Based on long-term research (2015-2025), the species composition and general characteristics of the halophilic weevils complex of in the Steppe Urals (Orenburg Region) are established for the first time. The weevil grouping characteristic of the saline biotopes of the region (salt marshes, solonetz, shores of salt lakes) has a low total species richness (94 species; about 15% of the Curculionoidea fauna of the region) and is characterized by a pronounced uniqueness (41 species-indicators of saline habitats). The main features of the halophilic complex include: (1) the predominance of central palaearctic semidesertdesert and desert-steppe species characteristic of the subarid and arid landscapes of Kazakhstan and Central Asia (about 80%), with a very small proportion of Steppe (Scythian) faunal elements (about 12%); (2) against the background of a small range of host plant families (15), an abundance of halophilic weevils on Chenopodiaceae (28 species), the presence of specific groups on Limonium (Plumboginaceae) (8 species, including Sibinia neglecta Bajtenov, 1974 is first record for the fauna of Russia) and Tamarix (Tamaricaceae) (3 species), with a very small number of specialized species on Fabaceae (only 3). The most diverse and unique groups of halophilic weevils are formed on salt marshes (72 species; including 16 species specific to salt marshes); 62 species were recorded on solonetzs (only 4 species specific to solonetzs). Some weevils are associated with shallow-water vegetation and banks of salt water bodies (17 species). Our analysis indicates that the weevil communities of halophytic habitats in the Southern Ural steppe zone exhibit clearly expressed extrazonal features, and in terms of the composition of halophilic species, they are close to the groups of saline habitats of the semi-deserts of the Northern Caspian region, in fact, being their northernmost variants.
From the territory of southern Uzbekistan and northern Tajikistan, two new species of the genus Silvestrichilis, S. rakhimovi sp. n. and S. kabaki sp. n., have been described from the ridges of the Gissar and Zeravshan Ranges. They belong to the high-mountain Pamir-Alay group of species of this genus, including 4 described species. Among them, S. rakhimovi sp. n. is most closely related to S. alaensis Kaplin, 1982 from the Alay Range in the structure of the parameres and the sensory field on the fore femora of the male, while S. kabaki sp. n. is related to S. molchanovi Kaplin, 1982 from the Gissar Range by the absence of lateral hook-shaped setae on the outer side of the posterior gonapophyses of the female ovipositor. S. rakhimovi sp. n. differs radically from the other species of this group by the small relative length of the contact line of the compound eyes, the relative length of the stylets on the urocoxites IX, the absence of sublateral macrochaetae on urocoxites I-VII, and their arrangement on the outer side of the IX urocoxites, whereas in the rest of the species of this group they are on the inner side. The main differences of the females S. kabaki sp. n. consist in a large number of tooth-like setae on the dorsal surface of the 5th article of the maxillary palps, the number of articles in ovipositor, and sublateral macrochaetae on the inner side of urocoxites IX.
This paper presents data on the trophic ecology of the Giant noctule (N. lasiopterus) in the Urals-the eastern border of the species' range. The material was collected in July-August 2019 and 2021 in Uk settlement, the southwestern part of the Asha municipal district, Chelyabinsk region (54.5627 degrees N, 57.1533 degrees E). The diet of the bats was studied under laboratory conditions by visual analysis of fecal pellets (coproscopy). Twelve food groups were identified in the diet of N. lasiopterus, including birds and arthropods-insects, as well as ectoparasites of the class Arachnida (order Acari). The most significant prey items for N. lasiopterus in the Urals are birds (occurrence 62.3%, abundance 35.7 +/- 3.5%) and Lepidoptera (occurrence 90.9%, abundance 46.5 +/- 3.1%). These bats prefer to hunt large representatives of the Lepidoptera order. The analysis revealed changes in the proportion of individual food groups in the diet across different years, regardless of the summer month. This may be related to varying weather conditions. Specifically, on nights with lower temperatures, bats consumed birds more frequently than insects. Conversely, on nights with higher temperatures, insects predominated in the diet, including Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), Hemiptera (true bugs), and Coleoptera (beetles). The observed changes suggest that the shift to carnivore in N. lasiopterus may be linked to the temperature factor-indirectly, via changes in insect activity. This aspect had not been taken into account in previous dietary analyses of the species.
Based on the results of a long-term (2012-2025) census of small mammals in the vicinity of Magadan and literature data, an analysis of the abundance dynamics and community structure of mouse-like rodents in Northern Priokhotye was conducted. Clethrionomys rutilus, Alexandromys oeconomus, and Craseomys rufocanus occupied dominant positions in the community, with the dominance structure varying significantly between years. In most years, the community was bidominant, and less frequently, mono-dominant. During the study period, a trend toward a decrease in the abundance of dominant species was observed, accompanied by an increase in species diversity and community evenness. Conversely, the occurrence of some previously rare species has increased in recent years, which may be a consequence of climate change occurring in the region. The data obtained indicate high interannual variability in the abundance and community structure of mouse-like rodents on the northern coast of the Sea of Okhotsk.
The fauna parasites and parasitoids of the amber snails Succinea putris (2408 specimens) was studied in two populations of the Yaroslavl Region, Russia, from 2017 to 2025. Trematodes (sporocysts of Leucochloridium paradoxum, L. vogtianum, L. perturbatum, metacercariae Brachylaima sp.), nematodes (adult Rhabditidae gen. sp., Daubaylia sp., larvae of Hexamermis albicans), larvae of flies (Diptera, Sciomyzidae) were found in snails. A total of 10 species of parasites and parasitoids have been found. Of the three species of Leucochloridium in European amber snail, L. paradoxum prevailed in both populations. The nematodes Hexamermis albicans were found only in one population of Succinea putris, which lived on the banks of a small river. The infection rate of amber snails with H. albicans was high (9.5-52.1%, 1-12 specimens), the length of the larvae ranged from 2.5 to 15 cm (9.99 +/- 0.49). The list of all parasites (trematodes, cestodes, nematodes) of snail of the genus Succinea in Eurasia found in nature is given.
