The Mongolian Altai Mountains represent one of the most important biodiversity regions in Central Asia, yet the distribution of butterflies (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) in this area remains insufficiently documented. Field surveys were conducted at several localities in the Mongolian Altai to investigate butterfly diversity and geographic distribution across different elevations and habitats, with particular attention to species occurring at high elevations. A total of 56 species belonging to five families were recorded, many at elevations above 2500 m a.s.l. Among them, Damora pandora (Denis et Schiffermüller, 1775) is reported from Mongolia for the first time. The species was collected in the Jargalant Mountains, Khovd Province, thereby extending its known distribution into the Altai Mountain system. Habitat characteristics and distribution data for recorded species are presented. These results improve our understanding of butterfly diversity, species occurrences at different elevations in western Mongolia, and provide new insights into the biogeography of Central Asian Lepidoptera.
A list of 56 species belonging to 23 genera of the family Eulophidae is given for the fauna of the Daurskii Nature Reserve. Of these, 54 species are recorded for Transbaikal Territory for the first time. A new species, Kolopterna daurica sp. n., is described. Seven species, Hemiptarsenus virescens (Storozheva, 1984), Microlycus gyorfii (Erdös, 1954), Necremnus phaeochromus Storozheva, 1989 (Eulophinae), Achrysocharoides splendens (Delucchi, 1954), Derostenus punctiscuta Thomson, 1878, Pediobius deplanatus Bouček, 1965 (Entedoninae), and Pronotalia fiorii (Domenichini, 1958) (Tetrastichinae), are recorded for Russia for the first time.
A new species of jewel beetle, Endelus (Endelus) angulicollis sp. n. (Coleoptera, Buprestidae, Agrilinae: Aphanisticini) belonging to the E. (E.) marseulii Deyrolle, 1864 species-group, is described from Papua New Guinea. Two species, E. (E.) gratiosus Thery, 1932 and E. (E.) suturalis Thery, 1932 are additionally included in the group. An updated key to the species of the group is provided including also E. (E.) lunatus Fisher, 1921, E. (E.) barclayi Kalashian, 2011, E. (E.) splendens Kalashian, 2011, E. (E.) nairaarum Kalashian, 2011, E. (E.) scintillans Deyrolle, 1864 and E. (E.) barriesi Kalashian, 2023.
A new replacement name Aphonomorphus (Furcaphonus) fascipes Gorochov et Braun, nom. n. is proposed for Aphonomorphus (Furcaphonus) fasciatus Gorochov, 2010 (Orthoptera: Gryllidae), nom. praeocc., non Aphonomorphus fasciatus (Scudder, 1869). Thus, a new synonymy is also established: Aphonomorphus (Furcaphonus) fascipes Gorochov et Braun, nom. n. = Aphonomorphus (Furcaphonus) fasciatus Gorochov, 2010, syn. n.
Data on the structure of the sound apparatus, temporal and frequency parameters of acoustic calling signals of 9 species from 4 genera of the tribe Pholidopterini (Tettigoniidae), occurring in Russia and adjacent territories, are presented. The sound signal and some details of the body structure of Pholidoptera augustae Tarbinsky, 1940, as well as the signal of Parapholidoptera georgiae Massa, Buzzetti et Fontana, 2009, found in the North Caucasus, are described for the first time. The taxonomic status of the former subspecies Pholidoptera pustulipes subsp. jailensis Miram, 1927 has been changed to Pholidoptera pustulipes forma jailensis stat. n. Possible reasons for intraspecific variability of the temporal structure of acoustic signals are discussed.
