Calosoma (Caminara) reitteri Roeschke, 1896
Calosoma (Callistrata) Reitteri Roeschke, 1896: 339 (described from Askhabad). unspecified number of specimens, no repository given; syntypes in Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest (Jeannel, 1940: 118) and in Naturalis Biodiversity Centre, Leiden (de Boer, 2002: 98)
Calosoma (Caminara) reitteri Breuning, 1927: 225
Charmosta (Catasoma) reitteri Lapouge, 1932: 422
Campalita reitteri Jeannel, 1940: 118
Calosoma (Caminara) reitteri Basilewski, 1972: 37
Length 26-28 mm. The elytral sculpture of C. reitteri is flattened with slightly scaly intervals, but it is still possible to recognize two tertiary intervals on each sides of a secondary one ("pentaploïde" type). The upper body of C. reitteri is uniformely dark. When compared with C. olivieri who have similar sculpture of elytra, C. reitteri has a larger, transverse, pronotum. Moreover it is easy to identify it among the other dark colored species of Caminara, because the tarsi of the male's forelegs are not dilated.
It is found in Central Asia (Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, W. Kazakhistan and Russia close to the border with Kazakhistan). Its presence in Uzbekistan is possible, but there are not available detailed data about it.
Examined specimens and literature’s data
Kazakhistan. Atyrau: 50 km. S. Kulsary, (SB); Kzyl-Orda: 67km N. Shieli vill. (SB); Mangistau: Beyneu env. (SB), 35 km S. Say-Ulyos vill. (SB), Kenderli (http://www.zin.ru/), Ustyurt National Preserve (www.inaturalist.org); Qaraghandy: Aktogayskiy (www.inaturalist.org); Sirdaryo: Syr Darja river (Jeannel, 1940: 118)
Russia. Lake Baskunchak (Kryzhanovskij & al. 1995: 34)
Tajikistan. Vakhsh ridge. and low mountain ranges of southern Tajikistan (Mikhailov, http://www.zin.ru)
Turkmenistan. Sandvkachi (SB); Badkhyz Nature Reserve (SB); Askhabad (Aşgabat)(EM); Kushka (Serhetabat) (Breuning, 1927: 225)
Notes: The species is named after Edmund Reitter (1845 - 1920) an Austrian entomologist, well known as an expert on the beetles of the Palaearctic.
Reitter was the first to mention 4 ♀♀ specimens of this species coming from Askhabad in a scientific paper (1896: 49), incorrectly identifying it with Calosoma (Charmosta) laeviusculum (Motschoulsky, 1844). Roeschke (1896: 339), realizing the Reitter's mistake, again described the species, dedicating it to him.
C. reitteri is a typical inhabitant of desert or semi-desert areas and can be locally quite abundant. Active individuals were captured in April - May
 Roeschke, 1896 W. Kazakhistan: Mangistau reg., Beyneu env., 24.04.2011, Abramov lg. |
 Roeschke, 1896 W. Kazakhistan: Mangistau reg., Beyneu env., 24.04.2011, Abramov lg. |