Abstract
A new genus (Punctoduvalius gen. n.) and a species of trechine ground beetles (Punctoduvalius orlovacensis sp. n.) from Bosnia and Herzegovina have been described and diagnosed. Punctoduvalius gen. n. is clearly distinct from all other phenetically close genera in many important respects, such as: the presence of depigmented reduced eyes, the presence of a pigmented eye border, the presence of deep and complete frontal furrows, the presence of tiny setae on the genae, the presence of distinct longitudinal fissures on the protibias, the ratio of length/width of the first protarsal article in males, the presence of two elytral discal setae, the presence of numerous setiferous punctures in interstrial spaces, the specific position of the humeral setae, and the specific shape of the copulatory piece. This new genus comprises four species: Punctoduvalius pilifer (Ganglbauer, 1891) (endogean from Mts. Treskavica and Bjelasnica, and from a cave on Mt. Visocica, Bosnia and Herzegovina), P. protectus (Winkler, 1926) (from the Pecina kod Ostojica Cave, Mt. Treskavica, and endogean from Mt. Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina), P. brevipilosus (Knirsch, 1927) (endogean from Lupoglav Peak, Mt. Prenj, Bosnia and Herzegovina), and P. orlovacensis sp. n. (from the Orlovaca Cave, village of Donje Bisevo, near Pale, Bosnia and Herzegovina). The four species clearly differ in many important respects. The following three taxonomic changes are proposed: Punctoduvalius pilifer (Ganglbauer, 1891), comb. n., P. protectus (Winkler, 1926), comb. n., and P. brevipilosus (Knirsch, 1927), comb. n. The new genus and its members belong to an old separate phyletic lineage, distinct from all other existing species groups. Additionally, these forms are relict and endemic to the deep soil and caves of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Highlights
The present taxonomic status of many trechine genera, subgenera, and groups of species is completely unclear and confusing
The insect specimens were analyzed in laboratories of the Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Jeannel’s intensive studies (1928) shed a light on many unsolved problems. His misunderstanding of certain evolutionary facts has led to quite a number of misconceptions, especially concerning the origin and genesis of some beetle groups. In his analysis of the Trechinae, it was indicated that representatives of the genus Duvalius Delarouzée are present in a huge area, ranging from Western Europe up to Central Asia, as well as from Central Europe to Northern Africa (Jeannel, 1928)
Summary
The present taxonomic status of many trechine genera, subgenera, and groups of species is completely unclear and confusing. The same author expressed the inconsistency regarding the site of origin of the “Duvalius” species. This is due to his superficial analysis of both the evolutionary and phylogenetic relationships of the different groups of “Duvalius” and. Even some members of these genera may deserve a full generic level In his diagnosis of the “genus Duvalius”, Jeannel (1928) confirms the existence of “espèces oculées, microphthalmes ou anophthalmes... La piece copulatrice bilobée, trilobée ou unifide...” According to this diagnosis, at least several dozen of genera could be recognized.
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