On unusually high diversity of rhynchophorous beetles (Coleoptera, Curculionoidea) in steppe communties of the Northern Caucasus

摘要

About 400 species of angiosperms and 151 species from 6 families of rhynchophorous beetles (15% of the thynchophorous beetle fauna in the Northern Caucasus) were found in the area of less than 2 hectares with well-preserved steppe vegetation in the plain part of Stavropol Krai. The weevil fauna was examined for the first time on a great isolated area with steppe vegetation; its diversity turned to be very high, in spite of the considerable level of anthropogenic load an vegetation. The data obtained indicate a leading role of weevils in developing the diversity of phytophagous insects in the steppe. Investigation of small fragments of the preserved steppe communities on chernozem in the Ciscaucasian region makes it possible to reestablish, if to some extent, the appearance of indigenous biota.