Geostiba (Sipalotricha) cingulata

Geostiba (Sipalotricha) cingulata (EPPELSHEIM, 1878) (Map 3)

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: Georgia: R a c h a: 1♂, 4♀♀, E Shovi, 42°41'N, 43°42'E, 1720 m, 28. V.2018, leg. Brachat & Meybohm (cAss); 1♀, E Shovi, 42°42'N, 43°41'E, 1570 m, 28. V.2018, leg. Brachat & Meybohm (cAss); 2♀♀, W Glola, 42°42'N, 43°36'E, 1170 m, 28. V.2018, leg. Brachat & Meybohm (cAss); 1♀, Ghebi, 42°45'N, 43°32'E, 1310 m, 29. V.2018, leg. Brachat & Meybohm (cAss).

C o m m e n t: Unlike G. manca, G. cingulata is rather widespread and not uncommon in Georgia and Azerbaijan (Map 3).

Based on the presence of a small tubercle on the male tergite VII, the species was previously attributed to the subgenus Chondridiosipalia SCHEERPELTZ, 1951. Other characters, however, suggest that it is more closely allied to geographically close species of the subgenus Sipalotricha, suggesting that the presence of a tubercle on the male tergite VII is an autapomorphy rather than a synapomorphy shared with Geostiba leonhardi (BERNHAUER, 1908) from Italy, the type species of Chondridiosipalia. This conclusion is also supported by the observation that there is no other species of Chondridiosipalia in the West Palaearctic east of Italy.