On discovery of the weevil genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nanomicrophyes</Emphasis> Pic, 1908 (Coleoptera,Curculionidae) in China

A new subgenus Sinomicrophyes subgen. n. with four new species Nanomicrophyes belousovi sp. n. (type species), N. korolevi sp. n., N. oblongus sp. n., and N. kabaki sp. n. from Western China is erected in the genus Nanomicrophyes Pic, 1908 previously known from a single species distributed in the Caucasus. A map of the genus Nanomicrophyes range is provided with a brief discussion of the N. cyanipennis (Weise, 1880) distribution.     

Revision of the taxonomic position of the Olkhon mountain vole (Rodentia,Cricetidae)

The phylogenetic position of the Olkhon mountain vole (Alticola olchonensis Litvinov, 1960) was studied using the sequences of four nuclear (BRCA, GHR, LCAT, and IRBP) and one mitochondrial (cyt. b) gene. Until now multiple studies of the systematic position of this vole had been based exclusively on morphological data, while the major taxonomic references contain contradictory information regarding both the subgeneric and species status of this animal. It was established that the molecular data and morphology data allow us to concern the Lake Baikal vole unambiguously as a part of the nominative subgenus Alticola instead of Aschizomys.     

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).     

First Record of the Subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Empis</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Planempis</Emphasis>) (Diptera,Empididae) from Middle Asia,with Description of a New Species

A new species of the subgenus Planempis Frey, 1953 (Diptera: Empididae), Empis (Planempis) gussakovskiisp. n., is described from Tajikistan, being the first record of the subgenus from Middle Asia. The relationships of the new species within the subgenus Planempis are shortly discussed. An updated check-list of Planempis species is provided.     

New scarab-beetle species (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae, Aphodiinae,Orphninae) from Central Asia and Southern Africa

Three new scarab-beetle species are described. Aphodius moronensis sp. n. (northern Mongolia) and A. kozlovi sp. n (eastern Tibet) with modified spurs on fore tibiae in males are placed in the falcispinis group of the subgenus Agolius but are similar to the grafi group of the subgenus Chilothorax in the shape of parameres and elytral pattern. The new species differ from A. falcispinis in the shape of the spur; A. moronensis sp. n. also differs in the shape of the body and parameres. Orphnus transvaalensis sp. n. is the second apterous Orphnus species found in Southern Africa. It differs from the closely related O. harrisoni in the shape of parameres, position of the hornlike clypeal process, and in a smaller body size.     

Taxonomic position of Afghan vole (Subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Blanfordimys</Emphasis>) by the sequence of the mitochondrial <Emphasis Type="Italic">cytb</Emphasis> gene

It is rather difficult to construct a system of gray voles of the tribe Microtini by a set of morphological and karyological characters because form generation is mosaic at these organization levels. The sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene was used to study the phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic position of the Central Asian subgenus Blanfordimys. Afghan vole Microtus (Blanfordimys) afghanus and Bucharian vole M. (Blanfordimys) bucharensis clustered with Pamir vole M. (Neodon) juldaschi, which is conventionally assigned to another subgenus. The last two species proved to be significantly closer to each other than either of them was to M. (Blanfordimys) afghanus, which disagrees with the monophyletic origin accepted for Blanfordimys. The genetic distances between the species of the subgenus Blanfordmys and M. juldaschi were comparable with the distances between the sister subgenera Microtus s. str. and Sumeriomys or Pallasiinus and Alexandromys and with the basal divergence of supraspecific clades in the subgenus Terricola. It was assumed that a special Central Asian group of species exists within the tribe Microtini and includes species of the subgenus Blanfordimys and M. juldaschi and that the subgenera Neodon and Blanfordimys should be revised.     

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.     

Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the ant genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Formica</Emphasis> L. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Palearctic region

Sixty-five sequences of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene fragment (759 bp) and 23 sequences of the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 6 gene fragment (224 bp) were compared in ants of the genus Formica L. from different regions of the Palearctic and in Polyergus rufescens Latr. as outgroup. In total, 28 species of the genus Formica were examined. As a result, dated trees with a molecular clock were constructed showing the phylogenetic relationships of Formica ants. The topology of the obtained tree based on the Cyt-b sequences was found to be not consistent with the generally accepted opinion on the Formica rufa and F. rufibarbis groups. New data on the formation history of the present-day fauna of Formica ants of the Palearctic were obtained. It was demonstrated that a considerable fraction of the examined species (about a third) were formed in the Quaternary Period.     

A new species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysolina</Emphasis> Motsch. (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae) from the mountains of Tuva and Buryatia

A new leaf-beetle species with two subspecies is described: Chrysolina (Pleurosticha) romani romani sp. et subsp. n. from southeastern Tuva and Ch. romani burjatica subsp. n. from the East Sayan in Buryatia. The habitus of the species is similar to both the representatives of the subgenus Arctolina Kont. and to Chrysolina gebleri L. Medv. from the subgenus Pleurosticha Motsch. The difference between these two closely related genera is discussed and causes to place the new species in the subgenus Pleurosticha, where it can be readily distinguished by the short and wide lentiform aedeagus.     

A new subgenus and a new species of the tenebrionid genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptodes</Emphasis> Dejean, 1834 (Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae)

The genus Leptodes was erected by Dejean (1834) for a single species, Sepidium boisduvalii Zubkoff, 1833, which is, consequently, the type species by monotypy. Kaszab (1959) established in Leptodes the subgenus Leptodinopsis based on the same type species, Sepidium boisduvalii. Thus the names Leptodes and Leptodinopsis are objective synonyms: Leptodes Dejean, 1834 = Leptodinopsis Kaszab, 1959, syn. n. A new subgenus Mesoleptodes G. Medvedev et Iljina subgen, n. (type species Leptodes semenowi Reitter, 1892) is established for species which Kaszab included in Leptodes s. str. A new species, Leptodes daghestanicus G. Medvedev et Iljina, sp. n., is described from Daghestan.     

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.     

On the Three Enigmatic Species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acmaeodera</Emphasis> Eschscholtz from India and Pakistan in the Collection of Forest Research Institute in Dehradun (Coleoptera,Buprestidae: Polycestinae)

The taxonomic position of three enigmatic buprestid species: Acmaeodera kerremansi Stebbing, A. beesoni Obenberger, and A. gardneri Obenberger described from the “Upper Punjab” is discussed. Examination of the high resolution images of the type specimens of these species deposited in the National Forest Insect Collection (Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, India) has proved that all of them belong to the subgenus Lisposcelis Volkovitsh. Lectotype is designated for A. kerremansi. The putative synonymy of some recently described Indian acmaeoderine taxa is discussed. A list of all the known species of the subgenus Lisposcelis is provided.     

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 the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Deporaus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Rhynchitidae) from the Russian fauna: 2. Subgenera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Roelofsideporaus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Deporaus</Emphasis>

The subgenera Roelofsideporaus and Deporaus s. str. of the genus Deporaus with four species (D. affectatus, D. unicolor, D. nidificus, and D. betulae) recorded from the Russian fauna are revised. Keys to the species of the subgenus Roelofsideporaus and to the females of the subgenera Roelofsideporaus and Deporaus s. str. are given. The distribution of D. nidificus in Russia is not confirmed.     

New species of the tenebrionid genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Menimus</Emphasis> sharp, 1876 (Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae) from southern Palaearctic

Three new species of the genus Menimus are described from Yunnan Province, China. Over 70 species of Menimus are distributed in the tropical and subtropical zones from India to Oceania and New Zealand. A new subgenus, Sinomenimus subgen. n., is erected with the type species M. kabaki sp. n. characterized by the absence of eyes and by the presence of the spermatheca and sharp depression at the posterior margin of the thoracic metasternite. The following new synonymy is established: Menimus Sharp, 1876 = Neomenimus Kaszab, 1939, syn. n., with the following new combinations resulting: Menimus clavatus (Kaszab, 1939) = Neomenimus clavatus Kaszab, 1939, comb, n.; Menimus biroi (Kaszab, 1939) = Neomenimus biroi Kaszab, 1939, comb, n.; Menimus setosus (Kaszab, 1939) = Neomenimus setosus Kaszab, 1939, comb, n.; Menimus brevissimus (Kaszab, 1939) = Neomenimus brevissimus Kaszab, 1939, comb. n.     

Genome skimming and plastid microsatellite profiling of alder trees (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Alnus</Emphasis> spp., Betulaceae): phylogenetic and phylogeographical prospects

Alders (Alnus spp.) represent keystone species trees of riparian and mountainous habitats of the northern hemisphere. Previous genetic studies have suggested a complex intrageneric diversification with numerous events of interspecific hybridization and polyploidization. Here, we first aim to test the present taxonomical treatment of Alnus by generating phylogenetic hypotheses based on plastid and nuclear data obtained from species belonging to the three main alder subgenera (Alnus, Alnobetula, and Clethropsis). A genome-skimming strategy was used to assemble the complete plastome and the nuclear ribosomal DNA cluster of 22 Eurasian and American alder individuals. Phylogenies based on these data strongly support an early diverging subgenus Alnobetula, while members of the subgenus Clethropsis do not constitute a monophyletic clade and are embedded within the subgenus Alnus. Incongruent topologies also sustain reticulate evolution within this group. Our results thus suggest considering the subgenera Clethropsis and Alnus within the same taxonomical unit. Our second aim is to test for the utility of highly variable plastid markers (microsatellites) to investigate the phylogeographic patterns of Eurasian alder species. Fifty-two polymorphic plastid microsatellite markers were developed and tested on 33 populations of the subgenus Alnus in western Eurasia. On average, 4.3 alleles per locus were revealed in 131 individuals of Alnus glutinosa, allowing the identification of 30 chlorotypes (multiloci profiles). Strong phylogeographic signals and recurrent cytoplasmic captures between co-occurring species are revealed, demonstrating that our plastid microsatellite profiling method is suitable for tracing the post-glacial spread of maternal lineages among alder species. All these results finally support the use of nuclear genomic regions for species identification and of plastid markers for phylogeographic aspects and origin certification in genetic resource management.     

A review of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Deporaus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Rhynchitidae) from the Russian fauna: 1. Subgenera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudapoderites</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Japonodeporaus</Emphasis>

The genus Deporaus from the Russian fauna is revised. Four species (D. pacatus, D. azarovae, D. septentrionalis, and D. hartmanni) of the subgenera Pseudapoderites and Japonodeporaus are found. Keys to the subgenera and to the species of the subgenus Pseudapoderites are given. The genus Deporaus, subgenera Pseudapoderites and Japonodeporaus, and four species are redescribed. The distribution of these species in Russia is discussed.