State Museum Of Natural History Research Articles

Data mobilisation at the Fund of Invertebrates of the State Museum of Natural History of the NAS of Ukraine.

The described dataset contains occurrence records of invertebrate specimens deposited at the State Museum of Natural History of the NAS of Ukraine, Lviv, Ukraine (SMNH NASU). It combines diverse taxonomic groups, mostly belonging to the class Insecta of the phylum Arthropoda, that were selected as prioritised for digitisation in war conditions. Selected specimens were ascertained as those being the most vulnerable to hostilities and requiring virtual preservation. Such virtual preservation is essential in the war realities as collection can be lost or damaged at any moment, resulting in a significant retrospective biodiversity data gap. At the same time, collection virtualisation and its deposition on the internet grant remote access to scientists who cannot visit it in person due to the war. Moreover, we believe that the mobilisation of the data from the Ukrainian collections and their publication online are essential for the integration of Ukrainian research facilities into a global scientific biodiversity pool. A total of 3,660 occurrence records mobilised in 2023-2024 from the collection of invertebrates of the SMNH NASU, were published. This dynamic dataset will be continually supplied by new records during further digitisation work.

Catalogue of Carabus estreicheri Fischer von Waldheim, 1820 & Carabus excellens Fabricius, 1798 (Coleoptera, Carabidae) specimens deposited in the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv, Ukraine

The species Carabus estreicheri Fischer von Waldheim, 1820 was recorded from the following settlements and regions: Drancha Mt. near Brody town, Podillia (Butsyky village, Tovtry, Pantelykhy steppe) (Nowicki, 1864), Brody (Łomnicki, 1868), Butsyky (Łomnicki, 1870), Podillia (Nowicki, 1873), Maksymivka village (Rybinski, 1903), Galicia, Volynska, Podilska (Proskuriv, Fisch.-W.), Khersonska (Kryn., Chaud.), Kyivska, Poltavska, Katerynoslavska gubernias (governorates (gubernias) – administrative divisions Russian Empire) , Podillia (Łomnicki, 1913), Lvivska province: Brody town vicinity, Brodivskyi district, Peniaky village, Zolochivskyi district, Velyka Vilshanytsia village vicinity, Lysa Hora Mt., Novosilky village, Pidlypivtsi village; Ternopilska province: Borshchivskyi district, Ivane-Puste village vicinity, Husiatynskyi district, Hrymailiv town, Medobory ridge, Terebovlianskyi district, Derenivka locality , collected for the first time in the post Second World War years in Barber’s soil traps 12.05-2.06.2007 near village Yaseniv (Brodivskyi district, Lvivska oblast) in a small (1-1.5 ha) steppe area , Right-Bank Polissia (Mixed Forest Zone), Left-Bank Polissia (Mixed Forest Zone), Broadleaved Forest Zone (including the Ciscarpathian region, and with the foothills of the Carpathians up to 300 m a.s.l. and Male Polissia), Right-Bank Forest Steppe, Left-Bank Forest Steppe, Northern sub-zone of the Right-Bank Steppe, Northern sub-zone of the Left-Bank Steppe (Пучков, 2012). There are 27 specimens of Carabus estreicheri Fischer von Waldheim, 1822 in the collection of the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv. The beetles were collected by M. Łomnicki, J. Łomnicki, V. Zanko, M. Świątkiewicz, J. Mazurek, A. Stöckl and apparently by Nowicki M. All specimens were collected in the second half of the 19th century and in the first half of the 20th century, and only two labels indicate the years of collection: 1904 and 1906, while the rest of the labels have only date marks (day/month). There is a reason to believe that one specimen (Inventory number – Е2.19.01.04.07/3, Digital record number – SMNH002254, Data Centre “Biodiversity of Ukraine” – ID 21599) was probably collected by M. Nowicki and mentioned by himself in his work (Nowicki, 1865), and another one specimen (Inventory number – Е2.19.01.04.07/4, Digital record number – SMNH002255, Data Centre “Biodiversity of Ukraine” – ID 21600) was apparently too collected by M. Nowicki and mentioned by himself in his work (Nowicki, 1864). The species Carabus excellens Fabricius, 1801 was recored from the following settlements and regions: Podillia, Butsyky village (Nowicki, 1864), Tovste village, Synkiv village (Łomnicki, 1870), Kyiv city vicinity (Hochhuth, 1871), Podillia, northern part of Bukovyna (Nowicki, 1873), Vovchynets village (mountain) (Łomnicki, 1875), Bilche village (Łomnicki, 1877), near Lviv city (Mokrotynski hills), Bibrka town, Chornushovychi village (Łomnicki, 1890), from Ternopil city to Pidvolochysk town (Rybinski, 1903), Eastern Galicia, Eastern Bukovyna, Volynska, Podilska, Kyivska, Kharkivska, Katerynoslavska, Khersonska, Chernihivska gubernias (Якобсон, 1905), Podillia (Łomnicki, 1913), Kamianets-Podilskyi vicinity , Vovchynets village, Sokal town (Kuntze, 1937-1938), «Trostianets» dendrarium , recorded from the Crimea [6], obviously, by mistake , Vinnytska province: Mohyliv-Podilskyi district, Yaryshiv village; Ivano-Frankivska oblast: Horodenka town; Kyiv city; Lvivska province: Zolochivskyi district, Velyka Vilshanytsia village vicinity, Lysa Hora Mt., Lviv city, Zhovkivskyi district, Hriada village, Pustomytivskyi district, Chornushovychi village; Ternopilska province: Borshchivskyi district, Ivane Puste village, Melnytsia Podilska town, Husiatynskyi district, Butsyky village, Hrymailiv town; Monastyryska town, Pidvolochyskyi district, Skalat town , C. e. excellens Fabricius, 1798 Right-Bank Polissia (Mixed Forest Zone), Left-Bank Polissia (Mixed Forest Zone), Broadleaved Forest Zone (including the Ciscarpathian region, but with the foothills of the Carpathians up to 300 m and Male Polissia), Right-Bank Forest Steppe, Left-Bank Forest Steppe, Northern sub-zone of the Right-Bank Steppe, Northern sub-zone of the Left-Bank Steppe, Southern sub-zone of the Right-Bank Steppe, Southern sub-zone of the Left-Bank Steppe, C. e. frivaldskyi Kraatz, 1887 Zone of broadleaf forests (including Prykarpattia, and with the foothills of the Carpathians up to 300 m and Male Polissya) (Bukovyna) (Пучков, 2012). There are 71 specimens of Carabus excellens Fabricius, 1801 in the collection of the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv. The beetles were collected by Dzieduszycki W., M. Łomnicki, J. Łomnicki, Stetsiv V., Zanko V., Hankevych K., Polianskyi S., Sheshurak P.M., Zelenko N., Yanytskyi T.P., Rizun V.B. The specimens were collected in the second half of the 19-th century, the first half of the 20th century, and during the recent decades. This article was written with the support of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, call 2022.01 «Science for the Recovery of Ukraine in the War and Post-War Periods» the project 2022.01/0013 «Digitization of natural history collections damaged as a result of hostilities and related factors: development of protocols and implementation on the basis of the State Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine». The contents of this article do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine and are the sole responsibility of the State Museum of Natural History, NAS of Ukraine.

Catalogue of stuffed birds with atypical colouration and developmental anomalies deposited in the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv, Ukraine

Birds with atypical colouration and developmental anomalies very rarely occur in the wild, and museum collections of such specimens have been formed over centuries. Today, their scientific importance is growing due to the emergence of new opportunities in genetic research, and distribution of information on the collections of this kind is a useful thing. The digitization of collections becomes especially important in times of war, because currently none of the museum collections in Ukraine have guarantees against possible losses. The collection of stuffed birds with atypical colouration and developmental anomalies, deposited in the State Museum of Natural History, NASU includes 157 specimens of 44 species. It was collected from 1850 to 1930. Later, only one stuffed bird was received in 2012. The collection was formed both as a result of the activities of museum staff (hunting, buying at markets) and the receipt of numerous gifts to the museum's founder, Volodymyr Didushytskyi. Among the species, the most numerous are the house sparrow Passer domesticus L., 1758 – 24 spec., the grey crow Corvus cornix L., 1758, the rook Corvus frugilegus L., 1758 and the village swallow Hirundo rustica L., 1758, presented by 11 spec. each, and the grey partridge Perdix perdix L., 1758 – 9 spec. Some 117 specimens were collected from the present territory of Ukraine, 28 spec. from the present territory of Poland, and the place of collection of the remaining 12 specimens is unknown. In Ukraine, most specimens were collected in Lvivska province (89); the rest – in Ternopilska province (15), Ivano-Frankivska province (12) and Volynska province (1). In Poland, 12 specimens were collected in the Podkarpackie voivodeship, 11 spec. in the Małopolskie voivodeship, 2 spec. in the Lubelskie voivodeship and 1 spec. in the Lódzkie voivodeship. Among all localities, the largest number of specimens was collected from Lviv City and its environs – 24, form the village of Peniaky, Zolochivskyi district, Lvivska province – 12, and from Kraków City and its environs – 11. At the end of 2023, the entire collection was digitized as a part of the project "Crisis Inventory and Leap to Digitalization of Museum Records" Tustan NGO, “Tustan” State Historical and Cultural Museum, NeMo: Ukrainian Heritage Monitoring Lab and the NGO “Centre for Museum Development” with the financial support of the European Union. Each exhibit was photographed in six projections: front, left and right sides, back, bottom, and in the most favourable exhibition position. The catalogue was prepared within the framework of the project "Methodological principles of expert evaluation of the scientific potential of natural history collections" of the Department of Applied Museology of the State Museum of Natural History, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, state registration No.0122U001440.

Catalogue of Bracychthoniidae (Sarcoptiformes, Oribatida) specimens deposited in the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv, Ukraine

Brachychthoniids are tiny mites, typically measuring less than 250 µm in length (Krant et al. 2009). Brachychthoniids can be distinguished from other oribatids by the fact that their notogaster is divided into 3 plates by 2 transverse furrows (Weigmann, 2006). The anteriormost plate has 6 pairs of setae (c and d rows) (Krant et al., 2009). Without extra cupules immediately lateral to mid-dorsal setae (Krant et al., 2009). The genital plates and the combined anal/peranal plates are of similar size (Krant et al., 2009). There is 1 pair of aggenital setae, 2 pairs of setae on the anal plates, and the peranal plates are present with 1 pair of setae (Krant et al., 2009). In terms of geography and ecology, brachychthoniids may be the most extensively spread family among oribatid mites (Krant et al., 2009). Besides being varied and plentiful in damp forest soil and litter, they are frequently found in disclimax communities and newly established habitats (Norton and Palmer, 1991). The world fauna of Brachythoniidae is represented by 163 species belonging to 12 genera (Subias, 2004). In Ukraine, 40 species of mites of this family, belonging to 9 genera. Thus, the species diversity in Ukraine is 25% of the world's fauna. The collection of oribatid mites of the State Museum of Natural History of the NAS of Ukraine contains 9 species of brachychthoniids, as follows: Liochthonius alpestris (Forsslund, 1958), L. hystricinus (Forsslund, 1942), L. muscorum Forsslund, 1964, L. brevis (Michael, 1888), L. sellnicki (Thor, 1930), Sellnickochthonius suecicus (Forsslund, 1942), S. zеlawaiensis (Sellnick, 1928), Eobrachychthonius oudemansi van der Hammen 1952 and Synchthonius crenulatus (Jacot, 1938). They have been collected in the western regions of Ukraine and are represented by 96 individuals, which make up 16 records. In particular, the collection contains samples collected from Zakarpatska, Lvivska and Ivano-Frankivska provinces. Some materials were collected in nature conservation areas: Nature Reserve Roztochchia, National Natural Park Synevyr and Carpathian Biosphere Reserve. This article was written with the support of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, call 2022.01 «Science for the Recovery of Ukraine in the War and Post-War Periods» the project 2022.01/0013 «Digitization of natural history collections damaged as a result of hostilities and related factors: development of protocols and implementation on the basis of the State Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine». The contents of this article do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine and are the sole responsibility of the State Museum of Natural History, NAS of Ukraine.

Catalogue of Nebria picicornis (Fabricius, 1792) (Coleoptera, Carabidae) specimens deposited in the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv, Ukraine

The species Nebria picicornis (Fabricius, 1792) belongs to the genus, distributed in the Palaearctic, Middle East and North Africa, and represented by more than 500 described species (Catalogue of Life, 2023). In Ukraine, the genus is represented by 9 species. Nebria picicornis (Fabricius, 1792) has been recorded from thefollowing localities in Ukraine: outskirts of Sambir town, Spas village (Nowicki, 1858), the Eastern Beskydy up to Chornohora range (Nowicki, 1864), Ivano-Frankivsk city at the Bystrytsia river, in the river silt deposits (Łomnicki, 1886), beech forest zone of the Carpathians (Nowicki, 1873), Galicia, Bukovyna, Podilska gubernias , Zelemianka river, Bolekhiv town , NR «Gorgany» , foothill and lowland areas of the Carpathians: Ciscarpathian Upland, Beskydy massif, Gorgany massif, Pokutsko-Bukovynski Carpathians, Krasna range, as well as the Klavdievo village near Kyiv city, 10.V.1976 р., 2 spec., V.G. Dolin (IZU) , the Carpathians (including the Ciscarpathian Upland with foothills above 300 m a.s.l.), Right-Bank Polissia (mixed forest zone), Broadleaf Forest Zone (including the Ciscarpathian Upland, but with foothills of the Carpathians up to 300 m a.s.l. and Male Polissia) . Nebria picicornis (Fabricius, 1792) is distributed in the mountains and foothills of Central Europe and the northern part of southern Europe (Burakowski et al., 1973). In Ukraine it is found in the belts of oak and beech forests and lives along the banks of rivers and streams . There are 34 specimens of Nebria picicornis (Fabricius, 1792) in the collection of the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv. The beetles were collected by Łomnicki M., Polianskyi S., Stöckl A., Susulovskyi A.S., Rizun V.B. Most of them were collected in the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, a number of individuals – in recent decades. Three specimens (Inventory numbers: E2.19.01.08.02//17, Digital record number: SMNH010749, Data Centre “Biodiversity of Ukraine”: ID 58124; Inventory numbers: E2.19.01.08.02//18, Digital record number: SMNH010750, Data Centre “Biodiversity of Ukraine”: ID 58125; Inventory numbers: E2.19.01.08.02//19, Digital record number: SMNH010751, Data Centre “Biodiversity of Ukraine”: ID 58126) most probably were mentioned in the work by M. Łomniсki (Łomnicki M. Muzeum imienia Dzieduszyckich we Lwowe. Dział I. Zoologiczny oddział zwierząt bezkręgowych. IV. Chrząszcze, czyli Tęgoskrzydłe (Coleoptera). – Lwów, 1886. – 308 s.). In general, the collection contains specimens, collected from Ukraine: Lvivska, Ivano-Frankivska, Chernivetska, Zakarpatska provinces, and from Poland. Some part of the presented material was collected in nature conservation areas of Ukraine: the Nature Reserve «Gorgany», National Nature Parks «Boikivshchyna», «Carpathian» and «Hutsulshchyna». This article was written with the support of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, call 2022.01 «Science for the Recovery of Ukraine in the War and Post-War Periods» the project 2022.01/0013 «Digitization of natural history collections damaged as a result of hostilities and related factors: development of protocols and implementation on the basis of the State Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine». The contents of this article do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine and are the sole responsibility of the State Museum of Natural History, NAS of Ukraine.

Catalogue of Endomychidae (Insecta, Coleoptera) family specimens deposited in the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv, Ukraine

The family Endomychidae is a moderately large group of small to medium-sized beetles with worldwide distribution and maximum diversity in tropical and subtropical regions, which includes about 1,600 species in 90 genera, 9 subfamilies (Shockley et al., 2009; Robertson et al., 2015). Of these, 7 species are known from the territory of Ukraine, of which 5 species occur in the Ukrainian Carpathian region (Nowicki, 1865; Roubal, 1936, Mateleshko, 2002, 2005, 2009; Mateleshko & Chumak, 2006; Mateleshko & Roshko, 2006; Mateleshko & Lovas, 2010; Chumak et al., 2015; Koval, et al., 2018; Diedus et al., 2021) and three species are known from the Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson provinces and the Crimean Autonomous Republic (Drogvalenko, 1999). Representatives of the family are mainly mycophagous. The most common habitats are fungi, rotten wood and fungus-infested bark. Many species live in leaf litter and decaying plant debris, where they feed on mold and fungi. The collection of the State Museum of Natural History, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (SMNH) presents 58 specimens of the family Endomychidae, belonging to 4 species and 4 genera, as follows: Dapsa denticollis (Germar, 1817) – 3 spec., Endomychus coccineus (Linnaeus, 1758) – 29 spec., Lycoperdina succincta (Linnaeus, 1767) – 21 spec., Mycetina cruciata (Schaller, 1783) – 5 spec. The illustrated catalogue of these species is given below, the species being listed in an alphabet order. The collection material has originated from the western part of Ukraine and southern part of Poland and was collected during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Most of the material was collected from the western part of Ukraine, and is presented in the collection by three species: D. denticollis, E. coccineus and L. succincta from Roztochchia georegion (Lviv (Holosko, Kryvchytsi, Znesinnia, Snopkiv), Yamelnia, Ivano-Frankove); E. coccineus from Male Polissia (Radvantsi); two species from Opillia – L. succincta (Bartativ, Zubra) and E. coccineus (Prybyn). Only one species, E. coccineus, is known from the Cisparpathian Upland (Kolomyia, Sadzhawka) where it was collected in early 20th century (15.06.1902; 23.05.1901). Regarding the material collected from the territory of Poland, 4 specimens of two species are available in the SMNH collection: E. coccineus (Kraków, Rabka-Zdrój, Szymbart) and L succincta (Sztutowo). In addition to the main museum collection, the four above-mentioned species are contained in the collection of A. Stöckl: one spec. D. denticollis from Serbia, collected by Reitter; 5 spec. E. coccineus from the western part of Ukraine (Lviv, Riasne, Ivano-Frankove); 3 spec. L. succincta: one spec. from Poland (Konskowola), two – from Ukraine (Ivano-Frankove, Lviv); and 2 spec. of M. cruciata collected in Ukraine (Pistyn). Other specimens of this collection lack information on the collectors.

Catalogue of Palamocladium euchloron (Müll. Hal.) Wijk et Margad. (Hypnales, Brachytheciaceae) specimens deposited in the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv, Ukraine

The species Palamocladium euchloron (Müll. Hal.) Wijk et Margad. is distributed in Southern Europe (Greece), in the Caucasus, in Asia (Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, China). Findings in the Mountainous Crimea: Kirovskyi district, Agarmysh Mt. in the vicinity of the Old Crimea town, Old Crimea; Khapkhal Gorge near the Dzhur-Dzhur waterfall on the East Ulu-Uzen River, Crimean Nature Reserve, upper reaches of the Alma River; Bakhchysaraiskyi district, near the Bakhchysarai town, Sokolyne and Mashyne villages, Chufut-Kale rock . The species is scientifically significant as a relict (tertiary) one. This moss grows on the soil, on shaded limestone rocks and stones in oak and beech forests. The plant is dioecious. In the Crimea it does not form sporogonies and reproduces vegetatively. Palamocladium euchloron (Müll. Hal.) Wijk et Margad. is protected in the Crimean Nature Reserve, Khapkhalskyi hydrological reserve and the Agarmyskyi Forest landmark of nature . The species is recorded for the Staryi Krym vicinity in the work of M.P. Slobodian . The species is given in the study of fossil Pliocene bryoflora for the territory of Poland . Specimens of the Palamocladium euchloron (Müll. Hal.) Wijk et Margad., represented in the SMNH collection, were collected from the territory of the Crimean Peninsular (Bakhchysarai (Slobodian, 1969), Kirovsky district (Slobodian, 1966), Sudak town (Slobodian, 1968), Sokolyne village (Slobodian, 1969), Mashyne village (Slobodian, 1969), Golovkinskyi waterfall (Melnychuk, 1954); from the territory of Krasnodar Krai (Russia) territory were collected in Krasnaia Poliana (Lazarenko, 1937), from the territory of Azerbaijan near Novo-Alekseevka village (Окснер, 1936). The museum collection contains 14 specimens of Palamocladium euchloron (Müll. Hal.) Wijk et Margad. Two specimens are exsiccates (Institutum Botanicum nomine V.L. Komarivii Academiae Scientiarum URSS, 1961). Samples were collected by M.P. Slobodian, V.M. Melnychuk, A.S. Lazarenko, A.M. Oksner. Exsiccates were collected by I.I. Abramov and A.L. Abramova. Most specimens were collected in the second half of the 20th century. The specimens of A.S. Lazarenko and A.M. Oksner belong to the first half of the 20th century. The species has been included into the Red Data Book of Ukraine with conservation status: Rare. This article was written with the support of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, call 2022.01 «Science for the Recovery of Ukraine in the War and Post-War Periods» the project 2022.01/0013 «Digitization of natural history collections damaged as a result of hostilities and related factors: development of protocols and implementation on the basis of the State Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine». The contents of this article do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine and are the sole responsibility of the State Museum of Natural History, NAS of Ukraine.

Catalogue of Bombus wurflenii Radoszkowski, 1860 (Hymenoptera, Apidae) specimens deposited in the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv, Ukraine

Bombus wurflenii Radoszkowski, 1860 belongs to the subgenus Alpigenobombus and is one of the 40 bumblebee species that occur in Ukraine. This Boreal-Alpine species has a disjunctive range and is confined to the mountains and hills of Europe. It occurs in Scandinavia, in central and southern Europe (the Cantabrian Mountains, the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Apennines, the Balkans, the Carpathians). It is also known from the far east of Europe (the Ural Mountains), and from the north-eastern Turkey and the Caucasus (Rasmont, Iserbyt, 2010-2012; Rasmont et al., 2015). All scenarios of future distribution of Bombus wurflenii project a moderate reduction of suitable areas by 2050. By 2100 the climatic niche space of the species would be even more restricted. With low dispersal capability and since Bombus wurflenii is a specialized species linked to cold boreal and alpine-subalpine conditions, it would suffer substantially from global warming (Rasmont et al., 2015). Bombus wurflenii is a medium sized bumblebee. It is highly adapted for “nectar robbing”, i. e. perforating holes at the base of long flower corollas to reach the nectar. To do this, it uses its modified mandibles, each with six denticles on outer margin . In Ukraine the species is represented by the subspecies B. wurflenii mastrucatus Gerst. and occurs in the Ukrainian Carpathians only. It inhabits mountain forests from a height of 500 m a. s. l. to the subalpine zone inclusive. The highest number of population of the species is observed within the altitude range of 800-1100 m above sea level (Konovalova, 2010). B. wurflenii is nesting underground, using the abandoned nests of rodents in beech, beech-spruce and spruce forests, in polonynas, meadows and also on rocky slopes in the subalpine. The emergence of queens from hibernation happens in late spring and early summer. The development of small colonies lasts until July-August, culminating in the emergence of new reproductive generation. In the Carpathian highlands B. wurflenii is considered a common one. However, during last decades, the destruction of both nesting sites and forage flora of this species due to excessive recreational pressure, is a serious factor threatening the persistence of its population. For this reason, B. wurflenii has been included into the Red Book of the Ukrainian Carpathians as vulnerable one, also taking into account a relatively limited area inhabited by populations of the species. The species plays a significant role in the pollination of high mountain flora. A feeding diet of this bumblebee in the Ukrainian Carpathians includes at least 23 plant species belonging to 16 families (unpublished data of the author). Among its favourite forage plants are: Centaurea phrygia subsp. carpatica (Porcius) Dostál, Cirsium waldsteinii Rouy, Gentiana asclepiadea L., Rhododendron kotschyi Simonk., Vaccinium spp., Aconitum spp. In the entomological collection of the State Museum of Natural History, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 42 specimens of B. wurflenii have been deposited. Only one specimen belongs to an old historical collection. It was collected from the Tatry Mts. in Poland on 30.07.1905 and identified by J. Snieżek. From the present territory of Ukraine B. wurflenii was recorded for the first time in 1939 in Chornohora mountain range, at an altitude of 1500 m a.s.l. (Fudakowski et al., 1939). The recent part of the collection includes specimens, found from 2000 to 2006 in mountain regions of Ivano-Frankivska and Zakarpatska provinces of Ukraine (fig. 1). The recent collection of B. wurflenii represents all three castes of the species: 1 queen, 32 workers and 8 males. Bumblebees were collected during June, July and August within altitudes of 800-1700 m a.s.l. in the following physiographic regions: UC: PlChr: Chornohora massif; UC: PlChr: Svydovets massif; UC: OCVV: Gg: Outer Gorgany range. The vast majority of specimens have been collected in protected territories: Carpathian Biosphere Reserve (Chornohora protected massif, Svydovets protected massif) and Carpathian National Nature Park.

Catalogue of the genus Capnodis Eschscholtz, 1829 (Coleoptera, Buprestidae) specimens deposited in the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv, Ukraine

The representatives of the genus are distributed in circum-Mediterranean region. Fifteen species are known from the Palearctic (Löbl, Löbl, 2016), 4 of them occur in the territory of Ukraine. There are 5 species in the museum's collections. Capnodis carbonaria (Klug, 1829) is distributed in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Macedonia, Ukraine (Crimea), southern territories of Russia, Egypt, Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey (Löbl, Löbl, 2016). Larvae develop in the roots of Amygdalus, Armeniaca, Malus, Prunus . The species was Mentioned from the Mountainous Crimea (Рихтер, 1952). Capnodis cariosa (Pallas, 1776) is distributed in Azerbaijan, Albania, Armenia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Ukraine, southern territories of Russia, Egypt, Cyprus, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey (Löbl, Löbl, 2016). Larvae develop in the roots of Pistacia . The species was mentioned from Odeska state province . Capnodis miliaris (Klug, 1829) is distributed in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Greece, Italy, southern Russia, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan (Löbl, Löbl, 2016). Larvae develop in the roots of Populus, Salix (Salavatian, 1950). The species was not mentioned from Ukraine. Capnodis tenebricosa (Olivier, 1790) is distributed in Azerbaijan, Albania, Armenia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Malta, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Ukraine, southern Russia, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Egypt (Sinai), Syria, Turkmenistan, Turkey (Löbl, Löbl, 2016). Larvae develop in the roots of Rumex . The species was mentioned from Podillia province (gubernia) (Hildt, 1893), Odeska state province (Рихтер, 1944), the Crimea , Kharkivska state province . Capnodis tenebrionis (Linnaeus, 1761) is distributed in Azerbaijan, Albania, Armenia, Austria, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Malta, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, central and southern territories of Russia, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkmenistan, Turkey (Löbl, Löbl, 2016). Larvae develop in the roots of Amygdalus, Armeniaca, Cerasus, Crataegus, Cydonia, Malus, Mespilus, Persica, Prunus, Pyrus. Females lay eggs at the base of the trunk at ground level or in the soil near the base of the tree. The larva bores its tunnel under the bark down into the root, hibernates, and the next year it continues to bore in the sapwood up and constructs its pupal chamber under the bark of the trunk 10 - 30 cm above the soil level (Bílý, 2002). The species was mentioned from Chorna (Czarna in orig.) – the former Sambir district, now Bieszczady County, Poland (Nowicki, 1858), from Kamianets-Podilskyi (Belke, 1859), Synkiv, Ternopilska state province (Wierzejski, 1867, Łomnicki, 1870, 1886), Kyiv and Volyn gubernias (Hochhuth, 1871), Galicia, Volyn, Podillia, Kherson, Kyiv, Katerynoslav provinces (gubernias), the Crimea (Якобсон, 1905), Zalishchyky, Horodok, Synkiv (Kuntze, Noskiewicz, 1938), Ivano-Frankivsk vicinity, Zaporizka, Odeska, Ternopilska state provinces, Kherson, the Crimea , Donetska, Zaporizka, Odeska, Mykolaivska state provinces, the Crimea . During the first half of the 20th century, this species was rather common in Central Europe, but later it has disappeared completely from the most of localities. The reason for the sharp decrease in the number of species is changes in the principles of horticulture after the Second World War, as a result of which the species lost the optimal conditions for its development (Bílý, 2002). In the collection of the State Museum of Natural History, National Academy of Scienses of Ukraine 44 specimens of the genus have been deposited. The illustrated catalog of those is presented below. The findings have been collected by the following collectors: Didushytskyi P., Grolle Yu., Noskiewicz J., Stöckl A., Wierzejski A., Zahaikevych I. – in the period from about 1867 to the middle of 20th century.

Catalogue of Sceliphron destillatorium (Illager, 1807) (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) specimens deposited in the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv, Ukraine

Representatives of the genus Sceliphron Klug, 1801 are found in almost all biogeographical regions of the world (Yuan, 2022). At present, 35 species of this genus have been known (Pulawski, 2020). Of these, six species have been recorded from the territory of Ukraine as follows: three invasive species: Sceliphron caementarium (Drury, 1773); Sceliphron curvatum (Smith, 1870) and Sceliphron deforme (F. Smith, 1856) (Kletʹonkin, 2023); and three native species: Sceliphron destillatorium (Illiger, 1807); Sceliphron madraspatanum (Fabricius, 1781) and Sceliphron spirifex (Linnaeus, 1758) (Tymkiv et al., 2015). The most common is Sceliphron destillatorium (Illiger, 1807), which occurs throughout the territory of Ukraine. Representatives of the genus Sceliphron Klug, 1801 belong to two subgenera: Sceliphron and Hensenia. Although species of both subgenera take care of their offspring and feed the larvae with spiders, their nests differ in shape and number of mud cells. Wasps of the subgenus Hensenia build a certain number of single-celled mud nests in shape of jugs. Instead, wasps of the subgenus Sceliphron build cells that joint into large mud nest. S. destillatorium is the South–Palaearctic species. Its range covers the Mediterranean region (southern and south-eastern Europe, northern Africa and south-western and southern Asia) (Wisniowski et al., 2013). S. destillatorium is a solitary wasp. It belongs to the family Sphecidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) of the subgenus Sceliphron (Gülmez1 et al, 2017). S. destillatorium female builds a nests of the moist soil material, which she collects and transports herself. The nest consists of tubular cells placed side by side, the number of which varies (Chatenoud et al., 2012). After building the first cell, the female hunts spiders to feed her offspring (Pytel-Huta, 2023; Yuan, 2022). Female S. destillatorium brings the paralysed spider into the cell, lays an egg and continues to hunt. Each cell stores a certain number of spiders. The number depends on the size of the victims and the sex of the future generation. Once the cells have been built, the female S. destillatorium covers them with an additional layer of soil (Polidori, 2005). In the wild, females build their nests in shady, sheltered places (rock ledges, empty tree trunks, etc.). However, at present, they are increasingly nesting in people's houses (usually under roofs, attics, etc.) (Yuan, 2022). Adult wasps feed on angiosperm nectar. The collection of the State Museum of Natural History, National Academy of Sciences in Lviv contains 14 specimens of this species collected in the western part of Ukraine and one specimen collected in the central part. A few samples (4) of this species were collected in 1922, 1923 and 1926, collector – J. Noskiewicz. The date and place of collection of the remaining specimens are unknown. All data have been entered into the web resource Data Centre “Biodiversity of Ukraine” http://dc.smnh.org/.

Malacofauna of Crimea as a possible source of introductions to other regions of Ukraine: land snails of non-Crimean origin

Background. Due to global climate changes, a number of land mollusc species, previously known only from southern Ukraine or only from Crimea, are increasingly being recorded in different parts of the country. Apparently, not only species of the Crimean origin but also some other molluscs, native or alien to the Crimean Peninsula, could have been introduced from Crimea in different time periods. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to generalise and give a critical analysis of data on the present distribution in Ukraine outside Crimea for 8 such species, whose primary source of dispersal could be, at least partially, the Crimean Peninsula. Materials and Methods. We used the results of our own long-term (from 1994 to 2023) research of the land mollusc fauna in different parts of Ukraine, examined collections of other researchers and amateurs, numerous stock materials of the State Museum of Natural History in Lviv, analysed a number of literature sources from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day, as well as reports from two citizen science databases (iNaturalist and UkrBIN). Results and Discussion. We have sequentially analysed the available data about the present distribution and chronology of discovery in different administrative regions of Ukraine outside Crimea for Cecilioides raddei, Phenacolimax annularis, Oxychilus deilus, Xeropicta derbentina, X. krynickii, Monacha cartusiana, Eobania vermiculata, as well as Helix lucorum with the shell colouration characteristic of the mountainous Crimea. It has been established that one or more species have now been reliably recorded in all parts and almost all administrative regions of Ukraine, with the exception of Sumy and Kirovohrad ones. Conclusion. The conducted analysis confirms the potential influence of Crimea on the formation of the present species composition of alien land molluscs not only in the south, but also in other parts of Ukraine. Most of the analyzed species are so far known only from those administrative regions that border the Black and Azov Seas. Two species, X. derbentina and M. cartusiana, are now rather widespread in Ukraine, but most of their known records were made no earlier than 1990s. The data systematized in this study can become the basis for monitoring the further spread of the species under study into different parts of Ukraine, which may become especially relevant in the post-war period.

Catalogue of Asplenium septentrionale (L.) (Tracheophyta, Polypodiopsida, Aspleniaseae) specimens deposited in the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv, Ukraine

The detailed analysis of origin of the Asplenium septentrionale (L.) Hoffm. specimens, deposited in the main collection of vascular plants’ herbarium in the SMNH NASU, has been carried out. Asplenium septentrionale (L.) Hoffm. – northern spleenwort – is a perennial fern of the genus Asplenium, the family Aspleniaceae, a Holarctic petrophilous species with a disjunctive Eurasian-North American natural range (Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Western Siberia, Mongolia, Himalayas, Far East, North America). Its localities are confined to petrophilic communities, mainly on granite outcrops devoid of calcium (rock crevices, rocky slopes, landslides, boulders, shady spruce forests, etc.), and the species rises to the upper mountain belt. In Ukraine, this species occurs within the Carpathians, the Crimea, Steppe (Prydniprovska and Azov uplands, Donetsk Ridge) and Forest-Steppe (Volynska and Prydniprovska uplands) zones, Polissya (occasionally in Volynske and Zhytomyrske Polissya). Asplenium septentrionale (L.) Hoffm. has been included into the official lists of regionally rare plants in many regions of Ukraine (Dnipropetrovska, Donetska, Zhytomyrska, Zaporizka, Ivano-Frankivska, Kyivska, Kirovohradska, Luhanska, Rivnenska, Chernivetska provinces and the Autonomous Republic of the Crimea). The main collection of the Herbarium of Vascular Plants in the SMNH NASU contains 26 herbarium specimens of A. septentrionale (L.) Hoffm., all being included into the electronic database "Biodiversity of Ukraine" (http://dc.smnh.org/) and digitized. The geography of the herbarium collections of A. septentrionale (L.) Hoffm., besides the modern territory of Ukraine (Dnipropetrovska (1901), Donetska (1939, 1947, 1965, 1966), Zhytomyrska (1949), Zakarpatska (1948, 1957, 1961, 1969), Ivano-Frankivska (1967), Kirovohradska (1900), Rivnenska (1948) provinces and the Autonomous Republic of the Crimea (1900)), has been represented also by the territories of Poland (1905), Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Romania (1905), Finland (1898) and the Russian Federation (North Ossetia, 1898). In descending order of the number of collected herbarium specimens with the participation of 16 collectors, the following series has been formed: Slobodian M. (3 herbarium specimens), Vainagii I. (2), Voloshchak E. (2), Hanieshyn S. (2), Lazebna A. (2), Malynovskyi K. (2), Zinger M. (2), Berko J. (1), Golde K. (1), Kotov M, Karnaukh E. (1), Markovych V. (1), Melnychuk V. (1), Rheman A. (1), Stoyko S. (1), Finn V. (1), Khrzhyzhanovskyi V., Lazebna A. (1), Shokhin V. (1). The chronology of the herbarium collections covers the period from 1898 to 1969. The earliest specimens (second half of the 19th century) were collected in Finland (V. Shokhin collection) and North Ossetia (V. Markovych collection). This article was written with the support of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, call 2022.01 «Science for the Recovery of Ukraine in the War and Post-War Periods» the project 2022.01/0013 «Digitization of natural history collections damaged as a result of hostilities and related factors: development of protocols and implementation on the basis of the State Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine». The contents of this article do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine and are the sole responsibility of the State Museum of Natural History, NAS of Ukraine.

Анотований список сфагнових мохів на території гірського масиву Ґорґани

The article provides a summary of current knowledge related to the distribution, anatomical-morphological, and ecological characteristics of sphagnum mosses on the mountain massif of Gorgany. The analysis is based on the original field research, and also literature and herbarium data. It has been established that genus Sphagnum L. within the Ukrainian Carpathians is represented by 30 species, with 23 species occurring in the Gorgany mountain massif. Information about the species diversity of this moss group is mentioned in the works of scientists such as Zerov D. K., Partika L. Ya. (1975), Nyporko S. O. (2006); Savitska A. G. (2012), Felbaba-Klushyna L. M. (2015), Rabyk I. V., Danilyk I. M. (2022), Prytula S. V., Mamchur Z. I., Drach Yu. A. (2020; 2022), in the herbarium collections of the Department of Ecology at Ivan Franko National University, the State Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (LWS), the M. G. Kholodny Institute of Botany (KW), as well as electronic databases like the National Biodiversity Information Network and the Center for Biodiversity Data of Ukraine. According to the research, an annotated list of 23 species of sphagnum mosses in the Gorgany territory was identified and compiled. The distribution of these species in various sections of the massif was analyzed, including Krayovi Nyzhkohirni, Zovnishni (Skybovi), and Pryvododilni (Vnutrishni) Gorgany. The highest number of species was recorded in the Pryvododilni Gorgany area. The Krayovi Nyzhkohirni Gorgany is still not researched, and also there is no any data about the distribution of sphagnum mosses. A taxonomic analysis was conducted, including classification into 5 subgenera, of which four were identified within the study area. The subgenera Acutifolia (Russow) A.J.Shaw (10) and Cuspidata Lindb (8) are represented by the highest number of species. No species from the Rigida (Lindb.) A.Eddy subgenus were found.

Outlining the aims and format of the project «Digitisation of natural history collections damaged as a result of hostilities and related factors: development of protocols and implementation based on the State Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine»

This article presents the format and outlines the goals and objectives of the project: "Digitisation of natural collections damaged by hostilities and associated factors: development of protocols and implementation based on the State Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine." This project, financed by the National Research Fund of Ukraine as part of the competition "Science for the Reconstruction of Ukraine in the War and Post-War Periods", involves the development of protocols and testing of digitisation technologies for vulnerable natural history museum collections and will be implemented in 2023-2024. The State Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine collections will be used to develop the protocols. Still, in general, the project has broader tasks. It is primarily aimed at the digitisation and virtual availability of natural collections that have already been damaged due to hostilities and related factors or may be damaged or lost shortly. Among the most vulnerable collections are those that require careful observance of the storage regime and are the first to undergo destruction or can be easily lost due to direct damage (for example, fire). Among such collections of the State Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the collections of invertebrate animals and herbarium funds, which were formed in 1870 and today constitute the object of the national heritage of Ukraine, have been identified. These collections are unique regarding the representativeness of the western region of Ukraine, although they are not limited to it. If these collections are lost, restoring or replacing damaged samples with equivalent ones is impossible. The consequence of the loss or damage of these collections will be the formation of a significant gap in the documentation of the history of the flora and fauna of the western region of Ukraine, which will be impossible to fill with existing data or cover with other, including foreign, collections. That is why, in martial law conditions, it is essential to develop protocols for the rapid digitisation of the most valuable and most vulnerable samples that have already suffered or may potentially suffer damage due to hostilities.

Scientific and educational potential of the malacological collection of the State Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

The importance of the malacological collection of the State Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Lviv for the history and further development of malacological research in Ukraine is considered. The scientific potential of stock malacological materials, accumulated in the museum since the second half of the 19th century and significantly supplemented during the last decades, was analyzed in temporal and geographical aspects, as well as taking into account the taxonomic diversity and intraspecific conchological variability of the molluscs of Ukraine, the presence of typical materials, etc. It was found that the main (scientific) part of the malacological collection well represents the present land and freshwater mollusc fauna of Ukraine and its western part. Not represented in the museum's malacological collection are still some species that are mainly locally distributed in Ukraine and often have small sizes, which further complicates their sampling. Among the more recent additions to the malacological collection, we can especially mention the samples related to the study of the land mollusc fauna of the steppe zone of Ukraine, which remained poorly studied until the end of the 20th and even the beginning of the 21st century, as well as to the shell color and banding polymorphism in the Eastern European populations of two introduced species, Cepaea nemoralis and C. hortensis. Among the auxiliary part of the malacological collection, a large block of materials that can be used for exhibition purposes is selected. They allow demonstrating a wide range of topics from the taxonomic and morphological diversity of molluscs of Ukraine and the world to conchological adaptations. It can be useful when studying corresponding sections of a school biology course, as well as for students of biological specialties, amateur naturalists, etc. Various forms of virtual exhibiting allow to shown the public also numerous materials of the main (scientific) part of the malacological collection, which became possible within the framework of the Educational online program “Molluscs”. This allows us to talk about the gradual transformation of the main part of the malacological collection from a classical scientific collection to a scientific and educational one with virtual access.

New data on the distribution of anthropochorous species of land molluscs in western regions of Ukraine and possible approaches to their classification

On the basis of own data, materials transferred to the laboratory of malacology or the malacological collection of the State Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Lviv, as well as a critical analysis of observations in two citizen science databases (iNaturalist, UkrBIN), new records of some anthropochorous land mollusc species in Western Ukraine, and in particular, in Lviv and its immediate surroundings, are described. In tabular form, the temporal and spatial presence in the western part of Ukraine of 23 species that could appear here only due to anthropochory is analyzed. Maps of the findings of Cepaea nemoralis, Deroceras caucasicum, Oxychilus draparnaudi, and O. translucidus in and near Lviv are given. Known reliable localities of C. nemoralis in Volyn, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Rivne, Ternopil, and Khmelnytskyi regions are listed. Similar information is presented for the related species Cepaea hortensis from all administrative regions of Western Ukraine, except for Lviv region, where this species is widespread in settlements. According to the time of penetration into Western Ukraine, among the anthropochorous species of land molluscs, relatively recent invaders prevail, which were first reliably discovered not earlier than in the 1990s. At the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, optimal conditions for the introduction and subsequent acclimatization in urbanized biotopes of many adventitious species of land molluscs, in particular thermophilic species of Mediterranean or Crimean origin, emerged in Western Ukraine. In addition to global warming, this was facilitated by the intensification of trade and transport links with other regions of Ukraine and other European countries, as well as the activities of garden centres. Besides the time of entry into the analyzed area, anthropochorous species of land molluscs can be classified according to the ways of this penetration (from other regions of Ukraine or from other European countries located to the west of it), the nature of their present distribution in Western Ukraine, as well as the ability or inability to enter natural biotopes outside settlements.

The new record of the Mammoth Wasp Megascolia maculata (Drury, 1773) in the Ternopil oblast as evidence of the species range expansion

Mammoth Wasp Megascolia maculata (Drury, 1773) (Hymenoptera, Scoliidae) widely distributed in the south of the Western Palearctic and is the largest Hymenoptera insect in Europe. The species range covers southern and partially Central Europe, North Africa, Turkey, the Caucasus, Transcaucasia, Western and Central Asia (Western Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Syria, Israel, Kuwait, Iran, Afghanistan). Three subspecies are distinguished within the species range: Megascolia (Regiscolia) maculata bischoffi (Micha, 1927) – island of Cyprus, Megascolia (Regiscolia) maculata flavifrons (Fabricius, 1775) – western Mediterranean including Italy, Megascolia (Regiscolia) maculata maculata (Drury, 1773) – Eastern Mediterranean, Central and Eastern Europe and Asia. However, DNA barcoding showed no difference between these three subspecies (Schmid-Egger, Schmidt, 2021). In Ukraine it is represented by a nominative subspecies Megascolia (Regiscolia) maculata maculata (Drury, 1773), most of the findings are concentrated in the central and southeastern provinces (oblasts). The species is listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine with protection status: not evaluated (NE). The purpose of the study was to analyze its spread in Ukraine and neighboring countries, in particular, define the northern boundary of the species range. The material for the work was collections (State Museum of Natural History, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, entomological collection of the Department of Botany and Zoology of Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University), own observations, literature data, information from web resources on biodiversity: GBIF - 3800 findings GBIF, 2023; Megascolia…, 2023), iNaturalist – 3208 observations (iNaturalist, 2023), Data Centre «Biodiversity of Ukraine» – 265 records, Ukrainian Biodiversity Information Network – 127 findings. Data on a new discovered of Mammoth Wasp Megascolia maculata (Drury, 1773) in the Ternopil oblast (24.06.2022, Laskivtsi village, Ternopilskyi district, 49.170338N, 25.568823E) are presented. The distribution of the species in Ukraine and neighboring countries is analyzed, a map of the distribution of the species in the region is presented and indicated the expansion of the species range in the northwest direction. Probably, for the next few years we can expect it’s discovered in the Lviv and Volyn oblasts, as well as in Poland.

Animal collection of Metropolitаn Josyf Slipy in the founds of the State natural-historical museum of the NAS of Ukraine

On the basis of literary and own research on the history of natural history collections of the State Natural History Museum of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the animal collection of Metropolitan Yosyf Slipy, which he collected during his exile in Siberia and donated to the museum, was analyzed. The obtained results will be taken into account in the further completion of the «Virtual collections» section of the information resource of the «Biodiversity of Ukraine» museum.

A review of the singing cicada fossils from the Pliocene Fossil-Lagerstätte Willershausen, Germany, with the description of three new species (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Tibicinae and Cicadinae)

The singing cicada fossils (Cicadidae), based mainly on isolated forewings, from the Pliocene Fossil-Lagerstätte Willershausen, Germany, are reviewed, including previously published material and unpublished specimens from the collections of the Geoscience Museum of the Geoscience Centre at the Georg August University in Göttingen, the State Museum of Natural History in Stuttgart, and the Geoscience Collections of the Clausthal University of Technology, which represent the three largest collections from this outstanding locality. Three new species, Tibicina lata sp. nov., Tibicina boulardi sp. nov. (Tibicinae), and Cicada tithonus sp. nov. (Cicadinae) are described based on forewing characters. Other singing cicadas from Willershausen are assigned to Tibicina sp., Tibicina aff. haematodes, Cicada aff. orni, Cicada aff. lodosi and indeterminable species.

Rove beetle collection (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) in the State Museum of Natural History (Lviv, Ukraine).

The collection of rove beetles of the subfamily Aleocharinae, stored in the State Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Lviv), has been catalogued. The catalog contains information about 2313 specimens of the collection, which belong to 278 species in 91 genera and 17 tribes. The overwhelming majority of the representatives of the subfamily Aleocharinae represented in the collection were collected on the territory of Ukraine, as well as in the modern territories of Europe, Africa, and Asia. The obtained data will later on provide an opportunity to expand the understanding of the distribution of species-specifically for faunal research, as well as for biogeographic study.