New additions to the knowledge of the subfamily Eumeninae in Russia are provided. Stenodynerus rossicus Fateryga & Kochetkov, sp. nov. is described from Amurskaya Province and Altai Republic. Three species of eumenine wasps are reported from Russia for the first time: Onychopterocheilus kiritshenkoi (Kostylev, 1940), Pterocheilus quaesitus (Morawitz, 1895), and Stenodynerus chitgarensis Giordani Soika, 1970. Ancistrocerus dusmetiolus (Strand, 1914) is excluded from the fauna of Russia; the previous records of this species were based on a misidentification of another similar species, i. e., A. raddei (Kostylev, 1940). The taxonomic status of A. raddei, however, is unclear: its differences from A. dusmetiolus, including the material from Central Asia described as A. alius (Kostylev, 1935), are mainly in the color pattern but not in the structure (including the structure of the male genitalia). New and confirmative regional records for 20 species are reported. The known fauna of Russia currently numbers 34 genera and 165 species of Eumeninae s. l. (including Raphiglossinae and Zethinae). In addition, Eumenes tripunctatus (Christ, 1791) is reported for the first time from Afghanistan; the first data on the nesting of this species are also reported.

Observations on the nesting characteristics and colony life of Mongolian social wasps are essential to the fi eld due to the peripheral locations of species distribution ranges and critical lack of such information. We found 35 nests of seven social wasp species, including three vespine species (Dolichovespula saxonica, D. media and Vespula vulgaris) and four polistine species (Polistes snelleni, P. riparius, P. nimpha and P. biglumis). Riparian woodland was the habitat where the most species (fi ve out of seven) nests were found. Nests of P. snelleni, Baikal-Far Eastern species, were found only in river cut banks, in holes probably originally excavated by passerine birds most likely sand martin (Riparia riparia). Nesting sites of D. saxonica were the most diverse (bank hole, underground, aerial and birch stump/logs). Colony size of vespine wasps in northern Mongolia was relatively small (36-60 individuals). Nests of Polistes species (except P. snelleni) were found frequently on the branches of willow (Salix sp.) and wild rose (Rosa acicularis). Other characteristics associated with each species nest were considered separately.

The geographic range analysis of 59 species of the family Vespidae (Hymenoptera) of northern Mongolia was performed using published sources and our own data. The longitude-latitudinal approach is supported for the chorological division. Chorological component of vespid fauna of northern Mongolia is mainly composed of Palaearctic polyzonal and sub-boreal species associated especially with sub-boreal semi-humid and sub-boreal semi-arid landscapes. Northern Mongolia together with Trans-Baikal region act as barrier to the latitudinal and longitudinal distribution of vespid wasps, and it can be called, as the BaikalMongolian faunal barrier. Four sub-endemic vespid species, Onychopterocheilus turovi (Kostylev, 1937), O. kiritshenkoi (Kostylev, 1940), Ancistrocerus rufopictus (Kostylev, 1940), Eumenes transbaicalicus Kurzenko, 1984 were defi ned to Mongolia.

Onychopterocheilus (Asiapterocheilus) proshchalykini Fateryga, sp. nov. is described from the Altai Republic (Russia). The new species is closely related to O. (A.) kiritshenkoi (Kostylev, 1940) but distinctly differs from it by the structure of the clypeus, the female vertex and scutellum, the male genitalia, as well as the coloration. In addition, O. proshchalykini has somewhat larger body size. Onychopterocheilus kiritshenkoi is re-described. Both species have the northernmost distribution among 13 currently recognized species of the Central Asian subgenus Asiapterocheilus. Onychopterocheilus chinensis Gusenleitner, 2005 is transferred to this subgenus from the nominotypical one. Onychopterocheilus kiritshenkoi is recorded from the Altai Republic for the first time; two new localities of this species from Mongolia are also reported. Females of O. kiritshenkoi were observed at flowers of two species of Fabaceae: Caragana bungei Ledeb. and Vicia costata Ledeb. The wasps acted as primary nectar robbers, i.e., they made holes in the calyx to access nectar with their relatively long proboscises.

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve remains poorly studied for invertebrates, especially for vespid wasps. A total of 14 vespid species belonging to seven genera of the subfamily Eumeninae were recorded from diff erent habitats (rocky outcrops, springs, tall vegetation habitats, shrub-lands and short grass steppes) in the nature reserve during three-year studies (2015)(2016)(2017). These species represent 27 percent of the vespid fauna of the desert-steppe zone of Mongolia. We found the highest species richness in areas where water was available (near springs and wells), and the lowest richness in habitats with tall vegetation. Among the diff erent habitat types, vespid species composition was most similar (91% shared species) between rocky outcrops and spring habitats. Six vespid species range from Kazakhstan to Mongolian, and one species is sub-endemic to Mongolia. Availability of water sources and nesting sites were possibly the main factors infl uencing the distribution of vespid wasps. It is necessary to conduct comprehensive research into the insect community of Ikh Nart Nature Reserve.

We investigated species composition and diversity parameters of beetle communities in two planted saxaul (Haloxylon ammodendron, black saxaul) forests in Southern Mongolia. We also studied nearby natural areas for comparison. Beetles were mainly collected by pitfall traps. 1064 individuals of 38 species of 22 genera in 4 beetle families were identified from planted plots. In comparison, a total of 1395 beetles belonging to 40 species of 24 genera in seven families were collected and identified from the natural saxaul plots. The most diverse beetle families were darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae, 18 species) and snout beetles (Curculionidae, 15 species) in planted and natural saxaul plots. We recorded several species (Apatophysis serricornis, Cephogenia chinensis, and Eumylada punctifera punctifera) which are associated with the saxaul tree. A darkling beetle, Anatolica potanini, was the dominant species in both natural and planted plots of the Nariin Zag forest. There were significant differences in the species richness and abundance between the planted and natural plots of the Ukhaa Zag forest. It is possible that the age of the plantation drove the differences. The higher values of diversity indices and species richness in the planted plots can be explained by the presence of rare species, represented by only one or two individuals. The planted plots and corresponding natural plots within each forest were more similar to each other in species composition and abundance than between forests.

Determining the endemic species composition and their relative abundances of the beetle community in the desert and desert steppe of Mongolia is crucial for biodiversity conservation, and it is of great importance to evaluate the current state of the ecosystems. We aimed to determine the species richness, the dominant species composition and relative abundance of the endemic species, and their habitat characteristics around the Khanbogd Massif, which is an important representative of the East Gobi of Mongolia. We identified 1330 individuals of 20 species of 14 genera which belongs to four beetle families. More than 70 percent of them are belonging to the family of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae). Five species of darkling beetles, or 25 percent of the community were endemic species, and their relative abundances in the habitats with different vegetation cover ranges from 0.01 to 0.58. Among these endemic species, the darkling beetle Anatolica cechiniae Bogdanov-Кatjkov prefers extremely dry habitats while A. gobialtaica Kaszab prefers moist meadow habitats. However, abundances of the other three endemic species (Blaps femoralis rectispinus, A. sternalis gobiensis and Trigonoscelis sublaevigata granicollis) in the habitats were relatively low (1-12%). Two species of endemic beetles have been found only in the desert steppe habitat. There is a chance that the original state of nature will change as a result of recent climate change, which could lead to a decline in habitat quality and the loss of biological diversity. Therefore, it is essential to conduct in-depth habitat research in order to protect these endemic species with limited distribution and preserve them in their native ecosystems. Дорнод говийн цөлийн хээрт тохиолдох эндемик цохын олон янз байдал, амьдрах орчны онцлог Монгол орны цөл, цөлөрхөг хээрийн экосистемд тохиолдох цохын бүлгэмдэлд агуулагдаж буй эндемик цохын бүрдэл, уг зүйлүүдийн бүлгэмдэлд эзэлж буй хувийг тодорхойлох асуудал биологийн төрөл зүйлийн хамгаалал талаасаа маш чухал бөгөөд тухайн экосистемийн өнөөгийн төлөв байдлыг үнэлэхэд ихээхэн ач холбогдолтой юм. Бид энэхүү судалгаагаар Монгол орны Дорнод говийн чухал төлөөлөл болох Ханбогд уул орчмын цохын бүлгэмдлийн зүйлийн баялаг, бүлгэмдлийг бүрдүүлэгч гол төрөл зүйлийг тогтоох, бүлгэмдэлд эзлэх эндемик цохын хувь, тэдгээрийн амьдрах орчныг тодорхойлох зорилго тавин ажиллав. Нийт дөрвөн овгийн 14 төрлийн 20 зүйлд хамаарах 1330 бодгаль цох тодорхойлогдсоны 70 хувь нь хар цохын (Tenebrionidae) овогт хамаарч байна. Тус бүлгэмдэл дэх нийт зүйлийн 25 хувь буюу таван зүйл хар цох эндемик зүйлийн бүртгэлд орсон байх бөгөөд ургамлан нөмрөгийн хувьд ялгаатай амьдрах орчны хэлбэрүүдэд тохиолдох уг цохуудын харьцангуй элбэгшил 0.01 – 0.58 байна. Эдгээр эндемик зүйлүүдээс Anatolica cechiniae Bogdanov-Кatjkov хэмээх зүйл хэт хуурай амьдрах орчинд түгээмэл тохиолдож байхад A. gobialtaica Kaszab гэх хар цох бол чийг ихтэй нугын амьдрах орчныг шүтэн байршиж байна. Харин Blaps femoralis rectispinus, A. sternalis gobiensis болон Trigonoscelis sublaevigata granicollis гэх эндемик зүйлүүд уг бүлгэмдэлд бага хувь (1-12 %) эзэлж байв. Уг бүс нутагт тохиолдох орчны хэлбэрүүдээс шургамал цөлийн хээрт хоёр зүйл эндемик цох тэмдэглэгдсэн. Сүүлийн жилүүдэд илэрч буй уур амьсгалын өөрчлөлтийн нөлөөгөөр байгалийн унаган төлөвт өөрчлөлт орж, улмаар амьдрах орчин чанарын хувьд доройтох, биологийн төрөл зүйл хомсдох эрсдэл бий болоод байна. Иймд эдгээр хязгаарлагдмал тархалттай эндемик зүйлүүдийг хамгаалах, төрөлх экосистемд нь хадгалан авч үлдэхийн тулд цаашид амьдрах орчны судалгааг гүнзгийрүүлэн хийх шаардлагатай байна. Түлхүүр үгс: Эндемик цох, амьдрах орчин, Ханбогд, тархалт

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