Wolbachia symbionts are maternally inherited bacteria that are widely distributed among Arthropoda hosts. Wolbachia influence their host biology in diverse ways. They may induce reproductive abnormalities, protect hosts against pathogens and parasites, or benefit hosts through metabolic provisioning. The progeny of an infected female are ordinarily infected with Wolbachia; however, Wolbachia have no future in male host progeny because they cannot transmit the symbiont to the next generation. Here, we analyze native and invasive populations of the four-eyed fir bark beetle (Polygraphus proximus) for Wolbachia prevalence and symbiont genetic diversity. This species is a dangerous pest of Siberian fir (Abies sibirica) forests. The native range of P. proximus includes the territories of the Russian Far East, Japan, Korea, and Northeast China, whereas its invasive range includes West Siberia, with further expansion westward. Surprisingly, we revealed a difference in the patterns of Wolbachia prevalence for males and females. Infection rate and Wolbachia titers were higher in females than in males. ST-533, the only haplotype of Wolbachia supergroup B, was associated with a minimum of three out of the five described mitochondrial haplotypes.

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Insects play an important role in biocenoses due to their abundance and wide (cosmopolitan) distribution. Many insects are crop pests. An effective pest control could be realized in case of proper species identification, which is usually managed by morphological analysis. Molecular methods allow to deep study of many issues of insect biology. In particular, traditional approach can not ordinary identify a species at all stages of their life cycle, whereas molecular methods can it. This review covers a wide range of issues related to the molecular genetic analysis of insects. In the first section we consider the methods of fixation and storage of insect specimens, as well as their impact on DNA quality. Further, we provide general information on population study design. Various schemes of DNA extraction, examples of both express techniques and more thorough protocols for DNA extraction and their purification are provided. In addition, methods of DNA isolation that allow to preserve a specimen integrity for further morphological studies are considered. The methods of DNA quality control are described in detail, that is important for PCR analysis. The last section provides various methods of PCR analysis, that we exemplify by studies aimed to elucidate both fundamental issues and practical problems.

Symbiotic bacteria of the genus Wolbachia are widespread in Drosophila melanogaster populations. Based on the polymorphism of the Wolbachia genome, the symbionts’ diversity in D. melanogaster is presented by two groups: MEL (wMel, wMel2, wMel3 and wMel4) and CS (wMelCS and wMelCS2). The wMel genotype is predominant in natural D. melanogaster populations and is distributed all over the world. The CS genotypes, on the other hand, are of particular interest because it is unclear how they are maintained in the fruit f ly populations since they should have been eliminated from them due to their low frequency and genetic drift or been replaced by the wMel genotype. However, this is not what is really observed, which means these genotypes are supported by selection. It is known that the wMelPlus strain of the wMelCS genotype can increase the lifespan of infected f lies at high temperatures. The same genotype also increases the intensity of dopamine metabolism in Drosophila compared to the MEL-group genotypes. In the present study, we searched for the rare Wolbachia wMelCS and wMelCS2 genotypes, as well as for new genotypes in wild-type D. melanogaster strains and in several mutant laboratory strains. The symbiont was found in all populations, in 200 out of 385 wild-type strains and in 83 out of 170 mutant strains. Wolbachia diversity in D. melanogaster wild-type strains was represented by the wMel, wMelCS and wMelCS2 genotypes. More than 90 % of the infected strains carried wMel; 9 %, wMelCS2; and only two strains were found to carry wMelCS. No new Wolbachia genotypes were found. The northernmost point reported for the wMelCS2 genotype was Izhevsk city (Udmurtia, Russia). For the f irst time the wMelCS2 genotype was detected in D. melanogaster from the Sakhalin Island, and wMelCS, in the f lies from Nalchik (the North Caucasus). A comparison of Wolbachia genetic diversity between the wild-type laboratory strains and previously obtained data on mutant laboratory strains demonstrated differences in the frequencies of rare CS genotypes, which were more prevalent in mutant strains, apparently due to the breeding history of these Drosophila strains.

Обобщены данные по фауне муравьев и их распространению на территории Южного Зауралья. Основу мирмекофауны региона составляют представители трех родов: Formica (33.3%), Myrmica (23%) и Lasius (16.7%). По широтной составляющей ареала преобладают виды с температным (41.6%), суббореальным (20.9%) и бореальным (16.6%) распространением. Температно-субтропические, аркто-температные и аркто-бореальные виды составили лишь 8.3; 8.3 и 4.2% соотвественно. По долготной составляющей ареала преобладают западно-центрально-палеарктические (50%) и транспалеарктические (35.4%) виды. Центрально-восточно-палеарктические виды составили 4.1%, амфипалеарктические, восточно-палеарктические, трансевразиатские, циркумареалы и центрально-палеарктические -лишь по 2.1%. Анализ подзонального распространения муравьев на исследуемой территории показал, что наибольшее число видов в целом (89.6%), а также оригинальных видов (13) характерно для подзоны разнотравно-дерновинно-злаковой степи. К северу количество видов и родов постепенно сокращается. Во всех подзонах встречаются 27% видов фауны муравьев региона. Наибольшая степень сходства отмечена между фаунами муравьев южной и северной лесостепи (коэффициент Чекановского-Съеренсена -80%). Наименее сходен видовой состав муравьев региона, обитающих в разнотравно-дерновинно-злаковой степи и подтайге (35%).

Трофобиоз с тлями, выделения которых являются одним из основных энергетических ресурсов для муравьев, играет важную роль в их жизни. Представлены первые сведения о трофобиотических связях муравьев и тлей на территории Южного Зауралья. Исследования проведены в 2006-2013 гг. в наиболее характерных для региона лесных, луговых, степных и антропогенных биотопах. Трофобиотические связи с тлями отмечены для муравьев 17 видов из двух подсемейств: Formicinae (Formica-7 видов, Lasius-3, Camponotus-3) и Myrmicinae (Myrmica-4 вида). Выявлено 84 вида мирмекофильных тлей из 30 родов 6 семейств. Наибольшее число видов тлей (65) на территории региона в целом связано с Lasius niger (Linnaeus, 1758), а также с муравьями, доминирующими в многовидовых сообществах: Formica pratensis Retzius, 1783-23 вида и рыжими лесными муравьями-17. Для остальных муравьев отмечено взаимодействие с меньшим числом видов тлей (1-5). Количество видов тлей, связанных с доминантами рода Formica и L. niger, зависит от состава и структуры сообщества муравьев. Облигатные доминанты рода Formica посещают колонии тлей наибольшего числа видов, при этом разнообразие трофобиотических связей этих муравьев существенно возрастает в присутствии субдоминантов из подрода Serviformica (F. fusca и F. cunicularia). В отсутствие облигатных доминантов колонии тлей наибольшего числа видов посещают муравьи L. niger. В целом наиболее значимую роль в формировании трофобиотических связей в многовидовых сообществах играют облигатные доминанты Formica s. str. в тандеме с субдоминантами из подрода Serviformica, а в отсутствие доминантов-муравьи L. niger. Ключевые слова: муравьи, тли, трофобиотические связи, Южное Зауралье. Trophobiotic Associations between Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) and Aphids (Hemiptera, Aphidomorpha) in South Zauralye T. A. Novgorodova, А. S. Ryabinin Trophobiosis with aphids producing honeydew, which is one of the main energetic resources for ants, plays an important role in their life. These are the first data on the trophobiotic associations between ants and aphids in South Zauralye. Investigations were carried out in the most typical biotopes for the region (forest, meadow, steppe and antropogenic biotopes) in 2006-2013. Trophobiotic interactions with aphids are revealed for 17 ant species from two subfamilies: Formicinae (Formica-7 species, Lasius-3, Camponotus-3) and Myrmicinae (Myrmica-4). 84 species of myrmecoplile aphids of 30 genera and 6 families were revealed. The majority of aphid species (65) were associated with Lasius niger (Linnaeus, 1758) and also with dominant species: Formica pratensis Retzius, 1783-23 species, red wood ants of Formica rufa group-17. Other ants were noted in aphid colonies of the less number of species (1-5). The number of aphid species associated with the dominant ants of Formica and L. niger depends on the composition and structure of ant community. Obligate dominant species of Formica attend colonies of the majority of aphid species, besides the variety of trophobiotic interactions of