Fauna

During fi ve years of research (2017–2020 and 2022), 257 fruiting bodies of 34 species of basidiomycetes from the orders Agaricales and Polyporales, Hymenochaetales, Boletaceae, Russulales and Gloeophyllales were collected in diff erent areas of the Saratov region. 108 species of Coleoptera from 24 families were identifi ed that are directly and/or indirectly associated with the fruiting bodies of fungi. The highest species diversity was noted in the families Staphylinidae – 37 species, Tenebrionidae – 11, Ciidae – 10, Erotylidae and Mycetophagidae – 6 species each.

The study of zoogeographic characteristics in combination with the use of modern methods for assessing phylogenetic relationships allowed us to examine in detail the phylogeographic structure in scorpions of the genus Mesobuthus. In this work, to assess phylogenetic relationships, we used the decoded sequences of the COI gene fragment obtained by the team of authors in collaborative work and deposited in the Genbank database (NCBI).

The basis for the article was entomological collections from the nests of the sand martins (Riparia riparia (Linnaeus, 1758)) collected in the Saratov oblast in 2019–2022. A total of 12 colonies were examined in the Voskresensky, Krasnoarmeysky, Lysogorsky, Rivne, Engelssky and Khvalynsky districts of the Saratov oblast, as well as in the city of Saratov. Gamasid mites were collected using a Tullgren funnel for two to three hours and then identifi ed. In each of the studied colonies, a soil section was laid and its morphological description was carried out.

The article provides a brief analysis on the species composition of microlepidopteran genus Neofriseria Sattler, 1960 (Gelechiidae) of the fauna of Russia and some neighboring countries. A list of six species of this genus known for the territory of Russia at present is given. One species of the genus, previously described only relating to males from Greece, is recorded for Russia (Saratov region) firstly as a new subspecies with a description and illustrations of the genital structures of both sexes.

The beetle community (Coleoptera) on the fl owers of the dandelion Taraxacum offi cinale (Yaroslavl Region, Borok vill.) during its “spring” fl owering (05/17/2022 – 06/14/2022) is represented by 28 species from 13 families. The community has a pronounced anthophilic aspect and includes mainly pollinophages and nectarophages (Elateridae, Nitidulidae, Byturidae, Phalacridae, and Oedemeridae). Two species of beetles, Olibrusbicolor and Glocianus punctiger, develop on the dandelion.

The purpose of this work was to establish the composition of the community of beetles associated with xylotrophic fungi on the territory of the Saratov city landscapes which diff ers from the natural forest regional ecosystems. Collections of coleoptera (imagos and larvae) were carried out in the spring-summer period 2017–2020 from fruiting bodies of various xylotrophic basidiomycetes from deciduous tree species of the city areas in the Volzhsky, Kirovsky, Frunzensky, Oktyabrsky and Zavodsky districts of the town.

Crambid moth Neocrambus wolfschlaegeri (Schawerda, 1937) is reported from the Volga-Ural Region (Orenburg and Saratov Provinces). This represents the fi rst record of this species from Russia. The external morphology and genitalia are illustrated and some details of the morphology are discussed.

Presents the distribution of 3489 species of Lepidoptera from 83 families on the basic administrative units of the region. To the base list of E. Eversmann added 2209 species, 35 species were removed from the list as incorrectly identified previously, reliably disappeared in the region or accidentally introduced. Among the newly discovered species 2 were new for Europe and 3 for Russia.

The article contains information about the reliable finding of black widow (Latrod ectus tredecimguttatus) on the territory of Saratov Province.

The article contains information about the reliable finding of black widow (Latrod ectus tredecimguttatus) on the territory of Saratov Province.