©Slovenian Entomological Society, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at LJUBLJANA, DECEMBER 2002 Vol. 10, No. 2: 121-130 ANOPHTHALMUS ANNAMARIAE SP. N. (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE) AND NOTES ON THE BEETLES OF THE CAVE LEDENICA PRI DOLU (TRNOVSKI GOZD, SLOVENIA) Marco BOGNOLO Via dei Capuano 8,1-34124 Trieste, Italy, e-mail: mbognolo@yahoo.it Abstract - Anophthalmias annamariae sp. n. from Slovenia is described. The new species, discovered in the endogean environment of a deep doline near Predmeja (Trnovski Gozd, Slovenia), differs from related species by the external morphology and shape of the copulatory piece of the male genital organ. Beetles, recorded in the karst system of the cave Ledenica pri Dolu, are listed in this paper also. Key words: Coleoptera, Carabidae, Anophthalmias, new species, cave Ledenica pri Dolu. Izvleček - ANOPHTHALMUS ANNAMARIAE SP. N. (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE) IN ZAPISKI O HROŠČIH JAME LEDENICA PRI DOLU (TRNOVSKI GOZD, SLOVENIJA) Opisan je Anophthalmias annamariae sp. n. iz Slovenije. Nova vrsta, ki smo jo odkrili v podzemnem okolju globoke kraške vrtače pri Predmeji (Trnovski Gozd, Slovenija), se razlikuje od podobnih vrst po zunanji morfologiji ter obliki kopu-lacijskega dela samčevega genitalnega organa. V delu predstavljamo tudi pregled hroščev, ki smo jih ugotovili v kraškem sistemu jame Ledenica pri Dolu. Ključne besede: Coleoptera, Carabidae, Anophthalmias, nova vrsta, jama Ledenica pri Dolu. Introduction Between May and November 2001 a systematic survey had been carried out, with the aim of improving the knowledge of the beetles living in the cave Ledenica pri 121 ©Slovenian Entomological Society, download unterwww.biologiezkfitftiiWliPillologica slovenica, 10 (1), 2002 Dolu (Slovene cave register no. 751). The cave entrance is situated near Predmeja, at the south-eastern edge of the forest of Trnovo (Trnovski gozd); the Ledenica pri Dolu karst system is actually consisting of the cave itself and the entrance doline, which is deeper than thirty metres. Fig. 1: Anophthalmus annamariae sp. n. (holotype S\ Slovenija: Ledenica pri Dolu), habitus 122 M. Bognolo: Anophthalmias aniumiaridc sp. n. (Coleóptera: Carabidae) and notes oil the beetles of the cave Ledenica pri Dolu (Trnovski gozd, Slovenia) The microclimate is characterized by low temperature (thermal inversion in the doline) and high humidity. During winter, ice stalactites and stalagmites are present in the cave; at the entrance the snow normally lasts from late autumn till middle spring. From biological point of view, the abundance of organic matter represents an important source of food for the endogean and troglobiontic beetles. Therefore it is not surprising that a lot of species have already been recorded in the past (Pretner, 1955). Some of them are endemic of the forest of Trnovo, some even limited to the cave Ledenica only. The research added some interesting data to the knowledge of the beetles of the Ledenica pri Dolu karst system; particularly, a new species of the genus Anophthalmias had been found. The description of the new taxon is the subject of this paper. Anophthalmus annamariae sp. nov. Type locality: Slovenija, Trnovski gozd, Predmeja (Nova Gorica), dolina jame Ledenica pri Dolu. Type series: Holotype S, Slovenija, Trnovski gozd, Predmeja (Nova Gorica), dolina jame Ledenica pri Dolu, 29. 9. 2001, M. Bognolo leg., coll. (PMSL) Prirodoslovni muzej Slovenije, Ljubljana (Slovenija). Paratypes: Slovenija, Trnovski gozd, Predmeja (Nova Gorica), dolina jame Ledenica pri Dolu, 3 30. 6. 2001, 4 15. 8. 2001, 3 SS and 9 29. 9. 2001, 1 11. 11. 2001, M. Bognolo leg. (coll. Prirodoslovni muzej Slovenije, Ljubljana; coll. Biološki Inštitut Jovana Hadžija, Ljubljana; coll. (NMPO) Notranjski muzej Postojna, Postojna; coll. M. Bognolo, Trieste). Diagnosis: A medium-sized Anophthalmus (Fig. 1) belonging to the mariae group (Daffner, 1998), which is characterized by short and thin pubescence on the body. The main differential character is the shape of male genital organ. Lateral sides of the copulatory piece converge toward apex. The apical median incision is much shorter compared to other species of the mariae group. In the external morphology, the new species is distinguished by the shape of pronotum: in the posterior half the lateral sides are concave, while they are almost straight in related species. Elytra are wide, with the maximum width posteriorly. Description: Length: SS 5.9 - 6.2 mm (holotype 5.9 mm), $$ 5.5 - 6.3 mm (from apices of mandibles to apices of elytra). Pubescence short and thin on pronotum and elytra, nearly absent on the head, more dense on the antennomeres. Microsculpture in the form of isodiametric microreticulation, irregularly distributed on head and pronotum. On the elytra the reticulation is transversally elongated. Body reddish brown; head and pronotum shiny, elytra shiny in males and opaque in females. 123 ©Slovenian Entomological Society, download unterwww.biologiezkfitftiiWliPillologica slovenica, 10 (1), 2002 Figs. 2-5: Anophthalmias annamaviae sp. n., 2: aedeagus in lateral view (paratype), 3: aedeagus n dorsal view (paratype), 4: copulatory piece in lateral view (holotype), 5: copulatory piece in dorsal view (holotype) 124 M. Bognolo: Anophthalmias aniumiaridc sp. n. (Coleóptera: Carabidae) and notes oil the beetles of the cave Ledenica pri Dolu (Trnovski gozd, Slovenia) Head robust, narrower than pronotum. Frontal furrows deep and complete, posteriorly divergent, almost reaching the neck. Frons and supraorbital areas convex; two pairs of supraorbital setae present. Labrum transverse, anteriorly thickened, with lateral sides convergent toward the base. Mandibles strong, arcuate at apex. Labial and maxillary palpi thin. Antennae long and slender, reaching two thirds of elytra in males and three fifths of elytra in females. The 10th antennomere is nearly 3.5 times longer than wide. Pronotum cordate, slightly wider than long (length/width ratio: SS 0-90 - 0.94; holotype 0.94; $ $ 0.89 - 0.93), with the maximum width at about three fourths from the base. The basal margin is straight, feebly sinuate at middle, a little narrower than the anterior margin; lateral sides strongly curved in the anterior half, sinuated in the posterior one. Front and hind angles obtuse. Basal impression deep, transversally extending from the median line. Dorsum convex, with evident median line. Two marginal setae are present on each side; the first one near the anterior fourth, the second near hind angle. Elytra ovate (length/width ratio: SS 1.76- 1.80; holotype 1.77; $$ 1.81 - 1.89), convex, widest in the posterior half. Prehumeral and posthumeral borders straight, shoulders rounded. Apices of elytra separately rounded, sutural angle obtuse. Discal series consisting of three setiferous pores aligned on the fourth interstria; the first pore is situated near the basal fifth of elytra, the second pore approximately at middle, the third as distant from the second as the first pore from the second. Humeral group consisting of four pores, the first placed inward at the same level with the second pore. Pores 2 to 4 adjoining the marginal gutter. Third pore distant from the second 1.5 times the distance between the first and the second pore. The distance between the third and the fourth nearly equal to the distance between the second and the third. Other pores of the lateral umbilicate series as in Fig. 1. Legs stout and long, covered by dense and short pubescence; the first two protar-someres of males dilated. Male genital organ (Figs. 2, 3) relatively large (holotype: 1.9 mm), with the basal part rounded and enlarged. The median lobe enlarged in the basal three fourths, straight and symmetrical in dorsal view, regularly curved in lateral view; the apex very long and thin, curved upwards in lateral view. The inner sac densely covered with small chitinized scales. Copulatory piece symmetrical in dorsal view (Fig. 5), with lateral sides convergent toward the apex, apical teeth very small, median incision short; nearly flat in lateral view (Fig. 4), longitudinal carina low, small apical tooth hardly visible. Ligula sclerotized, bilobed, with sides largely rounded. Parameres usually bearing four apical setae. Derivatio nominis: The new species is dedicated to the memory of my mother Annamaria; no word could ever express my neverending thanks for her love and precious teaching. Distribution and ecology: Anophthalmia annamariae sp. n. is known so far only from the type locality (Fig. 6), where it can be found in the rock fissures of the endo- 125 ©Slovenian Entomological Society, download unterwww.biologiezkfitftiiWliPillologica slovenica, 10 (1), 2002 gean environment, in the lower half of the doline, which leads to the cave Ledenica pri Dolu; in this habitat the new species had been found using pitfall traps placed at depths between 10 and 30 cm. The findings refer to the period from May to October. As the season advances and the snowy deposit melts, A. annamariae sp. n. becomes more frequent near the entrance of the cave; in this place the optimal humidity and temperature last longer. The frequency of findings in the traps is highest in September, after the late summer rains. In this period the temperature at the entrance of the cave is about 10 °C and the relative humidity reaches the highest level (over 80 %). These are likely the ideal conditions for A. annamariae sp. n. in the upper layer of the endogean environment. Simultaneous collecting by hand and using traps had been carried out inside the cave Ledenica pri Dolu, where not a single specimen of the new taxon was found. Such a result could be explained by the competitive presence of two other species of Anophthalmias in the inner spaces of the cave. Notes and comparisons Anophthalmias annamariae sp. n. belongs to the mariae group, as recently defined by Daffner (1998). A. mariae (Schatzmayr, 1904), A. baratellii Sciaky, 1985, A. ego-nis (Miiller, 1923), A. tolminensis (Muller, 1922), A. besnicensis Pretner, 1949, A. besnicensis frater Daffner, 1998, A. bojani Daffner, 1998 and A. kahleni Daffner, 1998 also belong to this group. Except for A. mariae and A. baratellii, all species, including A. annamariae sp. n., form a rather homogeneous sub-group, regarding their distribution (Fig. 6), as well as the external and aedeagic morphology; in particular, the median lobe of the aedeagus is characterized by a markedly enlarged shape in the basal three fourths, while the apex is thin and extremely lengthened (Fig. 2). The sub-group just defined will be referred to as tolminensis, after the name of the first species described. In addition to the morphological differences, which have been pointed out in the description of the new species, A. annamariae sp. n. differs from the related taxa by the preference of the endogean environment, rather than the hypogean one. All other species of the tolminensis sub-group have been found so far only inside caves. With reference to the shape of the copulatory piece, A. annamariae sp. n. is more closely related to A. egonis, which is the northernmost taxon. Further research in hypogean and endogean environments could fill the gap between the northern and southern taxa; such a hypothesis is strengthened by recent discovery of A. kahleni on the Matajur and A. bojani in a couple of caves near Ziri. As a matter of fact, the discovery of A. annamariae sp. n. enlarges further the range of the tolminensis sub-group as the whole (Fig. 6). Moreover, the new finding puts the attention once again toward a group of species, which is still not studied enough. Concerning both the external morphology and the colonized habitat, the mariae group can be considered a link between the endogean Anophthalmia (like the species A. scopolii and A. kaufmanni) 126 M. Bognolo: Anophthalmias aniumiaridc sp. n. (Coleóptera: Carabidae) and notes oil the beetles of the cave Ledenica pri Dolu (Trnovski gozd, Slovenia) 1: A. egotiis 4: A. kahleni 2: A. bestiicensis frater 5: A. tolminensis 3: A. bestiicensis bestiicensis 6: A. bojatii 7: A. annamariae ITALIA 4 5 Tolmin SLOVENIJA -j Idrija Fig. 6: Distribution of the tolminensis sub-group and the hypogean ones, mainly belonging to the groups micklitzi, ajdovskanus and hirtus (Daffner, 1996). The beetles of the cave Ledenica pri Dolu The Ledenica pri Dolu (reg. no. 751) karst system is consisting of two main habitats: the endogean environment in the entrance depressure and the inner spaces of the cave. Outside the cave, temperature and humidity change according to the seasonal average values, strongly influenced by the thermal inversion in the doline as well; the latter effect causes the air to be cooler, during spring and summer, in the lower position, near the cave entrance. Inside the cave temperature and humidity are nearly steady and also the seasonal variation is usually not exceeding 5 °C for temperature and 10% for relative humidity. The research had been carried out mainly with pitfall traps, regularly inspected every six weeks in the period from May to November 2001. Ten traps were put in 127 ©Slovenian Entomological Society, download unterwww.biologiezkfitftiiWliPillologica slovenica, 10 (1), 2002 Location Family Species n. of specimens Frequency Carabidae Trechus croaticus 27 35,1% Anophthalmus schmidti insignis 15 19,5% Anophthalmus scopolii glacialis 14 18,2% Anophthalmus annamariae 6 7,8% Orotrechus globulipennis chendai 6 7,8% ID e Stomis rostratus 4 5,2% "o Abax ovalis 2 2,6% S u Oh O Nebria diaphana bohiniensis 2 2,6% •U :H C 1 1,3% s s -C Cholevidae Bathyscimorphus byssinus 178 37,7% O Aphaobius milleri 138 29,2% Bathysciola silvestris 98 20,8% 58 12,3% Silphidae Necrophilus subterraneus 21 _ i " - 1 Carabidae Anophthalmus annamariae 15 30,0% Laemostenus schreibersi 15 30,0% Anophthalmus schmidti insignis 9 18,0% 0> C Trechus croaticus 7 14,0% o t; Nebria diaphana bohiniensis 3 6,0% C« O Q. O Anophthalmus scopolii glacialis 1 2,0% Cholevidae Aphaobius milleri 163 76,9% J3 Bathyscimorphus byssinus 39 18,4% O Bathyscimorphus sp. 10 4,7% Silphidae Necrophilus subterraneus 3 - Carabidae Anophthalmus ravasinii 101 76,5% Anophthalmus sanctaeluciae fabioi 19 14,4% Nebria diaphana bohiniensis 11 8,3% Laemostenus schreibersi 1 0,8% i O 9 > Cholevidae Pretneria latitarsis 439 59,1% O Aphaobius milleri 141 19,0% ^ JS Astagobius angustatus laticollis 78 10,5% S O Oryotus schmidti 76 10,2% Bathyscimorphus byssinus 7 0,9% Leptodirus hochenwarti 2 0,3% Silphidae Necrophilus subterraneus 6 Carabidae Anophthalmus ravasinii 5 83,3% 1 16,7% Cholevidae Astagobius angustatus laticollis 41 52,5% c 2; g 3 Pretneria latitarsis 21 26,9% ■S Oryotus schmidti 13 16,7% Leptodirus hochenwarti 2 2,6% Aphaobius milleri 1 1,3% Silphidae Tab. 1: Beetles recorded in the karst system of the cave Ledenica pri Dolu (the frequency is to be referred to each family) 128 M. Bognolo: Anophthalmias aniumiaridc sp. n. (Coleóptera: Carabidae) and notes oil the beetles of the cave Ledenica pri Dolu (Trnovski gozd, Slovenia) the endogean environment, five of them covering the area in the middle part of the doline, the remaining five traps in the way to the cave entrance. Another ten traps were placed inside the cave, respectively half of them in the twilight zone and the other half in the dark zone, corresponding to the inner spaces of the cave. Temperature and relative humidity, as well as the species and their occurrence, have been recorded for each trap and on each visit to the cave. As it often happens in most Slovenian karst systems, the Cholevidae are the predominant beetles, compared to Carabidae or other families. In the middle part of the entrance depressure the dominant Cholevidae belong to the genuses Bathyscimorphus, Aphaobius and Bathysciola (Tab. 1). These probably represent the main source of food for the carabid beetles. The dominant Carabidae are Trechus croaticus, Anophthalmus schmidti insignis and Anophthalmias scopolii glacialis. Besides, Orotrechus globulipennis chendai is recorded for the first time in the forest of Trnovo. At the entrance of the cave both species of the genus Bathyscimorphus become less frequent, while there is a relevant increase in the occurrence of Aphaobius. Here the dominant Carabids are Anophthalmus annamariae sp. n., Laemostenus schreibersi, Anophthalmus schmidti insignis and Trechus croaticus. In the large central hall of the cave Ledenica pri Dolu, where still some daylight penetrates, the fauna clearly changes. Pretneria latitarsis becomes the dominant species, combined with a minor presence of Aphaobius milleri, Astagobius angustatus lati-collis and Oryotus schmidti. Both here and in the inner spaces the species Leptodirus hochenwarti is absolutely exceptional. The dominant Carabid is Anophthalmus ravasinii; another concurrent species of the genus Anophthalmus is present (A. sanc-taeluciae fabioi), as well as the troglophile Nebria diaphana bohiniensis. In the final parts of the Ledenica pri Dolu, which are completely dark, the organic matters get quite scarce, mainly carried in the cave by means of the water flowing along the walls. This habitat is the optimal one for the species Astagobius angustatus laticol-lis, which can be frequently found where the dripping is stronger, often wandering on wet stones. In addition to the discovery of a new Anophthalmus and a new Bathyscimorphus (Bognolo, in print), the data recorded so far (Tab. 1) show the presence of twenty taxa of beetles; there are seven Trechinae (Coleoptera, Carabidae) belonging to three different genuses, and eight Leptodirinae (Coleoptera, Cholevidae), belonging to seven genuses. Considering this, the karst system of the cave Ledenica pri Dolu and the entrance depressure represent a significant model of biodiversity in a very limited space. Acknowledgements I wish to thank my father Enea for the assistance in the study of the new species; besides, I thank Andrea Colla (Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Trieste) who allowed me to use the laboratory equipment. 129 ©Slovenian Entomological Society, download unterwww.biologiezkfitftiiWliPillologica slovenica, 10 (1), 2002 References Daffner H., 1996: Revision der Anophthalmus-Arten und -Rassen mit lang und dicht behaarter Körperoberseite (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechinae). Mitt. Münch. Ent. Ges., 86, München: 33-78. Daffner H., 1998: Die arten und rassen der Anophthalmus schmidti und -mariae gruppe (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae). Acta Entomologica Slovenica, 6 (2), Ljubljana: 99-128. Jeannel R., 1926: Le genre Anophthalmus Sturm (Note préliminaire). Bull. Soc. Sei. Cluj, 3 (2): 29-64. Jeannel R., 1928: Monographie des Trechinae (3); Les Trechini cavernicoles. Abeille, 35: 1-808. Müller G., 1928: I Coleotteri della Venezia Giulia (1), Adephaga. Stucli Ent., 1, Trieste: 118-129. Müller G., 1935: Nuovi contributi alla conoscenza del genere Anophthalmus (Coleopt. Carab.). Atti Mus. civ. Stor nat., 12, Trieste: 182-225. Pretner E., 1949: Prispevek k poznavanju anoftalmov (Coleoptera, Carabidae) iz Slovenije. Razpr. 4. raz. SAZU, 4, Ljubljana: 121-141. Pretner E., 1955: Rodovi Oryotus L. Miller, Pretneria G. Müller, Astagobius Reitter in Leptodirus Schmidt (Coleoptera). Acta Carsologica SAZU, 1, Ljubljana: 41-71. Sciaky R., 1987: Proposte sulla sistematica del genere Anophthalmus e descrizione di tre nuove sottospecie del Friuli orientale (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechinae). Fragm. Entomol., 20 (1), Roma: 51-69. Received / Prejeto: 20. 2. 2002 130