G. it. Ent., 2 (7): 129-162
May 31, 1984
Materiali per una revisione dei Calathus Bonelli del gruppo fuscipes
(Coleoptera Carabidae)
di
FABRIZIO BATTONI & TATJANA VERESCHAGINA
Abstract - The Calathus Bonelli, 1810 species of the fuscipes-group from the Balkans, Crimea, Caucasus and West Asia are studied. This group of species is identified by: total length 9,5-16 mm, basal area of pronotum coarsely punctate, metaepisterna longer than wide, third and fifth intervals of elytra with many dorsal punctures. Two keys for a taxonomic identification of the four species of this group and new data about their morphology and chorology are given: these species are hardly distinguishable, the sclerite of the internal sac of penis being the only character for an unfailing taxonomic separation. The four taxa, C. distinguendus Chaudoir, 1846 (= C. subsimilis Gautier des Cottes, 1870), C. syriacus Chaudoir, 1863 (= C. distinguendus Cahaudoir, pars; = C.fuscipes ssp. kervillei Puel, 1939), C. longicollis Motschulsky, 1864 (= C. syriacus Gautier des Cottes, 1867 nec Chaudoir), C. fuscipes (Goeze, 1777) s.l. (C. graecus Dejean, 1830 and C. thessalus Putzeys, 1873 included) are described. In addition, a preliminary study of the subspecific taxa of C. fuscipes, and the description of a new subspecies - C. f. disiunctus n. ssp. - are given. Finally a zoogeographic interpretation of the Calathus fuscipes - group distribution is suggested.
