Rare and Charismatic Species of Insects in Khar Yamaat Nature Reserve, Mongolia

Abstract

Grassland insects face some of the most severe declines in species diversity and total abundance, in part due to agriculture. Livestock grazing is the largest agricultural land use in Mongolia that can have both positive and negative effects on insect communities. Here, we provide an assessment of rare and charismatic insects that can serve as a baseline for monitoring future population changes of selected species in the nature reserve. A total of 20 species were chosen including three species of dragonflies/damselflies (Odonata), two species of grasshoppers (Orthoptera), one species of true bug (Hemiptera), one species of lacewing (Neuroptera), nine species of beetles (Coleoptera), one species of ant (Hymenoptera), and three species of butterflies (Lepidoptera), and we discussed the future conservation issues in this nature reserve, where protection of existing habitat should be the primary goal for insect conservation.