Munis Entomology & Zoology Mun. Ent. Zool. 358 https://www.munisentzool.org/ (January, 2021) ISSN 1306-3022 © MRG ___________________________________________________________ AN ASSESSMENT ON THE MEMBERS OF GENUS MORIMUS BRULLÉ, 1832 (CERAMBYCIDAE: LAMIINAE: LAMIINI) IN TURKEY WITH A REARRANGEMENT OF THEIR KNOWN DISTRIBUTIONAL RECORDS Hüseyin Özdikmen* * Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Gazi University, 06500 Ankara, TURKEY. E- mail: [email protected], ORCID ID: 0000-0001-9568-0093 [Özdikmen, H. 2021. An assessment on the members of genus Morimus Brullé, 1832 (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Lamiini) in Turkey with a rearrangement of their known distributional records. Munis Entomology & Zoology, 16 (1): 358-365] ABSTRACT: All taxa of Turkish Morimus Brullé, 1832 is reviewed and evaluated. Their distributional records are rearranged based on present taxa in Turkey. In addition, provincial and regional distribution patterns in Turkey of the taxa of Turkish Morimus Brullé, 1832 are also shown into maps. KEY WORDS: Cerambycidae, Lamiinae, Lamiin, Morimus, Turkey The genus Morimus Brullé, 1832 includes 13 species (19 species-group taxa) distributed in Palaearctic and Oriental regions [Morimus asper (Sulzer, 1776); Morimus assamensis Breuning, 1936; Morimus gabzdili Danilevsky, 2015; Morimus granulipennis Breuning, 1939; Morimus inaequalis Waterhouse, 1881; Morimus indicus Breuning, 1936; Morimus lethalis Thomson, 1857; Morimus misellus Breuning, 1938; Morimus orientalis Reitter, 1894; Morimus ovalis Breuning, 1943; Morimus plagiatus Waterhouse, 1881; Morimus sexmaculipennis Breuning, 1961 and Morimus verecundus (Faldermann, 1836)]. Among them, only two Western Palaearctic species have subspecies. Morimus asper (Sulzer, 1776) is represented with five subspecies [Morimus asper asper (Sulzer, 1776); Morimus asper funereus Mulsant, 1862; Morimus asper ganglbaueri Reitter, 1894; Morimus asper gazanchidisi Danilevsky, 2019 and Morimus asper graecus Danilevsky, Gradinarov & Sivilov, 2016] and Morimus verecundus (Faldermann, 1836) is represented with three subspecies [Morimus verecundus verecundus (Faldermann, 1836); Morimus verecundus bulgaricus Danilevsky, Gradinarov & Sivilov, 2016 and Morimus verecundus murzini Danilevsky, 2019] in Palaearctic region (Sama & Löbl, 2010; Danilevsky, 2019; Tavakilian, 2020). Sláma (2017) stated that “the taxonomy of the genus Morimus is complex and very unclear. E.g. in Cataloque (Löbl & Smetana, 2010) states that Morimus funereus Mulsant, 1862 is a subspecies of Morimus asper (Sulzer, 1776). Both subspecies are to occur in the same countries from Italy to Bulgaria (well over 1000 km), which is not for subspecies nor theoretically possible. Two subspecies cannot inhabit the same and rather wide areas. Accordingly, in Western Palaearctic region where is located Turkey, the genus is represented with six species as Morimus asper (Sulzer, 1776), Morimus asper funereus Mulsant, 1862, Morimus gabzdili Danilevsky, 2015, Morimus lethalis Munis Entomology & Zoology Mun. Ent. Zool. https://www.munisentzool.org/ (January, 2021) 359 ISSN 1306-3022 © MRG ___________________________________________________________ Thomson, 1857, Morimus orientalis Reitter, 1894 and Morimus verecundus (Faldermann, 1836) (Sama & Löbl, 2010; Sláma, 2017; Danilevsky, 2019; Tavakilian, 2020). Apparently, the genus Morimus clearly needs a comprehensive revision, since no extensive morphological and distributional data on the genus are available. Some of the most commonly used morphological characters such as the shape of aedeagus and ovipositor, sexual characters on ventrites in beetles are not useful for the six putative Western Palaearctic Morimus species (Solano et al., 2013). Almost all revisional studies have been conducted only on elytral patterns and often on restricted samples and areas (e.g. Reitter, 1894; Dajoz, 1976; Simonetta, 1989). In fact, only a few weak characters such as the distribution of elytral granulosity and the size of each granule; and the elytral colour pattern, chiefly with respect to the shape and size of dark elytral spots are currently used to identify these taxa (Dajoz, 1976). However, the combined intra- and inter- population variability of these characters does not allow clear-cut species boundaries to be established and recognised, despite the fact that the differences in their patterns are frequently related to the geographic origin of the examined specimens (Solano et al., 2013). In addition, according to Solano et al. (2013), among the Western Palaearctic species, correct identification of specimens is complicated by the presence of so- called ‘‘transitional’’ forms between M. funereus + M. orientalis and M. asper + M. verecundus, which are usually recognized as M. ganglbaueri Reitter, 1894. At present, M. ganglbaueri is accepted as a subspecies of M. asper (Sama & Löbl, 2010; Danilevsky, 2019; Tavakilian, 2020). Moreover, Sláma (2017) stated that “the taxonomy of the genus Morimus is, however, still unclear and a revision of the genus is needed, particularly as to the position of the species M. asper, M. verecundus and M. funereus. The taxonomic status of Euro-Anatolian Morimus species is still unclear. Solano et al. (2013) stated that "the genetic variability among Euro-Anatolian Morimus populations and the geographical structure suggest that they can not be ascribed to the currently accepted five W Palaearctic Morimus species and may actually represent a single, genetically and morphologically variable biological species (M. asper), highlighting the necessity of an extended taxonomical revision". The existence of only one, very variable taxon, is supported also by the author of this article. But until well done revision of the Morimus genus, the traditional division to several taxa will be preserved here. It must be from those difficulties mentioned above, today among the old records given so far belonging to the genus Morimus in Turkey are incompatible records with the last acceptance in Danilevsky (2019) and Tavakilian (2020) are available. Therefore the records of Turkey need to a rearrangement. Genus MORIMUS Brullé, 1832: 258 Type species: Lamia lugubris Fabricius, 1793 (= Cerambyx asper Sulzer, 1776) A total of six taxa of the genus Morimus in Turkey have been recorded as Morimus asper (Sulzer, 1776); Morimus funereus Mulsant, 1862; Morimus gabzdili Danilevsky, 2015; Morimus ganglbaueri Reitter, 1894; Morimus orientalis Reitter, 1894 and Morimus verecundus (Faldermann, 1836) so far. However, it is accepted the presence in Turkey of only 3 taxa as Morimus gabzdili Munis Entomology & Zoology Mun. Ent. Zool. 360 https://www.munisentzool.org/ (January, 2021) ISSN 1306-3022 © MRG ___________________________________________________________ Danilevsky, 2015; Morimus orientalis Reitter, 1894 and Morimus verecundus (Faldermann, 1836). Here, the old records of each Morimus taxa in Turkey are rearranged based on the last acception of their presence in Turkey. Thus, the old records of the taxa not included in Turkey on the base of the last acceptance are added to the data of the present taxa. In the text, the abbreviations “TR-A” for Asian Turkey (Anatolia) and “TR-E” for European Turkey (Thracia) are used. Some remarks on rearrangement of old records from Turkey: Old records from North-Eastern Anatolia of Morimus asper (Sulzer, 1776) should be belong to Morimus gabzdili Danilevsky, 2015 very likely. In addition, old records from Western half of Turkey of Morimus asper (Sulzer, 1776) should be belong to Morimus orientalis Reitter, 1894 very likely. Moreover, old records from Turkey of Morimus funereus Mulsant, 1862 and Morimus ganglbaueri Reitter, 1894 should also be belong to Morimus orientalis Reitter, 1894 very likely. However, the presence of Morimus funereus Mulsant, 1862 in Turkey is still unclear and under discussion. Since it may be occur at least in European Turkey based on its known distribution area (E: AL AU BH BU CR CZ GR HU IT MC MD RO SK ?SL UK YU) (Danilevsky, 2019). MORIMUS GABZDILI Danilevsky, 2015: 215 (Fig. 1) Distrubution area of this species was discussed by Sláma (2017). He stated that “the area of the Morimus gabzdili original occurrence is Caucasus and the species was most likely introduced from there into Slovakia in association with the extensive timber exploitation in the second half of the 20th century. Identical imagines are known from Caucasus Georgia (Cachati, Svernik) and Krasnodar (Sochi), and similar imagines have been reported from Crimea and Turkey (Trabzon). Previously all specimens of the genus Morimus, found east of Balkans, were considered Morimus verecundus, regardless of differences Faldermann, 1836. Now, after the description of Morimus gabzdili, it is clear that it is not just about one species”. Range: E: SK ST (Krasnodar Kray: Sochi) UK (Crimea) A: GG (Cachati, Svernik) ?IN TR (Trabzon) (Sláma, 2017; Danilevsky, 2019) Turkish records: Apparently, it recorded from Turkey into two different taxa as Morimus asper (Sulzer, 1776), Morimus gabzdili Danilevsky, 2015. As Morimus asper (Sulzer, 1776): TR-A: Artvin prov.: Saçinka Forests, Giresun prov.: Tirebolu, Karadua Forests, Gümüşhane prov.: Torul, Kürtün (Sekendiz, 1981); Trabzon prov.: Maçka (Öymen, 1987); Rize prov.: İkizdere and Pazar, Trabzon prov.: Akçaabat, Hıdırnebi plateau; Yorma, Oymalı Pınar plateau; Maçka, Mataracı village; Of, Artvin prov.: Ardanuç, Ovacık; Borçka, Camili (Alkan, 2000); Trabzon prov.: Meryemana (Özdikmen & Şahin, 2006). As Morimus gabzdili Danilevsky, 2015: TR-A: Trabzon