Adephagan water beetles (Coleoptera: Haliplidae, Noteridae, Dytiscidae, Gyrinidae) of the northern part of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain

 

Oleg Brekhov, Johannes Bergsten & Anders N. Nilsson

 

The Volga is the largest river in Europe, with a catchment area of 1,360,000 km2 (Mordukhai-Boltovskoi 1979). The Lower Volga comprises the Saratov and Volgograd reservoirs, the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain and the Volga delta. The dam at the hydroelectric power station 10 km N of Volgograd is the lowest dam in the Volga, and just below the dam the Volga river changes its course and turns to the southeast, to its mouth. At this point the main channel has a side branch, the Akhtuba. This part of the valley is called the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain (Russian ‘poima’) (Fig. 1). Its length, to the delta in the Caspian Sea, is about 350 km, its width varies from 15 to 45 km, an area of approximately 7500 km2 (Fortunatov 1979).

 

The Volga-Akhtuba floodplain is the main remaining natural stretch of the Volga river, although its water regime has changed basically after the construction of the Volga reservoirs between 1930’s and 1950’s, causing seasonal redistribution of discharges. The natural high spring discharge is now less pronounced. The Volga-Akhtuba floodplain is split between the Volgograd and Astrakhan Provinces (Fig. 1). The northern part of the floodplain is located between Volgograd, Kapustin Yar and the village Staritsa (widest site of a valley up to Chernyy Yar of narrowing).

 

Together with the delta the floodplain form an independent geographical province, where natural conditions are very much different from those in the surrounding region. Its upper part crosses the steppe or semi-desert zone, and the lower part flows through the desert zone. It is a rather peculiar oasis; in spite of the very scarce rainfall it is covered with luxurious meadows, shrubs and extensive deciduous forests.

 

The flood-plain is intersected by streams running in various directions, together with a high number of oxbow lakes and ponds. The wetlands are annually filled up from inundation at the highest water level of the river. Many of the smaller wetlands subsequently dry up in late summer. This rich and complex wetland system is very important for the biodiversity of the region, when compared to the surrounding dry steppe environments.

 

A preliminary list of the aquatic adephagan beetles of the Lower Volga was given by Brekhov et al. (2000). The water beetles of the floodplain were studied in the years 1998-2001. Collecting was carried out at different seasons, focusing on the Srednyaya Akhtuba and Leninsk Districts in the northern part of the floodplain. The recorded species are listed below together with localities and number of specimens found on each occasion. Localities are named after the nearest villages. The Akhtubinsk District belongs to the Astrakhan Province, and all other districts belong to the Volgograd Province. B & N means that the specimens were collected by Bergsten and Nilsson.

 

Family Haliplidae

Peltodytes caesus (Duftschmid, 1805): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Sudomoyka river-arm 22.VI.99 1 ex., 10.X.99 2 ex., 22.IV.00 3 ex., 29.IV.00 1 ex., 14.V.00 1 ex., 21.V.00 3 ex., 04.VI.00 1 ex.; Tumak 23.V.99 1 ex.; Bulgakov 04.V.99 6 ex.; Repino 06.V.99 5 ex.; Veliky Oktaybr 06.V.99 1 ex.; Sarpinsky 17.VIII.00 1 ex.; Krasnoslobodsk 15.V.01 4 ex. B & N. - Leninsk District: Gornay Polana 02.V.99 1 ex.

Haliplus obliquus (Fabricius,  1787): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Sudomoyka river-arm 14.IX.00 2 ex.

Haliplus fluviatilis Aubé, 1836: Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Tumak 23.V.99 1 ex.

Haliplus furcatus Seidlitz, 1887: Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Krasnoslobodsk 15.V.01 2 ex. B & N.

Haliplus lineolatus Mannerheim, 1844: Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Sudomoyka river-arm 15.VII.99 1 ex., 22.VIII.99 1 ex., 19.IV.99 1 ex., 09.IV.99 1 ex.; Bulgakov 11.VII.98 1 ex. - Leninsk District: Pokrovka 12.VII.98 1 ex.

Haliplus ruficollis (De Geer, 1774): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Sudomoyka river-arm 09.IV.99 5 ex., 19.IV.99 6 ex., 15.VII.99 12 ex., 22.VIII.99 5 ex., 10.X.99 41 ex.; Tumak 23.V.99 6 ex., 20.VI.99 13 ex.; Chapaevez 06.V.99 2 ex.; Bulgakov 04.V.99 4 ex.; Repino 06.V.99 5 ex.; Veliky Oktaybr 06.V.99 2 ex.; Krasnoslobodsk 15.V.01 19 ex. B & N.

Haliplus angusi Van Vondel, 1991: Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Krasnoslobodsk 15.V.01 1 ex. B & N. - Akhtubinsk District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 7 ex. B & N, 13.V.01 7 ex. B & N.

Haliplus flavicollis Sturm, 1834: Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Bulgakov 04.V.99 1 ex.; Veliky Oktaybr 06.V.99 2 ex.

Haliplus fulvus (Fabricius, 1801): Akhtubinsk District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 1 ex. B & N.

Haliplus maculatus Motschulsky, 1860: Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Tumak 23.V.99 1 ex.; Sudomoyka river-arm 22.IV.00 2 ex. - Akhtubinsk District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 12 ex. B & N, 13.V.01 3 ex. B & N.

 

Famyli Noteridae

Noterus clavicornis (De Geer, 1774): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Sudomoyka river-arm 04.VI.00 3 ex., 02.VII.00 1 ex., 22.IV.00 1 ex., Krasnoslobodsk 22.IV.00 4 ex., 29.IV.00 12 ex., 14.V.00 5 ex., 04.VI.00 19 ex., 02.VII.00 2 ex., 11.VIII.00 17 ex., 14.IX.00 6 ex., 22.IV.01 7 ex., 15.V.01 1 ex. B & N, 19.V.01 2 ex.; Sarpinsky 17.VIII.00 14 ex.; Tumak 23.V.99 32 ex., 20.VI.99 13 ex.; Chapaevez 06.V.99 20 ex.; Bulgakov 04.V.99 10 ex.; Veliky Oktaybr 06.V.99 1 ex. - Leninsk District: Gornay Polana 02.V.99 3 ex. - Akhtubinsk District: Pirogovka 13.V.01 1 ex. B & N.

Noterus crassicornis (O.F.Müller, 1776): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Sudomoyka river-arm 04.VI.00 2 ex.; Krasnoslobodsk 29.IV.00 2 ex., 21.V.00 15 ex., 22.IV.01 66 ex., 29.IV.01. 20 ex., 15.V.01 14 ex. B & N, 19.V.01 35 ex.; Sarpinsky 17.VIII.00 3 ex.; Tumak 23.V.99 8 ex., 20.VI.99 9 ex.; Chapaevez 06.V.99 5 ex.; Bulgakov 04.V.99 1 ex.; Repino 06.V.99 2 ex.; Veliky Oktaybr 06.V.99 2 ex. - Leninsk District: Gornay Polana 02.V.99 1 ex.

 

Family Dytiscidae

Agabus amoenus Solsky, 1874: Akhtubinsk District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 3 ex., 5 ex. B & N, 13.V.01 1 ex. B & N.

Agabus labiatus (Brahm, 1791): Akhtubinsk District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 3 ex. B & N.

Agabus lineatus Gebler, 1848 (= A. desertorum F. Morawitz, 1863): Sredneakhtubinsky District: Krasnoslobodsk 15.V.01 1 ex. B & N. - Akhtubinsk District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 1 ex., 1 ex. B & N, 13.V.01 1 ex. B & N.

Ilybius fenestratus (Fabricius, 1781): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Krasnoslobodsk 15.V.01 1 ex. B & N.

Ilybius satunini (Zaitzev, 1913): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Krasnoslobodsk 29.IV.01 1 ex., 15.V.01 74 ex. B & N, 19.V.01 1 ex.; Novenkyi 18.VI.01 7 ex. - Leninsk District: Pokrovka 20.VI.01 5 ex.

Ilybius subaeneus Erichson, 1837: Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Krasnoslobodsk 15.V.01 2 ex. B & N, 19.V.01 2 ex.

Colymbetes fuscus (Linnaeus, 1758): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Krasnoslobodsk 21.V.00 2 ex., 15.V.01 1 ex. B & N. - Akhtubinsk District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 11 ex., 36 ex. B & N, 13.V.01 3 ex. B & N.

Colymbetes striatus (Linnaeus, 1758): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Sudomoyka river-arm 10.X.99 1 ex.; Novenkyi 18.VI.01 1 ex.; Krasnoslobodsk 15.V.01 1 ex. B & N. - Leninsk District: Pokrovka 20.VI.01 1 ex.

Rhantus bistriatus (Bergsträsser, 1778): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Bulgakov 04.V.99 1 ex.; Krasnoslobodsk 14.V.00 1 ex., 15.V.01 7 ex. B & N. - Leninsk District: Pokrovka 20.VI.01 2 ex. - Akhtubinsk District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 2 ex., 9 ex. B & N, 13.V.01 29 ex. B & N.

Rhantus consputus (Sturm, 1834): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Krasnoslobodsk 15.V.01 14 ex. B & N; Novenkyi 18.VI.01 5 ex.; Tumak 23.V.99 1 ex.

Rhantus frontalis (Marsham, 1802): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Novenkyi 18.VI.01 1 ex.; Bulgakov 04.V.99 1 ex.; Veliky Oktaybr 06.V.99 2 ex.; Krasnoslobodsk 21.V.00 1 ex., 04.VI.00 1 ex., 15.V.01 2 ex. B & N. - Akhtubinsk District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 1 ex., 5 ex. B & N, 13.V.01 1 ex. B & N.

Rhantus latitans Sharp, 1880: Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Sudomoyka river-arm 09.VI.99 2 ex.; Chapaevez 06.V.99 1 ex.; Novenkyi 18.VI.01 8 ex.; Bulgakov 04.V.99 1 ex.; Veliky Oktaybr 06.V.99 1 ex.; Krasnoslobodsk 15.V.01 5 ex. B & N. - Leninsk District: Gornay Polana 02.V.99 1 ex. - Akhtubinsk District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 1 ex., 13.V.01 1 ex. B & N.

Rhantus suturalis  (MacLeay, 1825): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Chapaevez 06.V.99 1 ex.; Novenkyi 18.VI.01 14 ex.; Krasnoslobodsk 15.V.01 4 ex. B & N. - Akhtubinsk District: Pirogovka 13.V.01 1 ex. B & N.

Copelatus haemorrhoidalis (Fabricius, 1787): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Krasnoslobodsk 14.V.00 2 ex., 15.V.01 8 ex. B & N, 21.V.00 2 ex., 04.VI.00 37 ex., 02.VII.00 3 ex., 11.VIII.00 24 ex., 14.IX.00 17 ex.; Sarpinsky 17.VIII.00 32 ex.

Acilius canaliculatus (Nicolai, 1821): Sredneakhtubinsky District: Krasnoslobodsk 15.V.01 1 ex. B & N.

Acilius sulcatus (Linnaeus, 1758): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Krasnoslobodsk 22.IV.00 2 ex., 29.IV.00 3 ex., 14.V.00 2 ex., 21.V.00 11 ex., 04.VI.00 19 ex., 02.VII.00 3 ex., 11.VIII.00 24 ex., 14.IX.00 17 ex., 22.IV.01 2 ex., 15.V.01 6 ex. B & N, 21.IX.01 2 ex.; Sarpinsky 17.VIII.00 32 ex., 01.VIII.01 1 ex.

Graphoderus austriacus (Sturm, 1834): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Tumak 20.VI.99 1 ex.; Repino 06.V.99 1 ex.; Krasnoslobodsk 29.IV.00 1 ex., 21.V.00 1 ex., 04.VI.00 3 ex., 15.V.01 1 ex. B & N; Novenkyi 18.VI.01 1 ex. - Akhtubinsk District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 3 ex., 5 ex. B & N, 13.V.01 11 ex. B & N.

Graphoderus bilineatus (De Geer, 1774): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Sudomoyka river-arm 15.VII.99 2 ex.; Tumak 23.V.99 1 ex.; Sarpinsky 01.VIII.01 1 ex.; Krasnoslobodsk 15.V.01 1 ex. B & N.

Graphoderus cinereus (Linnaeus, 1758): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Tumak 23.V.99 1 ex.; Krasnoslobodsk 14.V.00 1 ex., 22.IV.01 1 ex., 15.V.01 10 ex. B & N, 19.V.01 3 ex.; Sarpinsky 17.VIII.00 7 ex.

Cybister lateralimarginalis (De Geer, 1774): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Tumak 23.V.99 2 ex.; Chapaevez 06.V.99 1 ex.; Bulgakov 04.V.99 1 ex.; Repino 06.V.99 1 ex.; Veliky Oktaybr 06.V.99 5 ex.; Sudomoyka river-arm 22.IV.00 2 ex.; Krasnoslobodsk 22.IV.00 1 ex., 29.IV.00 1 ex., 14.V.00 1 ex., 04.VI.00 5 ex., 15.V.01 2 ex. B & N, 21.IX.01 1 ex. - Akhtubinsk District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 1 ex.

Dytiscus thianschanicus (Gschwendtner, 1923): Leninsk District: Leninsk 14.VII.98 1 ex. - Astrakhan District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 2 ex. B & N, 13.V.01 4 ex. B & N.

Hydaticus grammicus (Germar, 1830): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Chapaevez 06.V.99 2 ex.; Krasnoslobodsk 15.V.01 1 ex. B & N, 19.V.01 1 ex.; Novenkyi 18.VI.01 1 ex. - Leninsk District: Pokrovka 20.VI.01 3 ex. - Akhtubinsk District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 2 ex. B & N, 13.V.01 1 ex. B & N.

Hydaticus seminiger (De Geer, 1774): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Veliky Oktaybr 06.V.99 1 ex.; Krasnoslobodsk 15.V.01 6 ex. B & N.

Hydaticus transversalis (Pontoppidan, 1763): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Krasnoslobodsk 14.V.00 1 ex., 22.IV.01 1 ex., 15.V.01 3 ex. B & N, 19.V.01 1 ex.; Sarpinsky 17.VIII.00 1 ex.

Bidessus nasutus Sharp, 1887: Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Krasnoslobodsk 15.V.01 2 ex. B & N. - Akhtubinsk District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 1 ex., 13.V.01 2 ex. B & N.

Bidessus unistriatus (Goeze, 1777): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Tumak 23.V.99 1 ex.; Chapaevez 06.V.99 3 ex.; Bulgakov 04.V.99 3 ex. - Leninsk District: Gornay Polana 02.V.99 6 ex. - Astrakhan District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 1 ex. B & N; Vayzovka 17.VII.99 2 ex.

Hydroglyphus geminus  (Fabricius, 1792): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Sudomoyka river-arm 19.IV.99 1 ex., 04.VI.00 1 ex., 22.IV.01 1 ex.; Krasnoslobodsk 04.VI.00 2 ex., 29.IV.01 1 ex.; Novenkyi 18.VI.01 1 ex. - Akhtubinsk District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 1 ex.

Graptodytes bilineatus (Sturm, 1835): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Sudomoyka river-arm 02.VII.00 1 ex.; Tumak 23.V.99 1 ex.; Chapaevez 06.V.99 2 ex.; Krasnoslobodsk 02.VII.00 1 ex., 15.V.01 7 ex. B & N, 21.IX.01 1 ex.; Sarpinsky 17.VIII.00 1 ex., 01.VIII.01 1 ex. - Akhtubinsk District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 2 ex. B & N, 13.V.01 1 ex. B & N.

Hydroporus angustatus Sturm, 1835: Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Sudomoyka river-arm 10.X.99 1 ex.; Tumak 23.V.99 4 ex.; Chapaevez 06.V.99 2 ex.; Repino 06.V.99 2 ex.; Krasnoslobodsk  04.VI.00 2 ex., 02.VII.00 1 ex., 15.V.01 1 ex. B & N.

Hydroporus fuscipennis Schaum, 1868: Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Krasnoslobodsk 15.V.01 1 ex. B & N.

Hydroporus palustris (Linnaeus, 1761): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Krasnoslobodsk 15.V.01 23 ex. B & N; Tumak 20.VI.99 4 ex.

Hydroporus planus (Fabricius, 1781): Akhtubinsk District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 2 ex., 2 ex. B & N, 13.V.01 2 ex. B & N.

Hydroporus striola (Gyllenhal, 1826): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Tumak 23.V.99 1 ex.

Porhydrus lineatus (Fabricius, 1775): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Chapaevez 06.V.99 2 ex.; Bulgakov 04.V.99 2 ex.

Porhydrus obliquesignatus (Bielz, 1852): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Sudomoyka river-arm 10.X.99 6 ex., 22.IV.01 1 ex.; Tumak 23.V.99 1 ex.; Krasnoslobodsk 21.V.00 2 ex., 22.IV.01 8 ex., 29.IV.01 1 9  ex. 19.V.01 1 ex., 21.IX.01 1 ex.; Sarpinsky 17.VIII.00 6 ex., 01.VIII.01 99 ex.

Hydrovatus cuspidatus (Kunze, 1818): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Krasnoslobodsk 15.V.01 1 ex. B & N. - Akhtubinsk District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 1 ex. B & N.

Hygrotus corpulentus (Schaum, 1864): Astrakhan District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 8 ex. B & N.

Hygrotus impressopunctatus (Schaller, 1783): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Sudomoyka river-arm 09.VI.99 2 ex., 22.VI.99 1 ex., 15.VII.99 1 ex., 02.VII.00 2 ex., 22.IV.01 1 ex.; Novenkyi 18.VI.01 15 ex.; Veliky Oktaybr 06.V.99 1 ex.; Krasnoslobodsk 02.VII.00 1 ex., 15.V.01 22 ex. B & N. - Akhtubinsk District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 1 ex., 7 ex. B & N, 13.V.01 1 ex. B & N.

Hygrotus inaequalis (Fabricius, 1777): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Sudomoyka river-arm 09.VI.99 1 ex., 10.X.99 4 ex., 22.IV.01 2 ex.; Chapaevez 06.V.99 4 ex.; Krasnoslobodsk 29.IV.00 1 ex., 02.VII.00 1 ex., 22.IV.01 3 ex., 15.V.01 7 ex. B & N, 19.V.01 2 ex., 21.IX.01 7 ex.; Sarpinsky 17.VIII.00 1 ex.

Hygrotus marklini (Gyllenhal, 1813): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Novenkyi 18.VI.01 1 ex.; Krasnoslobodsk 19.VI.01 2 ex.

Hygrotus parallellogrammus (Ahrens, 1812): Akhtubinsk District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 12 ex., 8 ex. B & N, 13.V.01 12 ex. B & N.

Hygrotus saginatus (Schaum, 1857): Akhtubinsk District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 2 ex. B & N.

Hygrotus versicolor (Schaller, 1783): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Sudomoyka river-arm 09.IV.99 1 ex., 14.IX.00 1 ex.

Hyphydrus ovatus (Linnaeus, 1761): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Sudomoyka river-arm 22.IV.00 1 ex.; Krasnoslobodsk 22.IV.00 1 ex., 14.V.00 1 ex., 21.V.00 3 ex., 04.VI.00 4 ex., 02.VII.00 2 ex., 14.IX.00 2 ex., 22.IV.01 49 ex., 15.V.01 11 ex. B & N, 19.V.01 1 ex.; Novenkyi 18.VI.01 1 ex.; Sarpinsky 17.VIII.00 1 ex.; Bulgakov 04.V.99 2 ex. - Leninsk District: Gornay Polana 02.V.99 2 ex.

Laccophilus hyalinus (De Geer, 1774): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Sudomoyka river-arm 04.VI.00 3 ex., 14.IX.00 1 ex., 22.IV.01 9 ex.; Krasnoslobodsk 22.IV.01 1 ex.

Laccophilus minutus (Linnaeus, 1758): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Sudomoyka river-arm 19.IV.99 3 ex., 28.V.99 1 ex., 22.VI.99 1 ex., 15.VII.99 1 ex., 10.X.99 2 ex., 22.IV.00 1 ex.; Krasnoslobodsk 14.V.00 1 ex., 21.V.00 4 ex., 04.VI.00 1 ex., 02.VII.00 1 ex., 14.IX.00 1 ex., 15.V.01 6 ex. B & N; Sarpinsky 17.VIII.00 6 ex., 01.VIII.01 1 ex.; Chapaevez 06.V.99 1 ex.; Veliky Oktaybr 06.V.99 1 ex.; Novenkyi 18.VI.01 2 ex. - Akhtubinsk District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 1 ex.

Laccophilus poecilus Klug, 1834: Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Sudomoyka river-arm 28.V.99 18 ex., 09.VI.99 11 ex., 22.VI.99 2 ex., 15.VII.99 30 ex., 10.X.99 18 ex., 04.VI.00 37 ex., 02.VII.00 1 ex., 14.IX.00 9 ex., 22.IV.01 20 ex.; Krasnoslobodsk 29.IV.00 2 ex., 14.V.00 5 ex., 21.V.00 14 ex., 04.VI.00 37 ex., 02.VII.00 3 ex., 11.VIII.00 24 ex., 14.IX.00 17 ex., 22.IV.01 10 ex., 29.IV.01 1 ex., 15.V.01 18 ex. B & N, 19.V.01. 12 ex., 21.IX.01 21 ex.; Novenkyi 18.VI.01 12 ex.; Sarpinsky 17.VIII.00 32 ex.; Tumak 23.V.99 75 ex., 20.VI.99 50 ex.; Chapaevez 06.V.99 136 ex.; Bulgakov 04.V.99 29 ex.; Repino 06.V.99 26 ex.; Veliky Oktaybr 06.V.99 6 ex. - Leninsk District: Gornay Polana 02.V.99 16 ex. - Akhtubinsk District: Pirogovka 12.V.01 1 ex., 2 ex. B & N.

 

Family Gyrinidae

Gyrinus marinus Gyllenhal, 1808: Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Sudomoyka river-arm 10.X.99 4 ex.; Bulgakov 11.VII.98 8 ex., 04.V.99 5 ex.     

Gyrinus natator (Linnaeus, 1758): Srednyaya Akhtuba District: Krasnoslobodsk 21.V.00 1 ex.

 

Discussion

The water beetle fauna of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain has a species composition typical for temperate Europe. However, the more eastern steppe fauna is also represented by species such as: Haliplus angusi, H. maculatus, Agabus amoenus, A. lineatus, D. thianschanicus, Bidessus nasutus, and Hygrotus corpulentus. Previous records of some species from the studied region may have to be revised. It seems that Haliplus angusi replaces H. variegatus Sturm in the floodplain and the surrounding steppe region. As H. angusi previously was known only from Siberia (Vondel 1991), our records are the first ones from Europe. As we have not been able to confirm the presence of Ilybius neglectus (Erichson), previous records of this species most likely represents I. satunini (Zaitzev) (Fery & Nilsson 1993), or an undescribed species close to A. satunini. Based on the differences in shape of male genitalia documented by Roughley (1990), Dytiscus thianschanicus is seemingly replacing D. circumflexus Fabricius in the floodplain and the surrounding steppe region.

 

Acknowledgements

We thank Bernhard van Vondel, Henrik Ido Ambacht, for identifying the haliplids collected by Bergsten & Nilsson.

 

References

Brekhov O., Komarov E.V., Kalyuzhnaya N.S. & Fedorov D.V. 2000: Water beetle fauna (Coleoptera: Haliplidae, Noteridae, Dytiscidae, Gyrinidae) of the Lower Volga Region, pp. 104-113. In: Shestakova A.V. (Ed.). Biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems of the southeast part of European Russia. Part 1. Volgograd: Izd-vo VolGU, 216 pp.

Fery H. & Nilsson A.N. 1993: A revision of the Agabus chalconatus- and erichsoni-groups (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae), with a proposed phylogeny. Entomologica Scandinavica 24: 79-108.

Fortunatov M.A. 1979: Physical geography of the Volga basin, pp. 1-29. In: Mordukhai-Boltovskoi Ph. D. (Ed.). The River Volga and its life. The Hague: Dr W. Junk Publishers, 473 pp.

Mordukhai-Boltovskoi Ph. D. (Ed.). 1979: The River Volga and its life. The Hague: Dr W. Junk Publishers, 473 pp.

Roughley R.E. 1990: A systematic revision of species of Dytiscus Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae). Part 1. Classification based on adult stage. Quaestiones Entomologicae 26: 383-557.

Vondel B.J. van. 1991: Revision of the Palaearctic species of Haliplus subgenus Liaphlus Guignot (Coleoptera: Haliplidae). Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 134: 75-144.

 

Legends

Fig. 1. Map of northern part of Volga-Akhtuba floodplain. Hatched line separates the Volgograd and Astrakhan Provinces.

 

Authors’ addresses:

Oleg Brekhov,

Johannes Bergsten, Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, University of Umeå, S-901 87 Umeå, Sweden.

Anders N. Nilsson, Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of Umeå, S-901 87 Umeå, Sweden.