The holotypes of the Late Silurian trilobite species Proetus (Lacunoporaspis) mukshaensis Konstantynenko, 2008, P. (P.) rashkoviensis Konstantynenko, 2008, P. (P.) bragensis Konstantynenko, 2008, and the subspecies P. (P.) conspersus elongata Konstantynenko, 2008 from Podillia (western Ukraine) are recognised and figured herein. Although these names are already available and valid, their original descriptions lacked explicit labelling of the holotypes on the illustrations, which necessitated their formal recognition in the present work. Additionally, Wenlowiproetus konstantynenkoi nom. nov. is hereby established as a replacement name for the available but invalid name Proetus conspersus elongata Konstantynenko, 2008 (non Proetus conspersus elongatus Lindstrom, 1885).
The morphological characters of each larval instar of the two Ukrainian notodontid moth species belonging to the genus Phalera Hübner, 1819 were examined using a scanning electron microscope : the shape, colour and pattern of the head and body; the microsculpture of the head; and the form and diversity of the setae, stemmata and mouthparts. A comparative morphological analysis of these structures is provided. The morphological characteristics and their transformations during larval development are discussed. Identification keys to the two species of the genus Phalera occurring in Ukraine are presented. Through this analysis, we identified the diagnostic and taxonomic characteristics of the genus Phalera and the studied species. We also identified features common to some taxa within the family.
Halophytic habitats are sites of conservation concern due to their rich flora and fauna. Spiders are a diverse and abundant group of salt marsh arthropods that can serve as bioindicators of a habitat’s preservation and conservation value. From March to November 2020, we studied ground-dwelling spiders on the salt marsh and on the bay shore of the Bilosaraiska Spit in the Sea of Azov, within the Meotyda National Park. A total of 57 spider species were recorded, with 48 found on the bay shore and 41 on the salt marsh. The two habitats had similar species compositions, but varied in assemblage structure and individual abundance due to different eudominants: Gnaphosa ukrainica on the salt marsh and Zodarion rubidium on the bay shore. The former had its maximum abundance in October, while the latter was most numerous in mid-June and early August. By the end of 2020, a total of 92 spider species had been recorded in the halophytic habitats of the Bilosaraiska Spit, including the regionally rare species Zelotes prishutovi, Nurscia albomaculata, Gnaphosa cumensis, G. saurica, Marinarozelotes adriaticus, and M. cumensis. The spider assemblages were well preserved and demonstrated local specificity compared to other coastal halophytic habitats in Left -Bank Ukraine. Thus, the study habitats support a high spider diversity.
The family Xenidae (Strepsiptera) is first recorded from Ukraine based on the findings of Xenos vesparum Rossius, 1793. A total of 40 specimens (21 females and 19 males), including one adult male, were identified from museum collections and online records (UkrBIN, iNaturalist, GBIF). Twenty-two stylopised host wasps were identified: 21 specimens of Polistes dominula (Christ, 1791) and one specimen of P. nimpha (Christ, 1791). These data confirm the dominant host effect for this parasite species.
The aim of this study was to characterise the ecological niche of Lasius fuliginosus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) along phytoindication gradients, and to determine the relationship between its foraging activity and the structure of the vegetation in riparian and mesophilous forests in Kyiv region. Fieldwork was conducted from July to August 2025 across 36 L. fuliginosus colonies (20 in the Holosiivskyi National Nature Park and 16 on Zhukiv Island). Standard 20 × 20 m plots were used for simultaneous geobotanical surveys and quantitative assessments of foraging intensity (number of workers passing per minute on trails and tree trunks). Environmental conditions were evaluated using eight standardised Didukh phytoindication scales. Statistical analyses included Generalized Additive Models (GAMs), Generalized Linear Models (GLMs), Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Permutational Multivariate Analysis of Variance (PERMANOVA). The multivariate ecological niche of L. fuliginosus exhibited a pronounced microclimatic specialization, with temperature and moisture acting as the primary narrow limiting factors. The narrowest ranges were observed for temperature (Tm: 56–64 points, median: 60.5) and soil moisture (Hd: 43–54 points, median: 48), indicating strict avoidance of extreme xerophytic and waterlogged conditions. The number of forage trees per plot (1–6) had no significant impact on ant abundance (p = 1.0), whereas plant species richness exhibited a distinct nonlinear threshold pattern modelled using GAM. A significant increase in foraging activity was observed exclusively when moving from low (7– 13 species) to moderately low (13–16 species) richness (p < 0.05). PCA and PERMANOVA revealed a highly significant and distinct environmental segregation between the niche configurations of riparian willow-poplar forests and mesophilous oak-hornbeam forests (F1,34 = 18.86, R2 = 0.36, p = 0.001). However, due to high ecological plasticity, the actual intensity of foraging did not differ significantly between the two forest types (W = 171, p = 0.1526), despite a higher median abundance in riparian zones (445.5 workers per minute) than in mesophilous stands (279.5 workers per minute). L. fuliginosus is tightly associated with stable, moderately warm and humid forest microhabitats, serving as an effective bioindicator for monitoring ecosystems under anthropogenic pressure.
