [h, w] // Ex Musæo Mniszech [p, w] // L. Bedel Vidit 1902. [p, w]’, (MNHN; ex-collection Chaudoir, box Nº 218 “Platyderus Oxycrepis Stolonis Loxandrus”).

Israel: Northern District: 1♂, ‘ISRAEL: Hammat / Gader / 8.v.1997 / V. CHIKATUNOV’ (SMNH-TAU). Central District: 1♀, ‘Beit-Berl / 13.2.68 // COLLECTED BY KUTY YEFENOF’ (SMNH-TAU); 1♀, ‘Israel Netanya / 30.11.96 / R. Hoffman’ (SMNH-TAU); 1♂, ‘Israel Netanya / 14.12.96 / R. Hoffman’ (SMNH-TAU); 1♀, ‘Israel Netanya / 21.12.96 / R. Hoffman’ (SMNH-TAU); 1♂, ‘ISRAEL: / Netanya 22.xii.1996 / V. Chikatunov’ (SMNH-TAU); 1♀, ‘Israel Netanya / 30.12.96 / R. Hoffman’ (NMNHS); 2♀♀, ‘Israel Netanya / 18.1.97 / R. Hoffman’ (SMNH-TAU); 1♀, ‘Israel Netanya / 1.3.97 / R. Hoffman’ (SMNH-TAU). Jerusalem District: 1♀, ‘Jerosalim // Tapinopterus insidiosus Frm.’ (MFNB); 1♂, ‘Jerusalem / Syria // ex coll. A. Jedlička / National Museum / Prague, Czech Republic // languidus / Reiche / det. Ing. Jedlička’ (NMPC); 1♀, ‘Jerosalim 30.XII.25’ (MIZ); 1♂, ‘PALESTINE. / F.S. Bodenheimer. // Press by / Imp. Inst. Ent. / B.M. 1944–97. // Jerusalem / scopus / 26.XII.33’ (NHMUK). Judea and Samaria Area: 1♀, ‘PALESTINE / Jerusalem - / Jericho Road / Bytinski-Salz / km 18. / 14.ii.1940’ (SMNH-TAU); 1♂, ‘Jerusalem Jericho / Road km 18 / Palestine 17.ii.1940 / leg. Bytinski-Salz’ (SMNH-TAU); 1♀, ‘PALESTINE / Kv. Schiller / 25.ii. 19 / leg. Bytinski-Salz // Platyderus / languidus R. / det. Ing. Jedlička’ (SMNH-TAU); 2♂♂, 1♀, ‘ISRAEL: South-facing / slope of Naẖal Perat [= Naẖal Prat] / 28.ii.2007 / L. FRIEDMAN’ (SMNH-TAU); 1♂, ‘ISRAEL / Eshkolot / 18.iii.2007 / I. SCHTIRBERG’ (SMNH-TAU). Southern District: 1♂, 1♀, ‘W-Israel / Nizzanim / S of Ashdod // 5.XII.2008 / leg. Th. Assmann’ (cASL); 1♀, ‘Ashkelon / 7.4.2017 / I. Renan // FS’ (cWR); 1♂, ‘Ashdod / 11.4.2017 / I. Renan // GM’ (SMNH-TAU).

TME: 30 specimens. TGE: 4♂♂, 2♀♀.

A species of medium size for Platyderus (Eremoderus), with light reddish-brown integument, meso- and metatarsomeres dorsally convex and smooth (Fig. 6E), and pronotum from widest point to apex slightly to moderately constricted (PW/PA: 1.31–1.41), with sides to base straight (rarely slightly concave). Posterior angles of pronotum subrounded, with tips not protruding laterally (most cases) or very slightly protruding (few cases – as in P. jordanensis sp. nov.). Median lobe of aedeagus (lateral view) with proximal part, including basal bulb, rather long and slender, forming an angle with distal part of lobe smaller compared to other members of the “languidus” group (Fig. 9G, H).

Habitus. Specimens of moderate to large size for Platyderus species (BL: 6.40–9.10 mm; BW: 2.20–3.15 mm), with elongate and moderate convex body (Fig. 4D, E). Measurements and ratios. See Table 3. Color and lustre. Body and appendages uniformly yellow brown to reddish-brown, usually head darker than the rest of the body. Integument slightly to moderately shiny, head and pronotum as shiny as elytra. Microsculpture and punctation. Pronotum with evident microreticulation, sculpticells regular isodiametric. Elytra (including intervals, basal margin and lateral gutter) with distinct isodiametric sculpticells. Ventral surface with more or less well-impressed isodiametric or slight transverse sculpticells or with sculpticells less apparent or scarcely-visible. Head smooth, including area of frontal furrows, sometimes clypeus with fine and shallow longitudinal wrinkles, disc micropunctate. Pronotum surface largely smooth, only apical part medially in front of anterior transverse impression and basal area medially behind posterior transverse impression longitudinally wrinkled; basal foveae and adjacent lateral areas mostly smooth, rarely shallowly punctate. Elytral intervals with very superficial and scattered punctures, or without such ones. Abdominal ventrites 1–3 finely wrinkled. Head. About one-third or more as wide as pronotum (PW/HW= 1.27–1.38). Eyes long, slightly to moderately convex. Labrum subrectangular, shorter than clypeus, with anterior margin concave medially. Frontoclypeal suture distinct in middle, reduced to disappeared at sides. Frontal furrows small, punctiform. Paraorbital sulci fine, backward surpassing posterior margin of eye, almost reaching level of posterior supraorbital pore. Thorax. Pronotum one tenth to one fifth wider than long (PW/PL= 1.11–1.22), with widest point at second quarter. Anterior transverse impression absent, posterior transverse impression barely distinct. Sides sinuate, convex medially and anteriorly, straight to slightly concave posteriorly; anterior bead present laterally, lack or present in medial tenth; basal bead present laterally, reduced to absent in medial third to medial half. Metepisternum slightly longer than wide, MA/MI= 0.87–0.95. Elytra. Elongate, about one-and-a-half times or little more as long as elytra (EL/EW= 1.52–1.62), two-and-a-half-times as long as pronotum (EL/PL= 2.42–2.60), and a third to a half as wide as pronotum (EW/PW= 1.29–1.48), with widest point at medial third or third quarter. Parascutellar striole short, less impressed than other striae, not joining stria 1; striae 1–8 and striole superficially punctate; base of stria 1 ending in parascutellar pore, striae 2–6 reaching or not reaching basal bead, 7 ending before basal bead. Interval 3 with three discal setiferous punctures, as location of first varies (adjacent to stria 3, in midst of interval 3, or adjacent to stria 2). Umbilicate setiferous series mostly with 16 punctures on each elytron. Legs. Posterior side of profemur with one or two setae in basal third and one or two in medial third. Mesofemur mostly with 5 setiferous punctures on anterior side ventrally (Fig. 5I). Anterior side of metafemur ventrally with a few long setae, one in basal third and one to three in apical half. Male genitalia. Urite IX subovate to subtriangular, with proximal margin nearly symmetrical and subacuminate at apex (Fig. 7L, M). Median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view slender, with long and narrow basal bulb, long and broader shaft, and short, almost straight apex, as angle between front and rear halves relatively small (Fig. 9G, H); median lobe in ventral view straight, 3.5–3.7 times longer than wide; apical lamella (dorsal view) short, nearly symmetrical, rounded at tip, with right side straight to convex and left side barely concave. Internal sac in lateral view (Fig. 9G, H) with ventral sclerite broadened and rounded distally; same in ventral view (Fig. 11F, G), with dorsal sclerite large, reticulate, with lateral protuberances distinct, and ventral sclerite narrow and nearly straight. Right paramere as on Fig. 12M, N. Female genitalia (Fig. 15F). Apical gonocoxite semi-pointed apex and one dorsolateral ensiform seta. Spermathecal canal connected in basal third of receptaculum.

P. languidus and P. jordanenis sp. nov. differ in characters noted in “Diagnosis” under the latter species.

P. languidus distinguishes from both P. brunneus and P. irakensis sp. nov. by meso- and metatarsomeres dorsally neither flattened nor grooved (vs. meso- and metatarsomeres dorsally more or less flattened and grooved), see Fig. 6E. Additionally, it is distinct from P. brunneus in the pronotum less cordate, with sides less concave and less constricted toward base. The species differs from P. irakensis sp. nov. by the less long elytra compared to the length of the elytra and pronotum (EL/EW: 1.52–1.62 and EL/PL: 2.42–2.60, vs. EL/EW: 1.62–1.63 and EL/PL: 2.65–2.72).

The records from the Coastal Lowlands of Israel refer to dune habitats close to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Platyderus languidus co-occurs there together with Carabus impressus Klug, 1832, Masoreus aegyptiacus Dejean, 1828, Graphipterus sharonae Renan & Assmann, 2018, and some eurytopic ground beetle species (see habitat characterization in Assmann et al. 2008, 2015a; Renan et al. 2018). Photographs of this type of habitat are given in Assmann et al. (2008, fig. 17, p. 17, 2015a, fig. 8b, p. 63) and Renan et al. (2018, fig. 15, p. 63). The other habitats in Nahal Prat (= Wadi Kelt) must differ from these ones as there are no typical dune habitats.

Platyderus languidus was cited for Morocco, Libya, Egypt (incl. Sinai), Syria and Israel (Jedlička 1963: 22; Hovorka 2017: 756). Machard (2017: 102, 2019: 199) included it in the list of the Moroccan Carabidae noting that its “Présence au Maroc non confirmée”. The review of published and new material showed that the species does not live in Africa. All examined material of Platyderus (Eremoderus) from Tunisia, Libya and Egypt should be referred to P. brunneus (see above). The species records of P. languidus for Morocco are also based on former misinterpretations and should concern P. insignitus. Certainly occurs only in Israel (Fig. 19). May live also in the southernmost area of Syria.

Figure 19. 

Distribution of species from subgenus Eremoderus in the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula: Platyderus arabicus sp. nov. (yellow question marks), P. brunki sp. nov. (blue circle), P. irakensis sp. nov. (green circles), P. jordanensis sp. nov. (brown circles), and P. languidus (red circles).

Léon Fairmaire described his Sphodrus parumstriatus without indication of an exact locality. This author mentioned only that it comes from “La localité qu’il habite est inconnue, mais il est plus que probable qu’il appartient à la faune méditerranénne”. Later on, Bedel (1906: 91) established the synonymy of S. parumstriatus with Feronia languida and stated: “Le type, dont la provenance restait ignorée, provient manifestement des récoltes de F. de Saulcy en Palestine. J’ai pu l’examiner grâce à l’extrème amabilité de M. J. Magnin, son possesseur actuel”. In 2016, one of us (BG) looked for the type material of S. parumstriatus in MNHN, a depository where the ex-collection of L. Fairmaire is housed now, but nothing has been found. Subsequently, in a correspondence with BG (pers. comm.), Dr. Th. Deuve said: “Nous n’avons pas la collection Magnin et j’ignore où elle se trouve. Certains spécimens ont pu être dispersés et pourraient être dans la collection du Muséum, mais je ne connais pas le type de Sphodrus parumstriatus Fairmaire. De toute façon, les types de Fairmaire sont toujours très difficile à trouver. En général, nous n’en retrouvons que 50%”.

It is worth noting that the distance between the closest known localities of P. brunneus ferrantei and P. languidus in south Israel, respectively Holot Haluza (being the northeasternmost locality of the former species) and Ashkelon (being the southwesternmost one of the latter species), is about 65 km in a straight line. By supposition, the two species occur in different types of habitats.