A genus and a species of hover-flies,new for the Russian fauna (Diptera,Syrphidae)

A new species Pseudoplatychirus glupovi is described from the highlands of the Altai Mts. (the Ukok Plateau). This is also the first record of the genus Pseudoplatychirus from Russia. The new species differs from P. peteri Doesburg, 1955 in the wing membrane more strongly pubescent with microtrichia, in the brown halteres with black capitulum, and in the structure of the male genitalia. The holotype and paratypes are deposited in the Siberian Zoological Museum, Institute of Animal Systematics and Ecology, Novosibirsk, Russia.     

Two new palaearctic species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scoliophthalmus</Emphasis> Becker, 1903 (Diptera,Chloropidae) with a key to the species occurring in the Palaearctic Region

Two new species of the genus Scoliophthalmus Becker, 1903 (Diptera, Chloropidae) are described: S. miscanthi sp. n. from southern Primorskii Territory (Russia) and S. gussakovskii sp. n. from southern Tajikistan. The genus is recorded for Russia for the first time. The species of Scoliophthalmus occur only in the southern areas of the Palaearctic Region. A key to eight species occurring in the Palaearctic Region is given.     

A new species of the millipede genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lamyctes</Emphasis> Meinert, 1868 (Chilopoda,Lithobiomorpha, Henicopidae) from European Russia

Lamyctes inexpectatus sp. n., characterized by a distinctive shape of the female gonopods, is described from European Russia. The new species is compared with other species of the genus Lamyctes from Russia, and a key to these species is given. Types of the new species are deposited at the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg.     

On the tachinid fauna of the southeastern part of European Russia (Diptera,Tachinidae)

A list of tachinids (Diptera, Tachinidae) of the southeastern European part of Russia comprising 74 species is given. Eight species (Bithia jacentkovskyi, Estheria bohemani, Zeuxia nudigena, Stomina iners, Opesia descendens, Labigastera pauciseta, Cylindromyia rufifrons, Besseria reflexa) are for the first time recorded from Russia, three species (Acemya rufitibia, Atylomyia loewi, Crapivnicia donabilis), from the European part of Russia, and 25 species, from the southeastern European part of Russia. The male of Crapivnicia donabilis Richter found in Astrakhan Province is described. The genus Crapivnicia Richter is assigned to the tribe Goniini, based on the examination of the abdomen of C. donabilis female from Kalmykia which has shown the presence of dark microtype eggs.     

New taxa of Mesorthopteridae (Insecta: Grylloblattida) from the Permian of Russia

New taxa of grylloblattids of the family Mesorthopteridae are described from the Permian of Russia: Parastenaropodites aquilonius sp. nov. from the Soyana locality (Middle Permian); P. circumhumatus sp. nov. from the Kul’chumovo locality; and Tshermyaninus biforis gen. et sp. nov., Permorthopteron foliaceus gen. et sp. nov., Parastenaropodites pannea sp. nov., P. exossis sp. nov., Mesoidelia procera sp. nov., and M. riphaea sp. nov. from the Isady locality (Upper Permian). Two species of the genus Khosaridelia Storozhenko, 1992 (family Permotermopsidae) and one species of the genus Megakhosarina Storozhenko, 1993 (family Megakhosaridae) are transferred to the genus Parastenaropodites Storozhenko, 1996 (family Mesorthopteridae); one species of the genus Parastenaropodites is transferred to the genus Austroidelia Riek, 1954; as a result, four new combinations are established: Khosaridelia rigida Aristov, 2005 =Parastenaropodites rigidus (Aristov, 2005), comb. nov. (Vorkuta locality, Lower Permian of Russia); Khosaridelia vyatica Aristov, 2009 =Parastenaropodites vyaticus (Aristov, 2009), comb. nov. (Karaungir locality, Middle Permian of Kazakhstan); Megakhosarina intricata Aristov, 2008 =Parastenaropodites intricatus (Aristov, 2008), comb. nov. (Soyana locality, Middle Permian of Russia); and Parastenaropodites nervosa Storozhenko, 1996 =Austroidelia nervosa (Storozhenko, 1996), comb. nov. (Madygen locality, Middle Triassic of Kyrgyzstan). An identification key to species of the genus Parastenaropodites is given.     

Comments on the genus Aphilenia weise in Reitter, 1889 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Eumolpinae), with a description of a new species from Russia

A review of species of the genus Aphilenia is given. The genera Aphilenia and Atomyria are transferred from the tribe Bromiini to the tribe Nodinini. A new species, Aphilenia astakhovi sp. n. from Russia (Astrakhan Prov.), is described. Aphilenia interrupta var. unicolor Rtt. is upgraded to a species and is transferred to the subgenus Pseudaphilenia Lop. Aphilenia hauseri Wse. is a new synonym of A. unicolor Rtt.; A. inornata Chen is transferred to the genus Chloropterus.     

The genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Copris</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae) in the Far East of Russia

The species of the genus Copris of the Russian Far East are reviewed. Copris tripartitus Waterhouse, 1875 is recorded for the fauna of Russia for the first time. The distribution of the Eastern Asian species of this genus in Russia is analyzed in detail. The data on their phenology, trophic associations, and habitat preferences are considered.     

The genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Osmoderma</Emphasis> (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.     

Are Cristaria herculea (Middendorff, 1847) and Cristaria plicata (Leach, 1815) (Bivalvia,Unionidae) separate species?

The number of species in the freshwater mussel genus Cristaria Schumacher, 1817 recognized from Far East Russia has varied over the last several decades. While some authors consider the occurrence of only one species, Cristaria plicata (Leach, 1815), widespread in East Asia, others, recognize two separate species Cristaria herculea (Middendorff, 1847) and Cristaria tuberculata Schumacher, 1817 from Far East Russia, distinct from C. plicata. For the present study, freshwater mussels, identified as C. herculea, were collected in the Upper Amur basin (Transbaikalia, Russia). The shell morphology and the whole soft body anatomy were analysed in detail and compared with previously published information on other Cristaria spp.. Additionally, a cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) gene fragment was sequenced from foot tissue samples of selected animals, collected from the same region, and compared with published data. Based upon morphological similarities of glochidia and adult morphology and anatomy as well as the mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis, we consider C. herculea as a synonym of C. plicata. Further analysis of Far East Russia C. herculea and C. tuberculata specimens using both molecular and morphological characters should be carried in the future to enhance our knowledge about the taxonomy within the Cristaria genus. Moreover, a comprehensive revision of the genus Cristaria is needed, restricting the type locality and comparing topotypic specimens for both C. plicata and C. tuberculata, and including all recognized Cristaria species.