On two new high-altitude Omphreus subspecies (Carabidae: Harpalinae: Omphreini) from the Dinaric Alps (western Balkan Peninsula)

Abstract

The genus Omphreus Dejean, 1828 consists of three subgenera: Omphreus s. str., Neomphreus Winkler, 1933 and Paromphreus Ganglbauer, 1887. The genus belongs to the monotypic tribe Omphreini. All specimens of the new Omphreus subspecies were collected by pitfall traps. The following two new subspecies, Omphreus (Omphreus) morio sandeli Ćurčić & Sciaky, 2015 (from Mts. Zelengora and Maglić, eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina) and O. (O.) morio durmitorensis Ćurčić & Sciaky, 2015 (from Mt. Durmitor, northwestern Montenegro), are recently described and diagnosed. The male and female genitalia and other taxonomically important morphological characteristics were used for separating the taxa. The new subspecies are morphologically compared with two most related subspecies of Omphreus (Omphreus) morio Dejean, 1828. These are O. (O.) morio beckianus Ganglbauer, 1888 and O. (O.) morio serbicus Winkler, 1933. The new subspecies are distinctly different from the nearest relatives and represent both endemics and relicts inhabiting limited high-altitude Dinaric areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro (western Balkan Peninsula). Currently, the genus Omphreus contains 18 species and 15 subspecies inhabiting the Balkan Peninsula and Asia Minor. A detailed study of all Omphreus taxa is necessary in order to define their real taxonomic status (subspecies or species).