A new genus and species of subterranean trechine beetle from Montenegro (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechini)

Abstract

Balkan’s Dinaric karst is a continuous source of specialized, cave adapted fauna - so called troglobionts. Much of this exceptionally rich biodiversity is attributed to beetles (Coleoptera) from the ground beetle tribe Trechini (family Carabidae), with hundreds of species with different degrees of morphological modifications for life in subterranean habitats - so called troglomorphism. In this contribution, we present a discovery of one new genus and species of subterranean Trechine beetle, Orcusiella prokletijensis gen. et sp. nov. from a high-altitude pit situated on Prokletije Mountains, Montenegro. This new taxon is described, illustrated and compared with closely related taxa. An identification key for all so far known genera of Dinaric subterranean Trechini, as well as data on the distribution and ecology of these remarkable species are provided and discussed.