Explore the vast range of titles available.

Studies on the vertical distribution of arthropods in temperate forests have revealed the uneven vertical distribution of communities. Many factors influence these patterns simultaneously. However, there are still many questions related to the vertical distribution of Coleoptera in deciduous forests of the temperate zone. The research was carried out within the territory of the Republic of Mordovia (the center of the European part of Russia). Fermental traps with a bait made of fermenting beer with sugar were used to collect Coleoptera. The collections were carried out from May to September 2020 at five sites in a deciduous forest. We set traps at a height of 1.5, 3.5, 7.5 and 12 m above the ground) on the branches of trees. Ninety-two species were identified at the end of studies at different heights. The families Nitidulidae (15 species), Cerambycidae (14 species), Elateridae (7 species), Curculionidae (7 species) and Scarabaeidae (7 species) had the greatest species diversity. The greatest species diversity was recorded at a height of 1.5 m, while the smallest one was recorded at a height of 7.5 m. The minimum number of specimens was recorded at a height of 12 m. The largest differences in the Jaccard similarity index were obtained between samples from a height of 1.5 and 12 m. The Shannon’s diversity index was higher near the ground than in the tree crowns (at heights of 7.5 and 12 m), and the Simpson index had the opposite tendency. Glischrochilus hortensis and to a lesser extent Cychramus luteus preferred to live in the lowest layers of deciduous forest (1.5 m). Cryptarcha strigata was mainly found with relatively high numbers at heights of 3.5 m and 7.5 m. The abundance and occurrence of Protaetia marmorata and Quedius dilatatus were higher in the uppermost layers of the crowns. The number of saproxylic beetle species at heights of 3.5–12 m was almost the same, while in the surface layer it decreased. The number of anthophilic beetle species was also lower at a low altitude. Our data confirm the relevance of sampling in forest ecosystems at different altitudes while studying arthropod biodiversity.

In order to study regional faunas, one or two methods of studying Coleoptera are often used. However, a comparison of several ways of studying shows that it is more expedient to use more than one of them. Six different methods of catching Coleoptera used in studies of the biodiversity of regional faunas were compared. This research employed pitfall traps (PfT), beer traps (BT), freely hanging flight intercept traps or window traps (FWT), Malaise traps (MT), pan traps (PT), and sweep net (SN). The goal was to assess the effectiveness of these methods in evaluating the biodiversity of this insect group. Studies were conducted from 2011 to 2017 and 2019 to 2023 in the Ryazan region (the central part of European Russia). A total of 27,892 specimens of Coleoptera (927 species from 64 families) were collected. Specifically, 17,659 specimens were collected using PfT (396 species from 36 families), 4971 specimens using BT (146 species from 30 families), 1014 specimens using FWT (221 species from 51 families), 109 specimens using MT (43 species from 16 families), 2220 specimens using PT (357 species from 42 families), and 1919 specimens using SN (265 species from 32 families). The maximum number of families was observed with FWT, while the minimum number of families was registered with MT. Interestingly, the highest number of rare species from both protected lists was obtained using BT and PfT. The Margalef index was higher for Coleoptera collections using PT and PfT, while the largest Shannon index values were recorded for samples using SN and PT. The Berger–Parker index was the highest for catches using BT, which was characterized by the highest dominance of one or more species. In our study, four species of Coleoptera were found that are included in the protected lists of the Russian Federation and 14 species of Coleoptera were listed in the protected species of the Ryazan region. Considering the results of this study, the Coleoptera fauna of the Ryazan region currently accounts for 1674 species.

(1) Background: Blattodea and Dermaptera in the temperate forest zone include a limited number of species, some of which are widely distributed and common. However, digital data on their biology remains insufficient. (2) Methods: The surveyed area extends from Kaluga Oblast to Tatarstan and from Vladimir Oblast to Voronezh Oblast. Insects were sampled from 736 plots using various methods, including pitfall traps, beer traps, window traps, pan traps, and sweep nets. (3) Results: The dataset contains 2149 occurrences comprising 18,362 specimens belonging to 5 species of Blattodea and 4 species of Dermaptera. For most occurrences, we recorded the developmental stage (nymph or adult) and the sex (male or female for adults) of the specimens. (4) Conclusions: Three non-synanthropic species are widely distributed and common: Ectobius lapponicus, E. sylvestris, and Forficula auricularia. Ectobius sylvestris is characterized as a true forest species, while E. lapponicus inhabits both forest and grassland habitats. In contrast, F. auricularia is associated with gardens, urban habitats, and some meadows. Ectobius sylvestris exhibits a more pronounced sexual dimorphism concerning the effectiveness of different sampling methods compared to E. lapponicus. Seasonal dynamics of cockroaches and earwigs are described and discussed.

Usage of a variety of non-trivial ways to study Coleoptera gives unexpected and original results. The studies were conducted using simple traps with fermenting baits in the central part of European Russia. There were 286 trap exposures, and 7906 Coleoptera specimens (208 species from 35 families) were collected. The largest number of species belonged to the families Cerambycidae (35 species), Curculionidae (26 species), and Elateridae (25 species). One species each was noted in 12 families. Traps were applied in five open habitats (dry meadow, shore, floodplain meadow, cuttings under power lines, and glade in woods). Only 13 species were common to all habitats: Cetonia aurata, Protaetia marmorata, Dasytes niger, Cryptarcha strigata, Glischrochilus grandis, Glischrochilus hortensis, Glischrochilus quadrisignatus, Soronia grisea, Notoxus monoceros, Aromia moschata, Leptura quadrifasciata, Rhagium mordax, Anisandrus dispar. Dry meadows were dominated by C. aurata, A. murinus, and P. cuprea volhyniensis. A shore was dominated by C. strigata, G. grandis, G. hortensis, S. grisea, and A. dispar. The dominant species in floodplain meadows were G. hortensis, S. grisea, and A. dispar. On cuttings under power lines, the most numerous were C. aurata, P. cuprea volhyniensis, and C. viridissima. In forest glades, the maximum abundance data were obtained for G. grandis, C. strigata, and A. dispar. The Shannon index was greatest in meadow habitats of varying degrees of moisture, while it was minimal on the shore. The increase in the Simpson index was also characteristic of the shore. These data indicate reduced species diversity combined with the dominance of several species in this biotope. The maximum species diversity with the highest level of species alignment was characteristic of meadow plots, while lower values were obtained under power lines and in forest glades. We recommend the usage of fermental traps with beer for ecological studies of the Coleoptera fauna in open biotopes.

The possibilities of applying various methods to study Coleoptera give unexpected and original results. The studies were carried out with the help of fermental crown traps in 2018–2020 on the territory of eight regions in the central part of European Russia. The biodiversity of the Coleoptera that fall into crown traps includes 294 species from 45 families. The number of species attracted to the fermenting bait is about a third of the total number of species in the traps (this is 97.4% of the number of all of the caught specimens). The largest number of species that have been found in the traps belong to the families Cerambycidae, Elateridae and Curculionidae. The most actively attracted species mainly belong to the families Cerambycidae, Nitidulidae and Scarabaeidae. The species of these families are equally attracted by baits made of beer, white and red wines. In order to identify the Coleoptera biodiversity of a particular biotope, two-year studies are sufficient, and they should be carried out throughout the vegetation season. Especially good results can be obtained from studies of rare species that are actively attracted by such baits. It is possible to study the vertical–horizontal distribution of Coleoptera fauna in individual biotopes.

There are few studies on the vertical distribution and seasonal activity of arthropods in open habitats (in glades) in temperate forests due to methodological problems associated with the arrangement of certain structures for trapping. However, glades in forests are places of significant biodiversity of native animals, which are attracted to such areas by the possibilities of nutrition, reproduction, and wintering. The research was carried out on the territory of the Republic of Mordovia (the center of the European part of Russia). Fermental traps (bait—fermenting beer with sugar) were used to collect Coleoptera. They were installed on a special structure at heights of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 m. The collections were carried out from May to October 2020 in a glade with an area of 0.93 hectares in a deciduous forest. At the end of the research, 745 specimens of 80 species were registered from 30 Coleoptera families. The greatest species diversity was recorded in Nitidulidae (11 species), Cerambycidae (10 species), Scarabaeidae (7 species), Elateridae, Coccinellidae, and Curculionidae (5 species each). The greatest species diversity (53 species) and numerical abundance were obtained at a height of 2 m, and the smallest one (16 species) at a height of 10 m. The largest differences in the Jaccard similarity index were obtained between samples from a height of 2 and 10 m. The maximum values of the Shannon index and the minimum values of the Simpson index were recorded at the height of 2 m. The most significant relative number of saproxylic species was obtained at a height of 4 m. The relative number of anthophilic species was minimal at a height of 10 m. The seasonal dynamics of Coleoptera abundance were the same at different heights and the highest abundance was observed in late May and early June. However, the seasonal dynamics were different for some Coleoptera species in the glade located and inside the forest. Our data confirm the relevance of sampling in open biotopes at different heights in the study of arthropod biodiversity.

Background: The Phoridae are one of the most poorly studied families of Diptera insects in Russia. They are small flies that play an important role in ecosystems. Methods: This dataset presents the results of a study on Phoridae conducted between 2019 and 2024 in European Russia. The overall study area covered 400,000 km2. Results: A total of 16,265 specimens were reliably identified, representing 272 species and 22 genera from 180 localities. Of these, 2673 specimens were females (16.4%), while the remaining 83.6% were males. Conclusions: The genus Megaselia Rondani accounted for 200 species (73.5%) and 12,120 specimens (74.5%). Ten species were particularly common: Megaselia pusilla, M. angusta agg., Triphleba opaca, Diplonevra funebris, M. brevicostalis, M. plurispinulosa, M. flavicans, M. lutea, M. minuta, and M. lactipennis. The highest number of localities was recorded for M. angusta agg. (37.2%), M. flavicans (27.8%), and M. brevicostalis (25.0%). In terms of collection methods, the majority of both specimens and species were captured using Malaise traps and pan traps. The highest species richness and specimen abundance were recorded in floodplain habitats, steppified areas, and meadows. In contrast, forested sites showed lower species diversity and abundance.

Research on the Arthropoda distribution in temperate forest ecosystems has shown that communities are distributed vertically in unequal numbers. However, this issue still has research gaps in relation to the vertical stratification of Coleoptera in pine forests of the temperate zone. This study was conducted in the Republic of Mordovia situated in central part of European Russia. We used fermental traps to collect Coleoptera (the bait is fermenting beer with sugar and honey). The sampling was conducted from May to September 2021 in five sites of pine forests. One hundred and twenty-five species from 36 families were identified. The highest species richness was found in Nitidulidae and Cerambycidae (19 species each), Elateridae (13), Curculionidae (7) and Scarabaeidae (6). The highest number of species (84 species) was obtained at the height of 1.5 m, while the smallest species richness (44 species) was found at the height of 12.0 m. At the height of 12 m, we also registered the minimum number of specimens. Twenty-four species from 11 families were common to all the heights studied. Cryptarcha strigata and Glischrochilus grandis preferred heights of 3 and 1.5 m. Cryptarcha undata and Protaetia marmorata were more common at a height of 7 m with a frequency of 61.4–79.6% and 68.2–79.6%, respectively. The absolute number of saproxyl and anthophilic beetle species was higher in the ground layer and at the undergrowth level. These studies expand our understanding of the vertical distribution of beetles in pine forests of the temperate zone of European Russia.

Slugs are significant agricultural pests, causing extensive crop damage and economic losses. While chemical molluscicides are commonly used for control, concerns about their environmental impact have driven interest in alternative methods, including beer traps. This study evaluated the effectiveness of different beer types as attractants for slug trapping in field conditions over two consecutive years (2022–2023). Five types of beer—Union Lager, Paulaner Weissbier, BrewDog Punk IPA, Guinness Draught, and Chimay Blue—were tested alongside ethanol (10%) and a control treatment. The results demonstrated that Paulaner Weissbier and Union Lager were the most effective attractants, followed by Guinness Draught and Chimay Blue, while BrewDog Punk IPA had moderate effectiveness. Ethanol (10%) and the control treatment failed to attract slugs, confirming that volatile compounds, rather than alcohol alone, drive slug attraction. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed that Paulaner Weissbier contained high levels of isoamyl acetate and limonene, while Union Lager exhibited elevated ethyl esters, which likely contributed to their effectiveness. Environmental factors influenced slug activity, with higher temperatures correlating with increased slug capture rates, while precipitation had no significant effect. These findings highlight the role of fermentation-derived volatile compounds in slug attraction and suggest that optimizing beer traps based on beer composition and environmental conditions could improve their effectiveness as a non-chemical slug control method. Future research should explore the long-term stability of beer attractants, the potential of synthetic formulations, and alternative yeast-based attractants to enhance slug management strategies.

In conservation agriculture, slugs are considered significant pests and their monitoring is a key option in the integrated pest management framework. Together with molluscicide applications, predators such as ground beetles can offer a tool for slug control in the field. Through the evaluation of slug and ground beetle monitoring strategies, this work compared their presence in conventional and conservation agricultural plots. The invasive Deroceras invadens was the dominant slug species to occur in all sampling periods. Among Carabidae, Poecilus cupreus and Pterostichus melas were the most abundant species, and Bembidion spp., Brachinus spp., and Harpalus spp. were also common. Beer-baited pitfall traps, whatever their alcoholic content, caught more slugs and ground beetles than wooden boards used as shelters. Slugs were more abundant in conventional plots than in conservation plots, possibly due to the lower presence of natural enemies such as ground beetles. Despite possible impacts on Carabidae, beer-baited pitfall traps should be considered a useful tool for slug monitoring and for the planning of molluscicide applications. Soil management such as minimum- or no-tillage and the presence of cover crops are important elements influencing both slug and ground beetle presence, possibly playing a key role in the maintenance of natural enemy populations.