Abstract
The caucasica species group in the subgenus Lunatipula is redefined and now consists of five species native to the Caucasus. Tipula (L.) eleniyasp. nov. is described as new to science, and variations in the male terminalia in two populations are noted. Two subspecies (quadridentataquadridentata and quadridentatapaupera) are elevated to species rank. Detailed photo’s complement the descriptions of all five species (caucasica, eleniya, paupera, quadridentata, talyshensis), and data on ecology and distribution patterns are included as well as identification keys to males and females. Tipula caucasica is recorded from the West Caucasus and Tipula quadridentata is recorded from Dagestan (Russia) for the first time. Parallel evolution is traced in the male terminalia of the new species and in several non caucasica species group of Palaearctic Lunatipula.
Highlights
There are 502 species in the subgenus Lunatipula Edwards in the world fauna (Oosterbroek 2021)
All species belonging to the caucasica species group are morphologically quite distinct including T. quadridentata and T. paupera, previously considered as subspecies
For T. caucasica, this is a characteristic wedge-shaped projection posteriorly on the inner gonostylus (Fig. 14F); for T. eleniya, it is a unique rod-shaped outgrowth of the inner gonostylus (Fig. 14G); T. talyshensis differs by the unique structure of the paired appendage of sternite 9 (Fig. 11K)
Summary
There are 502 species in the subgenus Lunatipula Edwards in the world fauna (Oosterbroek 2021). Riedel (1920) pioneered the work on crane flies of the Caucasus and neighboring regions, especially on the subgenus Lunatipula He provided information on seven species of Lunatipula, three of which were described as new to science: Tipula (Lunatipula) caucasica Riedel, Tipula (Lunatipula) armata Riedel (synonym of zaitzevi Savchenko, 1952), and Tipula (Lunatipula) aurita Riedel. In this study we present new data on the taxonomic status, morphology, and distribution of the caucasica species group, provide a key to all currently known species, and describe Tipula eleniya Lantsov & Pilipenko as new to science. It was found in the Western Caucasus (Krasnodarskiy kray) at altitudes of 1200–2000 m. The new species is characterized by a projection on the inner gonostylus of the male, the structure of this shape is not known in any of the 502 known species, including the 360 Palaearctic species
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