Calosoma (Callisthenes) mirificum (Casale, 1979)
Callisthenes regelianus mirificus Casale, 1979: 80 (Type locality: Massiccio del Paropamisus, Sabzak pass 2500m.), holotype ♀ in coll. Casale, paratype ♀ in Museo civico di Storia naturale, Genova.
Callisthenes mirificus Obydov, 1999:132
Length 33-35 mm. C. mirificum was described as a subspecies of C. regelianum, but later Obydov (1999b) has revaluated it as distinct species.
C. mirificum is easily distinguishable from C. regelianum because of the larger size, unusual for a Callisthenes and because of the relatively more developed and more massive head and pronotum.
The pronotum has a similar shape to that of C. regelianum but is less narrow at the back having almost parallel sides. Its lateral channel is narrow and separated by a small protuberance from the basal foveae similarly to what happens in C. usgentense. The rear corners are poorly developed and slightly protruding.
The elytra have an evident groove in their suture, with transverse wrinkles more accentuated in the back half. This groove often exists also in C. regelianum but it is not always visible with equal evidence . The striae are of a pentaploid pattern indicated by series of points. The primary and secondary intervals are slightly more raised.
Three specimens are known, all female, from the same locality in western Afghanistan.
Examined material
Afghanistan. Paropamisus mountain range, Sabzak pass 2500m. (AC)
Notes: Brachypterous. It has been found under stones near the snow line around 2500m. altitude. Adults were collected on two occasions only, in March and June.
 (Casale, 1979) Afganistan, Paropamisus Mt. rng., Sabzak pass, 31.III.1977 Gobetti leg. (type; coll. Casale) (photo Casale) |
 (Casale, 1979) Afganistan, South slope of Paropamiz Mt. rng., near Sabzan pass, 2400m, 22.VI.1967 M.Stoljarov leg. (Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg) (photo Anichtchenko A. 2010) |