Quaternary insects and environment of northeastern Asia

Abstract

Quaternary fossil insects from different sites of western Beringia (northeastern Asia) provide evidence of unique steppe–tundra environment. This was mostly treeless landscape occupied by mixture of steppe and tundra insect species. Insect assemblages reflect climate variations during the Pleistocene and Holocene. Classification of insect communities is helpful for comparison of records from different sections and regions. Comparison of insect faunas from northeastern Asia and northwestern North America shows that, despite climatic and environmental similarity on both sides of Beringia, migrations though the Bering Bridge were restricted, especially for xerophilous insects. The barrier was wider than the Bering Strait; it also included the eastern regions of the Chukotka Peninsula. The paper contains 35 figures, 6 insect photographs, 5 text tables, and 38 tables with insect lists from 17 Pleistocene and 9 Holocene sites from the Lena delta and Novosibirskie Islands in the west to east Chukotka Peninsula in the east of western Beringia.