The steppe insect fauna in the Russian Far East: Myth or reality?

The fauna of Lepidoptera in the forest-steppe zone of southern plains of the Russian Far East is analyzed. The contribution of species with the optimal distribution in the steppe and forest-steppe zones of Eurasia into the above fauna is insignificant; eastern Asian temperate species dominate in the region. The classification analysis of lists of species from local steppe and forest-steppe faunas of both Far-Eastern humid “prairies” and southern Transbaikalian region is performed. In these regions, xerophilous species constitute the essential part of the local fauna. The necessity of revision of the present zoogeographical zoning of the Far East is substantiated.     

Biogeographic characteristics of Far Eastern wasps: A case study with eumenine wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae)

A total of 107 forms of 88 eumenine wasp species occurring in the Far East were used to produce a more comprehensive picture of the geographical pattern of wasps in the Far East. All forms occurring in the Far East were biogeographically classified into 22 types in four larger categories, and a summarized table and discussion are presented. The eumenine wasp fauna of the Far East was characterized as a mixture of a fair number of endemic elements, a moderate number of transpalearctic elements, and some Oriental elements. The endemism of the Far East reached 0.71 at the species/subspecies level when the calculation was based on true Palearctic elements occurring in Far Eastern Russia, the Korean peninsula and Japan proper. The relationship between the Far Eastern fauna and the Central/Western Palearctic faunas was also analyzed and discussed. The species occurring in each treated district was counted, and provides evidence for the importance of the Korean fauna in biodiversity evaluation/estimation of Far Eastern fauna. The similarity index between the Korean Peninsula and Japan proper, the Korean Peninsula and the Russian Far East, and the Russian Far East and Japan proper was calculated to explain possible factors for faunal formation in the Far East. The distributional pattern of each form treated in this study and its relatives is tabulated in Appendix I.     

Insect taxonomic diversity in the Russian Far East

The insect fauna of the Russian Far East comprises 634 families from 31 orders. The estimated species number is 31500. The largest orders are Hymenoptera (76 families, 9000 estimated species), Diptera (120 families, 8000 estimated species), Coleoptera (114 families, 5500 estimated species), and Lepidoptera (81 families, 5000 estimated species). The fractions of the main insect orders in the fauna of the Russian Far East correspond to those in the Holarctic temperate zone. The high biodiversity of insects in the Russian Far East results from the position of this region extending across several climatic zones. There are four levels of diversity both for the families and for the species, corresponding to the tundra, taiga, the transitional area between taiga and broadleaved forests, and the broadleaved forest zone. The number of insect families increases by 3 times while that of species increases by 20 times from the tundra to the broadleaved forests. Differentiation of the insect fauna of the Russian Far East results from the recent climatic situation (the influence of the Pacific monsoon) and the geologic history (broadleaved forest refugia resulting from the absence of complete ice cover during Pleistocenic glaciation in the south of the Russian Far East); it reflects deep faunistic connections of the eastern Palaearctic with the Nearctic and Oriental Regions. The mountain areas in the North Pacific are the refugia of the Mesozoic and Tertiary insect faunas. The Pacific may have substantially reduced the Cenozoic aridization in the northern hemisphere, which was one of the important factors of formation of the recent biota in the Palaearctic and Nearctic regions.     

A review of scarab beetles of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hoplia</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae) from the Russian Far East

A review of the species of the genus Hoplia from the Russian Far East is given. Lectotypes are designated for Anisoplia cincticollis Faldermann and Hoplia djukini Jacobson. Hoplia cincticollis (Faldermann) is recorded from the Russian Far East for the first time. An original key to the species of the genus Hoplia of the Russian Far East fauna is provided.     

New species of the Rhinonyssid mites (Gamasina: Rhinonyssidae) from birds of Russia and neighboring countries

Four new species of the nasal mite family Rhinonyssidae collected in different regions of the former USSR are described: Neonyssus (Otocorinyssus) alaudae sp. n. from Alauda arvensis L. (Alaudidae, Passeriformes) from Turkmenistan; Rhinonyssus clangulae sp. n. from Clangula hyemalis (L.) (Anatidae, Anseriformes) from Yakutia; R. marilae sp. n. from Aythya marilae L. (Anatidae, Anseriformes) from the Russian Far East; Locustellonyssus sibiricus sp. n. from Locustella certhiola (Pall.) (Sylviidae, Passeriformes) from Siberia.     

Faunistic complexes of the Cladocera (Crustacea,Branchiopoda) of Eastern Siberia and the Far East of Russia

Faunistic complexes of 155 species of the Cladocera found in Eastern Siberia and the Far East of Russian Federation are described. The eight complexes are specified: unrevised widely spread species (51), the widespread Eurasian faunistic complex (34 species), the circumpolar complex (4 species), the East Asian and American (Beringian) complex (8 species), the endemic East Asian complex (19 species), the southern thermophilic complex (12 species), the mountainous endemic complex (3 species), and the Baikal endemic complex (8 species). Directions for further studies are suggested. Faunistic investigations of the modern level in the East Palearctic represent an independent task, which should be accomplished by taxonomists in close cooperation with specialists on local faunas.     

Butterflies (Lepidoptera,Diurna) in temperate forests of the southern Far East of Russia

The species groups of butterflies in temperate forests and adjoining forest-steppes of the Russian Far East are analyzed. The contribution of species with different distribution types into the total species composition is considered. A classification analysis of the species lists of sixteen local faunas from Amur and Sakhalin Provinces, Khabarovsk and Primorskii Territories, and the Jewish Autonomous Region was performed. A uniform faunal core is shown to be present in the forests (including deciduous ones) of the Russian Far East temperate zone.     

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.     

Contribution to the fauna of blackflies of the tribe Simuliini (Diptera: Simuliidae) of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia)

The data on the fauna of blackflies of the tribe Simuliini (Diptera: Simuliidae) of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) comprising the available literature, collections of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and new material collected in Yakutia were analyzed. Three new species were recorded in the fauna of Yakutia: Archesimulium polare Rubzov, 1940, A. splendidum Rubzov, 1940, and A. tumulosum Rubzov, 1956. Distribution of 11 species was clarified. Processing of the collected material confirmed the presence of 9 blackfly species previously known from Yakutia. On the whole, the blackfly fauna of the region comprises 27 species.     

Novel Data on the Taxonomic Diversity,Distribution, and Host Plants of Leafmining Moths of the Family Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera) in Siberia,Based on DNA Barcoding

The Gracillariidae fauna of Siberia, the region that occupies almost half of the territory of the Russian Federation, remains poorly studied. During a DNA barcoding study of Gracillariidae in Siberia, based on analysis of larvae and pupae collected from their leaf mines on woody plants, we identified 41 species. Three gracillariids were identified only to genus: Caloptilia sp. (host plant Prunus padus), Parornix sp. (Malus sp.), and Phyllonorycter sp. (Crataegus sp.), representing poorly studied or undescribed species. Six species are reported here for the first time for Siberia: Callisto insperatella (from Novosibirsk and Tomsk provinces), Caloptilia alnivorella (Buryatia), Phyllonorycter ermani (Irkutsk Province), Ph. lantanella (Novosibirsk Province), Ph. pumilae (Omsk and Irkutsk provinces), and Ph. viciae (Krasnoyarsk Territory). Parornix pfaffenzelleri, found in Khakassia, is reported as a species new to Russia. Other 15 gracillariid species previously known from Siberia were recorded in new administrative regions. The invasive lime leafminer Phyllonorycter issikii was first documented in Tomsk Province and Krasnoyarsk Territory in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Seven new gracillariid-host plant associations were found: Parectopa ononidis on Lupinaster pentaphyllus, Sauterina hofmanniella on Lathyrus gmelinii, Caloptilia stigmatella on Salix kochiana, Callisto insperatella on Prunus virginiana, Parornix scoticella on Amelanchier sp., Phyllonorycter ermani on Alnus alnobetula subsp. fruticosa, and Phyllonorycter viciae on Vicia unijuga. The Gracillariidae fauna of Siberia has 51% similarity with that of European Russia and only 38% similarity with that of the Russian Far East.

     

Species divergence in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Iris</Emphasis> series <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lacteae</Emphasis> (Iridaceae) in Russia and adjacent countries based on chloroplast DNA sequence data

In Russia, the species of the genus Iris L., series Lacteae Doronkin, the taxonomic structure of which still remains controversial, are found in the south of Siberia and the Russian Far East, as well as in other regions of Asia. Sequence analysis of three chloroplast DNA regions (rps4, trnL–trnF, and trnS–trnG) shows that, in Russia and adjacent countries, there are two genetically and geographically isolated Lacteae species. I. oxypetala Bunge grows in the south of the Russian Far East, and I. lactea Pall. grows in Siberia, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. Genetic differentiation between the populations of I. lactea is extremely low and statistically insignificant (the fixation index Φ_ST = 0.057, P > 0.05), pointing to the unity of the gene pool and the absence of other Lacteae species in this area.     

Landscape–Zonal Distribution of Blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in the Ob-Irtysh River Basin (Overview)

The blackfly distribution patterns along the meridional profile for the Ob-Irtysh River basin area have been analyzed with the use of long-term quantitative data. Ninety-six species of nine genera, comprising approximately 60% of the fauna in Siberia and the Far East, are recorded. The spatial pattern formation in the blackfly zonal structures is revealed. There are significant differences between blackfly populations in highland and lowland landscapes. In the highlands, the communities confined to different altitudinal belts are formed. In the lowland of the basin, three community zonal types—steppe, taiga–forest, and tundra—are identified. Significant climatic factors affecting the heterogeneity of the blackflies in the Ob-Irtysh River basin have been estimated.     

On the fauna of Scathophagidae (Diptera) of Yakutia

The fauna of the family Scathophagidae of Yakutia, including 44 species of 15 genera, was studied. 23 species are recorded from the territory for the first time. The Arctic and subarctic zones of Yakutia have been still poorly studied, and additional species are found there. The scathophagid fauna of Yakutia was compared with the faunas of the neighboring regions using the dendrogram similarity method based on calculation of the Czekanowski–Sørensen coefficient.     

The fauna of spiders (Arachnida,Araneae) in agricultural landscapes of the Moscow area and the Kuban Plain

Six years of collecting in agricultural landscapes of the Moscow area and the Kuban Plain (Krasnodar Territory) revealed 286 species of spiders from 146 genera of 20 families. Two species, Clubiona pseudoneglecta Wund. and Palliduphantes insignis O.P.-C. are recorded for the Russian fauna for the first time, and 20 species are new to Moscow Province. Linyphiidae is the most species-rich family comprising about half of the species found in Moscow Province and about a quarter of those found in Krasnodar Territory. The species are classified into 13 arealogical groups. The bulk of the fauna is formed by the widespread, mostly Eurasian and Holarctic species. The spider fauna of Krasnodar Territory has smaller fractions of the Holarctic and Euro-Siberian species and larger fractions of the Palaearctic and Euro-Mediterranean species, as compared to the Moscow fauna. In general, the faunas of both the regions studied may be classified as European. The spider fauna of agrocenoses of Moscow Province is more similar to the faunas of European regions situated at the same latitude than to the fauna of Krasnodar Territory (the Kuban Plain).     

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.     

中国缺齿藓科新记录种——冻原丝瓜藓(新拟,Pohlia tundrae A. J. Shaw)

冻原丝瓜藓(Pohlia tundrae)在北美被首次描述,随后在欧洲中部、俄罗斯远东地区和西伯利亚西北部也相继报道。最近,作者在西藏林芝也发现了冻原丝瓜藓的分布。该文详细描述了冻原丝瓜藓的形态结构特征,提供了显微形态学照片,并对其生境、地理分布以及与相似种的形态学进行了比较讨论。凭证标本存放于中国农业大学标本馆(BAU)。     

The structure of the fauna and life cycles of black flies (Diptera,Simuliidae) in streams of the forest-steppe in central Russia

The paper deals with the species composition, life cycles, structure of the fauna, and biodiversity of black flies (Diptera, Simuliidae) in different types of streams in the central Russian forest-steppe. Complexes of black flies in different types of streams are rather similar but faunas differ in the dominance structure.     

Two onygenalean fungi from Russian Far East soil

Two onygenalean fungi isolated from forest soil in the Sikhote-Alin reserve, Russian Far East (east Siberia), are described and illustrated:Gymnostellatospora parvula as a new species andAphanoascus canadensis as a new record.Gymnostellatospora parvula is characterized by psychrophilic growth, pale yellow to pale cinnamon ascomata with a hyphal peridium, small, hyaline discoid ascospores with an equatorial rim and more or less longitudinally ridged wall.     

东北亚地区蜉蝣多样性及生物地理学初探(英文)

在标本鉴定和文献汇总的基础上,对东北亚地区(包括朝鲜半岛、日本、俄罗斯远东地区、中国东北)的蜉蝣区系做了统计分析.结果显示,截至目前该地区已报道蜉蝣18科48属237种.其中俄罗斯远东地区的蜉蝣属种多样性最高,而从地区对比来看,朝鲜半岛和中国东北地区的蜉蝣区系最为相似(属种相似度分别为83%和64%).日本群岛蜉蝣区系相对独特,这可能是由于它长期与大陆分离而造成的.     

New data on the distribution and host plants of weevils (Coleoptera,Curculionoidea: Apionidae,Curculionidae) in the south of Baikal Siberia and in Mongolia

Two weevil species, Rhinoncus autumnalis Korotyaev, 1980 and Orchestes medvedevi (Korotyaev, 1995), comb. n. (from Rhynchaenus), both described from Mongolia, are recorded from Russia (Buryatia) for the first time. A key to five Orchestes species associated with elms in Eastern Siberia, the Russian Far East, and Mongolia is provided. Aizobius sedi (Germar, 1818) is recorded for the first time from Eastern Siberia based on the recent findings in Buryatia and on older collections from Tuva where it is associated with Orostachys spinosa (L.) C.A. Mey. (Crassulaceae); it is also recorded for the first time from Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia. Magdalis (Aika) margaritae Barrios, 1984, native of Mongolia, Northern China and the south of the Russian Far East, is recorded from Buryatia. Lixus (Broconius) korotyaevi Ter-Minassian, 1989, formerly known in Russia only from southern Tuva, is recorded from Buryatia where it was collected on Suaeda ?prostrata Pallas, which is the first known host of this species. Rhamphus ?oxyacanthae (Marsham, 1802) is reported from Buryatia where it was collected from Cotoneaster melanocarpa, and from Mongolia.