Nemoral species of Lepidoptera (Insecta) in Siberia: a novel view on their history and the timing of their range disjunctions

Distributions in Siberia of nemorallepidopteran species, trophically or cenotically tied to broad-leaved (nemoral) forests or their phytocenotic derivates, display seven main types of range: Amphipalaearctic; Europe – West-Siberia – Far-East disjunctive; East-Europe – Altai – Far-East disjunctive; Altai – Far-East disjunctive; South-Siberia – Far-East; Transbaikalia – Far-East; Europe- Transuralia. An eastern origin can be traced for most of these species, with the exception of the last-mentioned type. According to palynological data, a continuous belt of broad-leaved forests was re-established during the Quaternary in North Eurasia at least twice: at the beginning of the Late Pleistocene and in the Middle Holocene. During the former the range of oak, as well as the fauna connected with it, was continuous through the Palaearctic. There is no reliable evidence for refuges of nemoral flora and fauna in Siberia during the last glaciation. We assume that the period since the Late Pleistocene (Kazantseva) Optimum (about 100,000-110,000 years) was sufficient for taxonomic divergence to species rank of western and eastern Palaearctic populations of Lepidoptera. During the Holocene climatic optimum the lepidopteran nemoral fauna could expand into a transpalaearctic distribution as a consequence of westward migration of eastern species due to an earlier optimum of broad-leaved forests in the eastern parts of Asia than in West Siberia and Eastern Europe. Disjunctive types of nemoral species range may have resulted from depletion of the forests with broad-leaved trees in Central Siberia during the Sub boreal period of the Holocene. Thus, they should not be dated to the late Pliocene - early Pleistocene, as was done earlier

Genetic integrity of four species of Leptidea (Pieridae, Lepidoptera) as sampled in sympatry in West Siberia

In southern West Siberia, as many as four Leptidea Billberg, 1820 species are present sympatrically: L. amurensis (Ménétriés, 1859), L. morsei (Ménétriés, 1859), L. sinapis (Linnaeus, 1758) and L. juvernica Williams, 1946. The two latter were recently recognised as nearly sibling species on morphological and molecular characters. Specimens intermediate as to their subtle diagnostic characters occurring in West Siberia and elsewhere were interpreted as resulted from limited introgression. This supposition was tested via populational morphological and molecular analysis of spring brood specimens of all the four species taken from a limited (4.5 × 0.2 km) area in the suburbs of Novosibirsk. The samples were analysed with respect to the genitalic morphology, external characters, three nuclear (CAD, H1 gene and ITS2) and one mitochondrial (COI) molecular markers, infection of the intracellular maternally inherited bacterial symbiont Wolbachia Hertig, 1836 and its wsp gene coding for a hypervariable surface protein. Interspecific variation of the nuclear CAD and ITS2 sequences and the mitochondrial COI gene in L. sinapis and L. juvernica turned out concordant. The absence of molecular evidence of introgression suggests genetic integrity of these two species and allows their reliable identification by molecular characters. The genitalic (lengths of the saccus and valva) and external characters (wing pattern) of males overlap in L. sinapis and L. juvernica, as identified by molecular markers and thus are not so helpful in actual species identification. Only the ductus bursae length showed no overlap and can be used for identification of females. The histone H1 gene appeared five times less variable over the four studied species than COI, and found to be identical in species L. sinapis and L. juvernica. Wolbachia infection was found in all studied species. We identified three wsp variants of Wolbachia: 1) wsp-10 allele in L. amurensis, L. sinapis, L. juvernica; 2) a very similar wsp-687 allele in L. sinapis; and 3) wsp-688, highly divergent to the previous ones, in L. morsei

Occasional photographic records of butterflies (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea) in Cambodia: 3, Pursat, Siem Reap, Preah Vihear and Stung Treng Provinces in western, north-western and northern Cambodia

Abstract The butterfly (Papilionoidea) fauna of Cambodia is very rich but too insufficiently studied. Results are presented of occasional photographic records of butterflies (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea) made in 2016–2019 (some also in 2006) along with studies on the Odonata fauna in 67 localities of western and northern provinces of Cambodia: Pursat, Siem Reap, Preah Vihear and Stung Treng. This paper completes the two previous communications of this series devoted to the south-western and eastern provinces of this country. In total, 162 identified and 13 provisionally identified species are listed; 22 species (Miletus ancon, Arhopala agrata, A. alesia, A. allata, A. ammonides, A. atrax, A. aurelia, A. moolaiana, A. silhetensis, Drupadia theda, Anthene licates, Prosotas aluta, Danaus chrysippus, Cirrochroa surya, Doleschallia bisaltide, Athyma ranga, Euthalia recta, Burara oedipodea, Hasora chromus, Pseudocoladenia dan, Koruthalaios sindu, Parnara ganga) are for the first time reported in literature for Cambodia. These and some problematic species are illustrated. Some misidentifications in the two first communications of the series are made; due to reidentification Arhopala camdana and Borbo cinnara are for the first time reported for Cambodia in literature

First data on Odonata of Prey Long Forest in Cambodian Lowland

Prey Long (Prey Lang) Forest is the largest remaining lowland rainforest in Indochina, shared by Stung Treng, Preah Vihear, Kampong Thom and Kratie Provinces of Cambodia, which has been persisted until present because of the lack of roads. It includes patches of unique evergreen swamp forests. Odonata of Prey Long forest, including Cheum Takong forest swamp, was briefly examined in December 2019, while the already deforested area was examined in June 2018. The former examination resulted in 40 species, the latter in 34 species, 60 species in total. Two species, Copera chantaburii Asahina, 1984 and Burmagomphus williamsoni Förster, 1914, are for the first time reported for Cambodia from the deforested area (Chey Saen District of Preah Vihear Province). The swamped forest of Cheum Takong provided 17 species, 5 of which were not found elsewhere in the considered area, 3 are rare and 4 generally Sondaic. Prey Long Forest should be re-examined in the rainy season soon after the road to Spong village is constructed

Odonata of the Cambodian coastal regions revisited : beginning of dry season in 2010

Results of the odonatological survey of the coastal SW regions of Cambodia on November 28 - December 11, 2001, are presented, including field notes, enumeration of all records by locality, discussion of interesting specimens and their taxonomy and of seasonality aspects. Fifteen (14 named) species have been added to the known fauna of Cambodia: Aristocypha fenestrella (Rambur, 1842), Rhinagrion viridatum Fraser, 1938, Lestes elatus Hagen in Selys, 1862, L. platystylus Rambur, 1842, Aciagrion tillyardi Laidlaw, 1919, Agriocnemis f. femina (Brauer, 1868), Archibasis viola Lieftinck, Ceriagrion calamineum Laidlaw, 1951, Mortonagrion aborense (Laidlaw, 1914), M. falcatum Lieftinck, 1934, Pseudagrion microcephalum (Rambur, 1842), 1948, Paragomphus capricornis (Förster, 1914), Hemicordulia undescr. spec., Macrodiplax cora (Brauer, 1867), Nannophya pygmaea Rambur, 1842, plus a provisionally identified Ceriagrion indochinense Asahina, 1976. The country list now achieves 106 named species (not counting Prodasineura verticalis sensu Asahina, 1983, C. indochinense and Hemicordulia sp.). Coeliccia megumii Asahina, 1984 is synonymised with C. kazukoae Asahina, 1984. The differences between Ceriagrion olivaceum Laidlaw, 1914 and C. calamineum Lieftinck, 1951 are discussed

A short survey of Odonata in Stung Treng Province in northern Cambodia in midsummer 2016

Results are presented of an odonatological survey of 23 localities in Thala Barivat District of Stung Treng Province, northern Cambodia, on July 26 – August 1, 2016. Most localities were situated in areas of open low deciduous dipterocarp forests on gravel soils, some at hillside areas of tall evergreen dipterocarp forest. The great Mekong River right bank was studied within 7 km downstream of its Nimith (Nimet, Khon Thai, Labak Koun, Khone Pha Pheng) Waterfall. In total, 55 species were found, of which 52 identified to species and three to genus. Two species, Gynacantha saltatrix Martin, 1909 and Macrogomphus matsukii Asahina, 1986, were recorded in Cambodia for the first time. Five obligatory lotic species were found at the Mekong River, namely Dysphaea gloriosa, Prodasineura coerulescens, Burmagomphus asahinai, Nychogomphus duaricus and Onychothemis testacea, including tenerals of P. coerulescens and B. asahinai. Most probably these species breed in the Mekong reach which is enriched with oxygen downstream of the great waterfall cascade

Ischnura foylei sp. nov. (Odonata, Coenagrionidae) from the highlands of Sumatra

Kosterin, Oleg E. (2015): Ischnura foylei sp. nov. (Odonata, Coenagrionidae) from the highlands of Sumatra. Zootaxa 4032 (2): 179-189, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4032.2.

Odonata briefly observed on the islands of Bali and Lombok, Lesser Sundas, Indonesia, in the late February 2014

In the second half of February 2014, Odonata were searched for nine days on Bali andfour days on Lombok, the western Lesser Sundas, Indonesia. One species, Orthetrum chrysishas been for the first time recorded for Bali and six species, Nosostictaemphyla, Idionyx murcia, Brachydiplax chalybea, Agrionoptera insignis, Neurothemisramburii, Rhyothemis phyllishave been for the first time recorded for Lombok. The previous lit-erature concerning the two islands is analysed. To the moment, 55 Odonata species (3 unidentified) are known for Bali and 39 for Lombok, although the actual faunas of both islands are supposed to be equally rich, and further studies on Lombok are necessary. Odonata faunas of Bali and Lombok mirror each other in respect of high shares,29 and 23%, of Odonata species ranging to the west and east of the two islands, respectively. Efficiency of Lombok Strait as a biogeographical boundary was estimated as high as 0.6, so Wallace Line is of importance for Odonata. Some diagnostic characters of N. emphyla, N. ramburii, R. phyllis phyllisand Procordulia sambawanaand a taxo-nomical situation around Prodasineura autumnalisand P. humeralis, which is not justified biogeographically, are discussed. Short notes on habitats and assemblages of Odonata are added

Odonata of the Cambodian coastal regions in late rainy season of 2011

Results of the odonatological survey of the coastal SW regions of Cambodia in August 12-28, 2011 are presented. Those include general notes on the Odonata fauna in late rainy season, enumeration of all records by locality, discussion of interesting specimens and their taxonomy, and notes on habitats and habits of some species. Of 87 named Odonata species encountered during the trip, 15 are reported for the first time for Cambodia, namely Aciagrion hisopa (Selys, 1876), Anax immaculifrons Rambur, 1842, Burmagomphus divaricatus Lieftinck, 1964, Gomphidictinus perakensis (Laidlaw, 1902), Merogomphus parvus (Kruger, 1899), Nepogomphus walli (Fraser, 1924), Idionyx thailandica Hamalainen, 1985, Macromia cupricincta Fraser, 1024, Macromia septima Martin, 1904, Macromidia rapida Martin, 1907, Agrionoptera insignis (Rambur, 1842), Lyriothemis elegantissima Selys, 1883, Onychothemis testacea Laidlaw, 1902, Orthetrum luzonicum (Brauer, 1868), Orthetrum testaceum (Burmeister, 1839). The country list now reaches 125 named species