New data on the systematics, distribution, and ecology of weevils of the Otiorhynchus morosus Fst. Group (Coleoptera, Curculionidae)

Results of investigation of the Otiorhynchus subgenus Nubidanus Rtt. (sensu Reitter) are reported. Pseudotiorhynchus Magnano is downgraded to a subgenus of Otiorhynchus Germar. Four species-groups are distinguished in the subgenera Nubidanus (as recently treated) (the hebraeus and impexus groups) and Pseudotiorhynchus (the morosus and ruminalis groups). Morphological diagnoses and brief distributional characteristics of the groups are given. Lectotype of O. morosus is designated, four new species closely related to O. morosus are described from Middle Asia and Kazakhstan.     

Three new species of the Weevil Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Otiorhynchus</Emphasis> Germ. (Coleoptera,Curculionidae: Entiminae) from the Caucasus

Three new species of the genus Otiorhynchus Germar, 1822 are described from the Caucasus: O. titarenkoi sp. n. in the subgenus Motilacanus Reitter, 1912 and O. dittae sp. n. and O. zierisi sp. n. in the subgenus Eprahenus Reitter, 1912. The incivilis species-group is transferred from the subgenus Choilisanus Reitter, 1912 to the subgenus Eprahenus (new subgeneric placement).     

Contribution to the knowledge of the weevil genus Otiorhynchus (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) from northeastern Turkey and Transcaucasia

Otiorhynchus (Podonebistus) korotyaevi sp. n., (Proremus) karsavurani sp. n., and O. (Proremus) temeli sp. n. from northeastern Turkey are described. O. kirschi is transferred from the genus Simo (= Homorhythmus) to the genus Otiorhynchus (subgenus Proremus); O. madari, from the genus Cirrorhynchus to the genus Otiorhynchus (subgenus Motilacanus); and O. kataevi, from the subgenus Nilepolemis to the subgenus Otismotilus. New data on the morphology and distribution of O. cataphractus, O. latinasus, O. terrifer, O. pipitzi, O. angustifrons, O. jarpachlinus, and O. sculptirostris are given. Lectotypes of O. lederi, O. erivanensis, O. diotus, O. terrifer, O. kirschi, and O. madari are designated.     

Contribution to the knowledge of the weevil genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Otiorhynchus</Emphasis> Germ. (Coleoptera,Curculionidae) from Turkmenistan and adjacent territories

Data on 15 species of the subgenus Pseudotiorhynchus Magnano, 2004 of the genus Otiorhynchus Germar, 1822 from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Iran are given. Otiorhynchus lukarevskayae Davidian, sp. n., O. karakalensis Davidian et Savitsky, sp. n., O. konstantini Davidian et Savitsky, sp. n., O. muratovi Savitsky et Davidian, sp. n., O. kopetdagicus Savitsky et Davidian, sp. n., and O. shakhensis Savitsky et Davidian, sp. n. from Turkmenistan, and O. khorasanus Savitsky et Davidian, sp. n. from Iran are described as new to science. A new synonymy is established: Pseudotiorhynchus Magnano, 2004 = Crassorhynchus Magnano, 2004, syn. n. Otiorhynchus iranensis Magnano, 2004 is transferred from the subgenus Protarammichnus Voss, 1960 to the subgenus Pseudotiorhynchus. Lectotype of O. conicirostris Stierlin, 1886 is designated. A key to 15 species of the subgenus Pseudotiorhynchus is given. The new subgenus Microhanibotus Savitsky et Davidian, subgen. n. is established for the new species O. ghilarovi Davidian et Savitsky, sp. n. from the Western Kopet Dagh in Turkmenistan. Microhanibotus subgen. n. is closely related to the subgenera Pseudotiorhynchus, Hanibotus Reitter, 1912 and Nubidanus Reitter, 1912.     

A review of species of the subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Taeniosticha</Emphasis> Motsch., genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysolina</Emphasis> Motsch. (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae), distributed in the Dzungar Ata Tau and Tien Shan Mt. Ranges,with descriptions of two new species

Species of the subgenus Taeniosticha, genus Chrysolina, from the Dzungar Ala Tau, Northern and Central Tien Shan, are revised. A key to the species and figures of the aedeagus of each species are given. Two new species, Chrysolina klimenkoi sp. n. and Ch. sairannurica sp. n., are described from Southeastern Kazakhstan and Northwestern China. Two new species-groups are distinguished: the Ch. alatavica species-group distributed in the Dzungar Ala Tau and Boro-Khoro Mountain Ranges, and the Ch. tianshanica species-group with its members occurring in the Northern and Central Tien Shan. A scheme of the species distribution is given.     

New species of the weevil subgenus Eunihus Rtt., genus Otiorhynchus germ. (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), from the Caucasus and Turkey

Otiorhynchus khatiparicus Davidian et Arzanov, sp. n. and O. meoticus Davidian et Arzanov, sp. n. are described in the subgenus Eunihus Reitter, which was not known from the Caucasus before. Both of the new species are very similar to O. rhilensis Stierlin from Bulgaria and O. uludagicus Magnano from NW Turkey.     

New species of the genus Psylliodes Latr. (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) from the Palaearctic Region

Six new species of the genus Psylliodes Latr. are described from the Palaearctic Region. P. concolor sp. n. from Georgia and P. diversicolor sp. n. from Turkey belong to the luteolus species-group. P. amurensis sp. n. and P. laxus sp. n. from the Russian Far East are included in the punctifrons species-group. P. submontanus sp. n. from the North Caucasus is provisionally included in the napi species-group, but it is similar to P. ozisiki Leon. et Arnold from the cupreus species-group. P. insularis sp. n. from the Canaries belongs to the chrysocephalus species-group.     

Three new species of the genus Probles F?rster (Hymenoptera,Ichneumonidae, Tersilochinae) from?South Korea

Three closely related species of the genus Probles Förster, P. fulgida sp. n., P. korusa sp. n. and P. rukora sp. n., belong to the subgenus Euporizon Horstmann and differ from other Palearctic species of the genus by a combination of long and apically weakly sinuate ovipositor and short temple. These three species are assigned to a newly designated fulgida species-group, and a portion of the key for identification of this species-group is provided. Based on the shape of the ovipositor apex, the fulgida species-group resemble members of the subgenus Microdiaparsis Horstmann but are distinct in having a much shorter temple.     

New data on the taxonomy,distribution, and ecology of the weevil genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Otiorhynchus</Emphasis> germar (Coleoptera,Curculionidae)

The subgenus Pocusogetus Rtt. of the genus Otiorhynchus Germ. is revised. The subgenus includes O. rosti Strl., O. shapovalovi Davidian et Yunakov, O. obsulcatus Strl., O. fischtensis Rtt., and O. gusakovi sp. n. closely related to O. fischtensis (both from Mt. Fisht, the Western Caucasus). O. fischtensis is transferred from the subgenus Vicoranius Rtt., its lectotype is designated. A key to species of Pocusogetus is given. The systematic position of the subgenera Pocusogetus and Vicoranius in the genus Otiorhynchus is discussed. New data on the geographical distribution and ecology of the little-known species of the subgenera Obvoderus Rtt., Pseudoprovadilus Magnano, and Clypeorhynchus Yunakov et Arzanov are given. Some features of ecological differentiation between Otiorhynchus species in the alpine and subalpine zones of the Caucasus are discussed.     

Two New Species of the Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carabus</Emphasis> Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera,Carabidae) from the South Caucasus

Based on the material collected by the authors in Central and West Georgia, the Caucasus, in 2014–2017, Carabus (Archiplectes) zubovisp. n. from Kvemo Svaneti, belonging to the komarowi species-group, and Carabus (Tribax) shtavlerensissp. n. from Zemo Svaneti, belonging to the agnathus species-group, are described. The distribution of the new species is mapped.     

Molecular evidence does not support the current division of Orthotrichum subgenus Gymnoporus

Eight Orthotrichum species of subgenus Gymnoporus were compared using the internally transcribed spacer regions-1 and -2 and the chloroplast trnH-psbA region. A phylogenetic analysis did not reflect the current division of this subgenus into sections Affinia and Leiocarpa. The investigated sequences revealed a close relationship between O. striatum, a typical species of section Leiocarpa and O. affine, a typical species of section Affinia. An easily distinguishable group was formed by samples of the dioecious O. lyellii, placed into section Leiocarpa. A large number of fixed differences between O. lyellii and other species of subgenus Gymnoporus raises doubts concerning its position within this subgenus. No marker mutations enabling to differentiate O. fastigiatum from O. affine have been found. In absence of such mutations for O. affine and O. striatum, the status of O. fastigiatum cannot be determined unambiguously.     

Six new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Timonius</Emphasis> (Rubiaceae: Guettardeae) from Papuasia

Six new species of Timonius (T. alius, T. bosaviensis, T. creber, T. cyathicalyx, T. insularis, and T. pullenii) are described from New Guinea and surrounding islands. The new species are illustrated and notes are provided on their habitat, distribution and phenology. None of the new species is readily assignable to any previously recognized subgenus or species-group.     

A new black fly species of the subgenus Gomphostilbia (Simulium: Simuliidae: Diptera) from India

Simulium (Gomphostilbia) agasthyamalaiense sp. nov. is described based on adults, pupae and mature larvae from a medium-flowing stream of Southern Western Ghats, India. This new species is placed in the Simulium batoense species-group of the subgenus Gomphostilbia Enderlein. This new species is characterized in the female by a scutum with three brownish-black longitudinal vittae and the hind basitarsus 5.7 times as long as wide; in the female by the large facets of upper eye with 20 vertical columns and 19 horizontal rows; in the pupa the respiratory gill with medium-long common basal stalk; and in the larva arrowhead-shaped postgenal cleft. Taxonomic notes are provided for this new species and it can be distinguished from closely related species of S. (G.) peteri. Keys are constructed to distinguish this species from ten species of the batoense species-group recorded in India.www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1D1CFEE5-A762-4F68-9EAE-9E31133146C0     

Two new species of the ground-beetle genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Harpalus</Emphasis> Latr. (Coleoptera,Carabidae) from Turkey and China

Two new species of the genus Harpalus Latreille, 1802 are described: H. stevensi sp. n. from China (Sichuan) and H. dudkoi sp. n. from Turkey (Adana). Both species belong to the nominotypical subgenus and are included in the tardus species-group.     

New species of the bristletail family machilidae (insecta,microcoryphia) from Abkhazia

Six new species are described from Abkhazia: Charimachilis abchasica sp. n., Lepismachilis abchasica sp. n., Trigoniophthalmus longitarsus sp. n., T. nematocerus sp. n., T. abchasicus sp. n., and T. subalpinus sp. n. Species of the genus Lepismachilis and the subgenus Trigoniophthalmus s. str. (T. longitarsus sp. n.) are described from the Caucasus for the first time. A key to the species of the genus Trigoniophthalmus from the Caucasus is given.     

New data on the changes in the abundance and distribution of several species of beetles (Coleoptera) in European Russia and the Caucasus

Changes in the abundance and distribution of selected species of beetles in European Russia and in the Caucasus are reported. Most of these species have been recorded from the Northwestern Caucasus in the last 10–15 years. The abundance and distribution during the last two years have changed most sharply in the introduced species, the Harlequin lady beetle Harmonia axyridis and two East Asian bruchids, Megabruchidius dorsalis and M. tonkineus. In 2016, the latter has been found in Georgia for the first time, and Harmonia axyridis was found in St. Petersburg. Abundance of the weevil Alcidodes karelinii with the range situated mostly east of the Caucasus and Volga River remains in Northwestern Caucasus at about the previous level. The flea-weevil species, a leaf miner on Ulmus pumila, misidentified previously as Orchestes mutabilis, is described in this paper as Orchestes steppensis sp. n. based on the material from Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Northern China; no its further distribution westward in 2015–2016 has been found. This species, rapidly widening its range in North America in the recent decade, is misidentified there as Orchestes alni. A key for differentiation of Orchestes alni, O. mutabilis and O. steppensis sp. n. is provided with photographs of adults of all three species. Magdalis armigera has increased abundance in Northwestern Caucasus in 2016 and was for the first time found in Northwestern Russia (Pskov Province) in 2015. Regular faunistic surveys during several decades provide a possibility of recording considerable changes in the abundance of some common species of Coleoptera, often associated with changes in their distribution.     

On the fauna of the bristletail family Machilidae (Thysanura) of the Caucasus and southern Kazakhstan

Four new species, Trigoniophthalmus dombayi sp. n. from Stavropol Province, T. vorontzovi sp. n. and T. montanus sp. n. from Krasnodar Province, Allopsontus varvarae sp. n. from southeastern Kazakhstan, and the new subgenus Allopsontus (Aridopsontinus) subgen. n., are described. Keys to all the known species of the genus Trigoniophthalmus Verh. from the Caucasus and to subgenera of the genus Allopsontus Silv. of the world fauna are given.     

Chromosomal and molecular studies of cryptic species of the subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Terricola</Emphasis> (Rodentia,Arvicolinae, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Microtus</Emphasis>) in the Caucasian region: Analysis of new records

Using chromosomal and molecular (cytb) markers, the specific identity of 78 individuals of cryptic species of voles of the subgenus Terricola was ascertained. The animal samples were obtained at 13 localities of the Caucasian region, from Krasnodar krai to North Ossetia in the Greater Caucasus and in the Stavropol Upland (forest island in the steppe) in Ciscaucasia, which had not been covered earlier in genetic studies. In the total sample, two chromosomal forms (cryptic species), namely, Microtus (Terricola) majori (2n = 54, NF = 60) and M. (T.) daghestanicus (2n = 54, NF = 58), were identified. The specific identity of most animals tested was confirmed by karyological means, and for individuals from two localities on the south slopes of the Greater Caucasus (Adlerskii district of Krasnodar krai), it was confirmed exclusively by means of molecular (cytb) markers. The last two records were used for evaluation of the differential role of sibling-species of the subgenus Terricola in circulation of the pathogen in mountain loci of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in the Western Caucasus. For the first time, using the example of M. (T.) majori from the Ciscaucasia, which was compared with those of the mountain part of the species’ natural habitat, the role of isolation factors in morphogenesis of the subgenus Terricola was studied. As a whole, the results obtained specify the character of the geographical distribution and biotope attachment of cryptic species of the subgenus Terricola in the Caucasian region.     

Two new species of the Stenochinus amplus species-group from China (Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae, Stenochiini)

Two new species of the Stenochinus amplus species-group are described, S. apiciconcavus sp. n. (CHINA: Shaanxi) and S. xinyicus sp. n. (CHINA: Guangdong). Also, some new distribution data are provided for S. cylindricus (Gebien, 1914), and a key to the seven species of the S. amplus species-group from China is given.