Fauna Of Russia Research Articles

New Records ofTipula(Vestiplex) Crane Flies from the Palaearctic [Diptera: Tipulidae] with a New Synonym

Abstract Tipula (Vestiplex) tchukchi obtusidens Savchenko, 1964 is designated as a synonym of the nominotypical species Tipula (Vestiplex) tchukchi Alexander, 1934 syn. nov. Tipula (Vestiplex) aldrichiana Alexander, 1929 and Tipula (Vestiplex) balioptera Loew, 1863 are reported as new to the Russian fauna and the Palaearctic – East Beringian region.

Siganidae, a new family of fishes for the Russian fauna

A representative of the family Siganidae, Mottled spinefoot (Siganus fuscescens), has been found for the first time in Russian waters. It is a Pacific, subtropical-equatorial, and Asian wide-ranging species: from the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and Japan to Papua New Guinea and Australia. In September 2013, it was collected in Far Eastern State Marine Reserve, Far East Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, near Ostrovok Fal’shivyi Cape (42°26′ N, 130°47′ E).

The genus Hylcalosia Fischer, 1967 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae) of the Russian Far East.

The braconid genus Hylcalosia Fischer, 1967 of the fauna of Russia are reviewed. A new species, Hylcalosia livadiae sp. nov., from Primorskiy Territory is described. Based on new material, illustrated redescriptions of H. hymaenei Belokobylskij, 1992 and H. sutchanica Belokobylskij, 1992 are provided. Hylcalosia adsimilis Papp, 1994 is synonymised with H. sutchanica Belokobylskij, 1992 (syn. nov.). The most northern records in the Palaearctic Region, Amur Province of Russia, of the genus Hylcalosia and the species H. hymaenei and H. sutchanica are documented. A new key to all known species of this genus is provided.

Centrohelid heliozoa (Chromista, Hacrobia) of Southern Cis-Ural region

The species composition, morphology and distribution of centrohelid heliozoa from water bodies of various hydrologic types with different salinity in the Southern Cis-Ural region was studied. Thirteen centrohelid species of the families Heterophryidae, Raphidiophryidae, and Acanthocystidae were found in territory of Orenburg region and the Republic of Bashkortostan. The species composition of centrohelid heliozoa within the Republic of Bashkortostan was studied for the first time; it includes the following species: Polyplacocystis ambigua, Raineriophrys erinaceoides, Acanthocystis pectinata, A. polymorpha, A. myriospina, A. turfacea, and A. olgashelestae. Seven new species (Heterophrys marina, Polyplacocystis coerulea, Raphidocystis tubifera, Heteroraphidiophrys australis, Raineriophrys fortesca, Acanthocystis polymorpha, and A. dentata) and two previously registered species (P. ambigua and A. pectinata) were found within Orenburg region. The species Heteroraphidiophrys australis and Acanthocystis polymorpha are new for the protist fauna of Russia. Polyplacocystis coerulea was found for the first time in a natural site of Russia. The Russian fauna of centrohelids was compared with the world fauna. The conclusion on the necessity to develop heliozoan faunistic studies has been made.

The genus Osmoderma (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Trichiinae) in Siberia and the Russian Far East

A review of the species of the genus Osmoderma of Siberia and the Russian Far East is given. The species Osmoderma opicum coreanum Tauzin, 2013 was first identified in the fauna of Russia. The locality of O. davidis Fairmaire, 1887 in Buryatia, which was confirmed by material, is presented. The distribution of the East Asian species of this genus in the territory of Russia is analyzed in detail. The data on the phenology, trophic associations, and topical preferences are considered.

A review of the genera Cleigastra Macquart, Gonarcticus Becker, Gonatherus Rondani, Hexamitocera Becker, Nanna Strobl, Orthacheta Becker and Spathephilus Becker (Diptera, Scathophagidae) of Russia.

Flies of the genera Cleigastra Macquart, 1835, Gonarcticus Becker, 1894, Gonatherus Rondani, 1856, Hexamitocera Becker, 1894, Nanna Strobl, 1894, Orthacheta Becker, 1894 and Spathephilus Becker, 1894 (all Scathophagidae) of the fauna of Russia are reviewed. Key to genera, generic descriptions and keys for determination of species are given, and data on geographical distribution are summarized. One species, Nanna cryophila sp. nov., is described as new to science. One new synonymy is proposed: Nanna kamtschatkense (Hendel, 1930) = Nanna tibiella (Zetterstedt, 1838). Orthacheta cornuta (Loew, 1863) is recorded from Europe for the first time. Gonarcticus arcticus (Becker, 1907) is newly recorded from the Palaearctic Region and Russia. Additionally, Nanna flavipes (Fallén, 1819) is newly recorded from China, and Spathephilus nigriventris (Loew, 1864) is newly recorded from Kazakhstan.

The first record of the shore-fly genus Glenanthe Haliday, 1839 (Diptera, Ephydridae) in the fauna of Russia

The material of the genus Glenanthe Haliday, 1839 in the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University and in the Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg, was revised. Glenanthe fuscinervis Becker, 1896 is recorded for the fauna of Russia for the first time from the southwestern part of Eastern Siberia. Glenanthe bimaculata Hendel, 1934 is found for the first time in Turkmenistan. A key to the Palaearctic species of the genus Glenanthe Haliday, 1839 is provided.

The fauna of barklice (psocoptera) of the Southern Urals

Based on the material collected in 2014 in the Southern Ural State Nature Reserve and adjoining territory, 25 psocopteran species belonging to 17 genera of 8 families are recorded for the first time for the Republic of Bashkortostan. Among these, 20 species, 12 genera, and 4 families are new to the fauna of the Southern Urals, and two species are new to the Russian fauna.

The rare gall-midge genera Plutodiplosis Grover et Bakhshi and Triommatomyia Mamaev (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae: Lestodiplosidi stat. n., Aphidoletidi) with descriptions of a new and a little known species from the southern part of Primorskii Territory

The systematic positions of the genus Plutodiplosisis, new to the Russian fauna and belonging to the supertribe Lestodiplosidi, stat. n., and the rare genus Triommatomyia [Aphidoletidi (Aphidoletini)] are updated. The two genera are similar in the presence of strongly prolonged sensorial loops of the male flagellomeres. The diagnoses for Aphidoletidi and Lestodiplosidi are supplemented. The genus Plutodiplosis is new to the Russian fauna and includes five species: P. heterofila, P. magnifica, P. festasp. n., P. raphani (Barnes), comb. n. (from Lestodiplosis), and P. venusta (Gagne), comb. n. (from Lestodiplosis). The genus Triommatomyia includes two species, T. barnesi and T. papillata; a supplemented description of the latter is included. Keys to the species of the genera Plutodiplosis and Triommatomyia are given.

Review of the millipede genus Yasudatyla Shear & Tsurusaki, 1995 new to the fauna of Russia, with description of new species from the Kurile Islands (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida, Conotylidae).

The diplopod genus Yasudatyla Shear & Tsurusaki, 1995 is new to the fauna of Russia, due to the discovery of Y. kurilensis sp. nov. from Kurile Islands. The genus is currently represented by four species, i.e. Y. yasudai Shear & Tsurusaki, 1995, Y. hidakaensis Shear & Tsurusaki, 1995, Y. shariensis Shear & Tsurusaki, 1995, all from Japan, and Y. kurilensis sp. nov. from the Kurile Islands, Russia, described here. All known species of the genus are keyed, including the new species.

To the knowledge of the fauna of Microlepidoptera (Lepidoptera) of the “Curonian Spit” National Park. II

A list of 243 Microlepidoptera species found in the territory of the Curonian Spit (both in its Russian and Lithuanian parts), in addition to that in the first part of the present publication (Sinev and Shapoval, 2013), is given: Gelechiidae (33), Tortricidae (138), and Crambidae (72 species). 142 species have been collected in the territory of the “Kurshskaya Kosa” National Park, including 49 species new to the Curonian Spit, 30 species new to Kaliningrad Province and 3 species (Scrobipalpa obsoletella, Scrobipalpa pauperella, and Catoptria osthelderi) new to the fauna of Russia.

New data on the fauna, taxonomy and ecology of praying mantises (Dictyoptera, Mantodea) from Russia

Two little-known species of praying mantises, Severinia turcomaniae (Saussure, 1872) and Rivetina nana Mistshenko, 1967, are reported for the faunas of Russia and Europe for the first time based on the material collected in Astrakhan Province of Russia. New data on the morphology, ecology, and distribution of these species are given. The male genitalia of S. turcomaniae and the female of R. nana are described for the first time. The lectotype of Oxythespis turcomaniae Saussure, 1872 is designated and deposited in the collection of the Zoological Museum of the Moscow University. The synonymy of O. turcomaniae and Mantis wagneri Kittary, 1849 is shown to be insufficiently justified; M. wagneri is provisionally placed in the genus Severinia Finot, 1902. Since R. nana Lindt, 1968 is most probably not a synonym of R. nana Mistshenko, 1967 but a separate species, a substitute name R. pseudonana Shcherbakov nom. n. is proposed for the former. Some characters traditionally used for the identification of Rivetina species are shown to be significantly variable and thus unreliable. A key to 11 praying mantis species of the Russian fauna is provided. The recent discovery of S. turcomaniae and R. nana in the northern Caspian Sea region is assumed to reflect the expansion of the natural ranges of thermophilic species caused by increasing aridity of the climate.

On the fauna and ecology of phytophagous beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomeloidea, Curculionoidea) of the Trans-Volga and Cis-Ural areas

Data on the distribution and bionomics in the east of European Russia are reported for 77 species of phytophagous beetles (25 species of Chrysomelidae, 5 species of Bruchidae, 4 species of Apionidae, 1 species of Nanophyidae, and 42 species of Curculionidae). Fifty species are recorded for the first time for the forest-steppe zone of the Trans-Volga and Cis-Ural regions. Of these, 5 species (Phyllotreta procera, Aphthona kuntzei, A. franzi, Bruchidius cinerascens, Lixus canescens, Gymnetron sauromatum) and one intraspecific form of an obscure taxonomic rank (Coptocephala chalybaea chalybaea) are new to the east of European Russia. Three steppe species (Cryptocephalus halophilus, Aphthona tolli and Ceutorhynchus tesquorum) are new to the European fauna, and Cryptocephalus halophilus, previously known only from Kazakhstan and recently found in the steppe zone of the Southern Cis-Urals (Orenburg Province), is new to the Russian fauna. New host plants are reported for 25 species of beetles.

Review of the genus Macrosaldula Southwood et Leston, 1959 (Heteroptera, Saldidae) of the fauna of Russia and adjacent countries

The species of the genus Macrosaldula Southwood et Leston of the fauna of Russia and adjacent countries are reviewed. Fifteen species and one subspecies are distributed in the investigated territory (among these, eight species marked with an asterisk occur in Russia): M. clavalis Cobben, *M. jakovleffi Reut., M. kaszabi Hob., M. kerzhneri Cobben, M. koktshetavica Cobben, *M. koreana Kir., M. nivalis Lindb., *M. oblonga oblonga Stal, M. oblonga acetabularis Cobben, M. mongolica Kir., *M. rivularia J. Sahlb., *M. simulans Cobben, *M. scotica Curt., M. tadzhika Kir., *M. variabilis H.-S., and *M. violacea Cobben. An illustrated key to the species and dotted distribution maps are given.

A review of the scarab beetle tribe Aphodiini (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) of the fauna of Russia

An annotated list of 183 species of the dung-beetle tribe Aphodiini of the Russian fauna is given. The highest species diversity is characteristic of the southern mountainous regions of the country, the richest local faunas being known from the Lower Volga area. The greatest numbers of species are known from the steppe and broadleaved forest zones and from the nemoral types of altitudinal zonation of vegetation. The bulk of the fauna is formed by the species with wide ranges; 111 species occur in two or more landscape zones or altitudinal zonation types. Six groups of faunistically similar zoogeographic provinces are distinguished within the territory of Russia.

Entomopathogenic Nematode Application in Egypt and Russia: Challenges and Opportunities

Biocontrol is a safe and environmentally sound alternative to chemicalinsecticides. Current status of entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) research andapplication as bio-pesticide in Egypt and Russia is outlined. Adoption of organicagriculture has induced fundamental changes in organic farmer managementpractices. Therefore, new challenges for organic agriculture to include EPN againstinsect pests in such practices in both countries are discussed. Major impedimentsand solutions for EPN commercialization in Egypt and Russia are presented. Morefinancial, informative, regulatory, and technical support is needed in order to exploitthe potential for increased pest management through EPN applications in bothcountries. We pointed out perceived reasons to develop techniques that exploit thepotential for effective pest management through different EPN application tactics.Local EPN production should be encouraged to eliminate or reduce transport,packaging, formulation and storage costs. Furthermore, local EPNs may be moreadaptive and less expensive without any risk to Egyptian and Russian fauna andflora than imported strains. We addressed also guidelines necessary to increase thenumber of people interested in the activities of EPN application against pestshoping to reap clean and safe agro-products for man and the environment.

First record of sap beetles Epuraea ocularis and Stelidota geminate (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) from Caucasus

Two invasive species of the sap beetles, Epuraea ocularis Fairmaire, 1849 and Stelidota geminate (Say, 1825), are recorded from Caucasus for the first time: from Abkhazia and from Russia (Krasnodar Territory) and Abkhazia, respectively. Stelidota geminata is also a new species for the fauna of Russia.

Rare species of antlions (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) new for the fauna of Caucasian and Middle Asian countries

Two species new for the Russian fauna, Neuroleon (Ganussa) lukhtanovi Kriv. and Pseudoformicaleo gracilis (Klug), are collected for the first time from different localities in Daghestan; N. lukhtanovi is also first indicated for Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Palpares turcicus Koçak and Nicarinus poecilopterus (Stein) are recorded for the first time from Azerbaijan and Armenia, respectively.

A review of flat moths of the genus Exaeretia stainton, 1849 (Lepidoptera, Depressariidae) of the fauna of Russia and neighboring countries

The general characteristic of the genus Exaeretia is presented. 21 species are recorded within the territory of the former USSR. A key to the species based on the characters of general appearance and male genitalia is provided. The descriptions of the species with brief data on their phenology, food plants and distribution are given. A new species Exaeretia kozhantshikovi sp. n. is described. Exaeretia lechriosema (Meyrick, 1928, as Depressaria) is considered a junior synonym of Exaeretia allisella Stainton, 1849. Exaeretia ussuriella (Caradja, 1920, as Depressaria) appeared to be conspecific with Odites notocapna Meyrick in Caradja, 1925, syn. n. and transferred to the family Lecithoceridae.

New data on the distribution of winter gnats (Diptera, Trichoceridae) in Russia

Six species of winter gnats are recorded for the first time in the fauna of Russia: Trichocera (Trichocera) inexplorata (Dahl, 1967), T. (Saltrichocera) antennata Starý, 1999, T. (S.) calva Starý, 1999, T. (S.) dahlae Mendl, 1971, T. (S.) recondita Starý, 2000, and T. (S.) sparsa Starý et Martinovský, 1996. One species, Trichocera arctica Lundstrom, 1915, is transferred to the subgenus Saltrichocera. Females of T. (S.) dahlae Mendl, 1971 are described and illustrated for the first time. Occurrence of several winter gnat species in the territory of Russia is confirmed and their ranges are described.