Paleogeography of the Ordovician bryozoans of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Diplotrypa</Emphasis> Nicholson (Trepostomida)

The stratigraphic and paleogeographic ranges of Ordovician bryozoans of the genus Diplotrypa (Trepostomida: Halloporidae) are analyzed. It is shown that they were then limited in geographic range to the Paleobaltic Basin (the most probable center of origin of the genus Diplotrypa) and to the West Arctic and North American basins. The Silurian bryozoans of this genus were represented by only a few species. In addition, the intercolonial variability of the species Diplotrypa abnormis (Modzalevskaya, 1953) and D. petropolitana (Nicholson, 1879) is studied; Upper Ordovician specimens of these species have been discovered from the Leningrad Region of Russia for the first time. The colonies of these species from the Leningrad Region are compared here with those of Podolia (Western Ukraine) and Vaygach Island (western sector of the Russian Arctic).     

Morphogenesis,phylogenetic relationships,and distribution of the bryozoans of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Orbipora</Emphasis> Eichwald, 1856 (order Trepostomida)

Five species of the genus Orbipora, including two new species, O. lynnensis sp. nov. and O. ukhakuensis sp. nov., are described from the Middle Ordovician of the Leningrad Region and Estonia. The colonies of the species O. acanthophora Bassler, 1911 and O. solida Bassler, 1911 are measured and figured for the first time. The stratigraphic range and geographic distribution of O. acanthophora are refined. A scheme of possible phylogenetic relationships and distribution maps of the species of the genus are presented.     

A new genus of the Arenigian bryozoans, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lynnopora</Emphasis>, and its systematic position in the family Revalotrypidae Gorjunova, 1988

A new genus Lynnopora gen. nov. with the type species L. lunata sp. nov. and a new species Revalotrypa krestensis Koromyslova sp. nov. from the Arenigian Stage (Latorp and Volkhov horizons) of the Ordovician of the Leningrad Region are described. The positions of the genus Revalotrypa Bassler, 1952 and the family Revalotrypidae Gorjunova, 1988 in the order Cystoporida are substantiated. The problems of biogeography and ecological adaptations of bryozoans of the family Revalotrypidae are discussed.     

The First Record of a Chigger Mite of the Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neotrombicula</Emphasis> (Acariformes: Trombiculidae) in the Northwest of European Russia

A chigger mite species, Neotrombicula absoluta Schluger, 1966, previously known only from its type locality in Transcarpathian Region of Ukraine, was found in the vicinity of Kurgolovo Village (Kingisepp District, Leningrad Province, Russia). A single specimen of this species was collected off the common shrew Sorex araneus L. This is the first record of the genus Neotrombicula (which includes the most usual causative agents of trombiculiasis of humans and domestic animals in Europe) in the northwestern part of European Russia.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oredezhosteus</Emphasis>, a new psammosteid genus (Heterostraci,Psammosteiformes) from the Lower Frasnian (Upper Devonian) of the Main Devonian Field

A new psammosteid, Oredezhosteus kuleshovi gen. et sp. nov., from the Amata Regional Stage (Lower Frasnian) of the Leningrad Region is described. In addition, Psammosteus livonicus Obruchev from beds of the same age from Latvia is included in the new genus. The major diagnostic characters distinguishing Oredezhosteus gen. nov. from Psammosteus Agassiz are the large rounded striated tubercles, which cover more than half width of the branchials, and the long base of the branchial plates.     

Gall midges of the supertribe Stomatosematidi (Diptera,Cecidomyiidae) in the Palaearctic Region,with descriptions of new taxa from the Late Eocene Rovno amber: 1. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stomatosema,Vanchidiplosis, Clarumreddera</Emphasis> gen. n.

Three recent genera are included in the supertribe Stomatosematidi: Stomatosema (16 species), Vanchidiplosis (4 species), and Didactylomyia (3 species). Seven species of the genus Stomatosema and two species of the genus Vanchidiplosis occur in the Palaearctic Region. No reliable findings of representatives of the supertribe were known in fossilized condition. One new genus and 3 new species are described from amber of the Late Eocene age (Rovno Region): Stomatosema iljieteugeniae sp. n., Clarumreddera korneyevi gen. n. et sp. n., and C. conceptiva sp. n.     

Additions to the check list of bark beetles (Coleoptera,Curculionidae: Scolytinae) from Leningrad Province,Russia

The field work of the authors during the last 16 years in both the western and the eastern parts of Leningrad Province, Russia, has resulted in the addition of 7 species to the regional list of bark beetles, namely: Hylurgus ligniperda F., Crypturgus subcribrosus Egg., Pityogenes irkutensis Egg., Scolytus mali Bechst., S. scolytus F., S. pygmaeus F., and Xyleborinus attenuatus Blandf. Of these species, P. irkutensis occurs only in the eastern districts of Leningrad Province, C. subcribrosus, over the whole territory, and the remaining species, only in the western districts. We suggest excluding Polygraphus proximus Blandf. from the regional faunal list. As a result, the updated list of the bark beetle species of Leningrad Province comprises 75 taxa. New data on findings of rare species in the region are considered.     

Revision of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scoliocystis</Emphasis> (Rhombifera: Echinoencrinitidae) and related cystoid genera

Species attributed to Scoliocystis Jaekel, 1899, including the type species S. pumila (Eichwald, 1860) and S. thersites Jaekel, 1899 from the Ordovician of the Leningrad Region, are reviewed. Scoliocystis sp. from the Upper Ordovician of Estonia, figured by Hecker (1964), is redescribed as Maennilocystis heckeri gen. et sp. nov. and it is attributed to the family Callocystitidae Bernard, 1895. The genus Scoliocystis is intermediate between the families Cheirocrinidae and Echinoencrinitidae in having five periproct border plates (as in cheirocrinids), but lacking plate R5 and having a reduced oral area, as in echinoencrinitids, but is retained in the Echinoencrinitidae. The similarity of Scoliocystis to the unusual North American cheirocrinid genus Sprinkleocystis is convergent. The genus Gonocrinites Eichwald, 1840, with two species, is restored among echinoencrinitids, as having four periproct border plates, whereas Echinoencrinites sensu stricto has three. The families Echinoencrinitidae and Callocystitidae arose from cheirocrinids with closed plate circlets by the loss of plate R5 and substitution of radial:lateral for radial:radial pectinirhombs. In addition, echinoencrinitids are characterized by a reduced oral area, whereas in callocystitids, the recumbent ambulacra are extensive. Scoliocystis is a stem-group genus to Echinoencrinitidae plus Callocystitidae. Several glyptocystitoid genera independently developed advanced pectinirhombs.     

Fossil wood of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Betula erkovetskiensis</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Betulaceae) from the Miocene of the Erkovetskii Brown Coal Field,Amur Region,Russia

A new species, Betula erkovetskiensis Blokhina et O.V. Bondarenko (Betulaceae), from the deposits of the Sazanka Formation (upper Middle?Upper Miocene) of the Erkovetskii Brown Coal Field (Amur Region, Russia) is described based on anatomical features of fossil wood. The new species shows some wood anatomical characters of the extant birch subgenus Betula, B. davurica, B. nigra (section Dahuricae), and B. papyrifera (section Betula). Fossil wood of Betula is found in the Amur Region for the first time.     

New Species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Inoceramus</Emphasis>-like Bivalves of the Subfamily Kolymiinae from the Middle Permian of Northeastern Asia

Middle Permian Inoceramus-like bivalves of the genera Kolymia Licharew and Cyrtokolymia Astafieva endemic to the East Boreal Biogeographic Realm are considered. Cyrtokolymia, previously regarded by the author as endemics of the Verkhoyansk–Okhotsk Province and including only the type species, are also recorded in the Kolyma–Omolon Province, where they are represented by the endemic species C. bobini sp. nov. An emended diagnosis of the genus Cyrtokolymia is provided. The genus Kolymia comprises about 30 species. The greatest diversity of Kolymia (24 species, 13 of which are endemic) is known from the Verkhoyansk–Okhotsk Province, which is the center of diversification of this genus. The Kolyma–Omolon Province is characterized by 12 species, only three of which are endemic. In other provinces of the East Boreal Realm, only individual members of Kolymia are known. From the Middle Permian of the Omolon Massif, northern Verkhoyansk Region, and Penzhinsky Ridge, the following new species are described: Kolymia posneri Muromzeva, Kusnezov et Biakov, sp. nov., K. pontoneica Biakov, sp. nov., K. simkiniformis Biakov, sp. nov., and Cyrtokolymia bobini Biakov, sp. nov.     

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.     

Fossil wood of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus priamurensis</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Pinaceae) from the Miocene deposits of the Erkovetskii Brown Coal Field,Amur Region

New species of the pine fossil wood, Pinus priamurensis sp. nov. (Pinaceae) from the Sazanka Formation (upper Middle Miocene–Upper Miocene) of the Erkovetskii Brown Coal Field (Amur Region) is described. The new species shares some wood anatomical features with modern species of the subsection Pinus (section Pinus, subgenus Pinus). This is the first record of fossil wood of Pinus in the Amur Region.     

Opisthobranch gastropods from the Lower Cretaceous of the Ulyanovsk Volga Region: 1. Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tornatellaea</Emphasis> Conrad

Five new species of the genus Tornatellaea from the Lower Cretaceous of the Volga Region near Ulyanovsk, T. kabanovi sp. nov. (Hauterivian), T. densistriata sp. nov., T. gracilis sp. nov., T. volgensis sp. nov. (Barremian), and T. sinzovi sp. nov. (Aptian), are described. The data on geographical and stratigraphical distribution of new taxa are provided.     

Contributions to the knowledge of tetrastichine wasps (Hymenoptera,Eulophidae, Tetrastichinae) of the Middle Volga Region

The Tetrastichinae fauna of the Middle Volga Region comprises 115 species of 16 genera. Quadrastichus rosarum sp. n. is described as an endoparasitoid of Torymus bedequaris L. (Hymenoptera, Torymidae); the latter develops in galls of Dasineura rosarum (Hardy) (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) on Rosa canina L. Aprostocetus populi (Kurdjumov) is redescribed and transferred from Tetrastichus to Aprostocetus. Thirty-three species are recorded for the Middle Volga Region for the first time. The genus Puklina Graham is new to the Russian fauna. New hosts are reported for five species of Tetrastichinae.     

Fossil Wood of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ulmus priamurica</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Ulmaceae) from the Miocene of the Erkovetskii Brown Coal Field,Amur Region,Russia

A new species, Ulmus priamurica sp. nov. (Ulmaceae), from the deposits of the Sazanka Formation (upper Middle–Upper Miocene) of the Erkovetskii Brown Coal Field (Amur Region, Russia) is described based on anatomical features of fossil wood. The new species shows some wood anatomical characters of the extant elms U. japonica and U. americana. Fossil wood of Ulmus was found in the Amur Region for the first time.     

Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eckhardites</Emphasis> Mitta (Cardioceratidae,Ammonoidea) from the Lower Callovian of the subboreal Jurassic

The genus Eckhardites Mitta 1999, with the type species Macrocephalites pavlowi Smorodina, 1928 is discussed and its diagnosis and assignment to the family Cardioceratidae are substantiated. Eckhardites is compared to the genus Macrocephalites Zittel (family Sphaeroceratidae), to which some workers presently assign the type species of Eckhardites. Three species of Eckhardites are recorded from the basal Callovian elatmae Zone of the Russian Platform, one of which (E. menzeli (Mönnig)) was originally described from the synchronous beds in Germany. A new species E. dietli sp. nov. is described.     

New species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Jakutoproductus</Emphasis> from the Lower Permian of Verkhoyansk Region

Two new brachiopod species of Jakutoproductus, J. lenensis sp. nov. and J. talchanensis sp. nov., are described. J. lenensis occurs in the upper part of the J. verkhoyanicus Zone of the Khorokytian Horizon (Asselian–Sakmarian deposits) of the lower reaches of the Lena River and in the Sobolokh-Mayan and Allara-Khadaryn’ya river basins. J. talchanensis is identified from the Khorokytian Horizon of the Talchan River (Baraiy River basin). A new subzone, the J. lenensis Subzone, is proposed for the upper part of the J. verkhoyanicus Zone of the Khorokytian Horizon of the Verkhoyansk Region.