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An extensive study of Neuropteroidea and Mecoptera collected in Krasnodar Region and the Republic of Adygea in 2018 allowed the discovery of new species for the regions and for Russia, clarification of the taxonomic affiliation of some dubious specimens, and establish wellfounded conclusions about the ecological preferences of species.Nine species of Neuroptera are recorded for the first time from the North-Western Caucasus (and the Caucasus as a whole); 13 species (mainly Coniopterygidae) are new for Krasnodar Region and 7 for Adygea. Two species of Neuroptera (Coniopteryx haematica McLachlan, 1868 and Chrysoperla mutata (McLachlan, 1898)) are recorded from Russia for the first time. The finding of the thermophilic species Chrysoperla mutata in the north of Krasnodar Region is especially noteworthy. This is northern-most known occurrence of the species. The occurrence of the chrysopid species Peyerimhoffina gracilis (Schneider, 1851) in Russia is reliably confirmed for the first time by specimens from Krasnodar Region and Adygea. A larva of Dendroleon pantherinus (Fabricius, 1787) was found in the fruiting body of a tinder fungus, a previously unknown habitat, expanding our understanding of the ecology of its preimaginal phase. In total, 72 species of Neuroptera are known now from the North-Western Caucasus, 52 from Krasnodar Region and 24 from Adygea. The occurrence of the raphidiopteran species Xanothostigma xanthostigma (Schummel, 1832) in Krasnodar Region is new. In total four species of the order are known now from the North-Western Caucasus. Megaloptera is represented in this region by two species. Sialis zhiltzovae Vshivkova, 1985 is recorded from Krasnodar Region, Adygea and from Russia for the first time. Data on the distribution (including altitudinal) and phenology of three species of the family Panorpidae (Mecoptera) are significantly updated. Panorpa connexa McLachlan, 1869 is recorded for the first time from the North-Western Caucasus, and P. similis Esben-Petersen, 1915 is recorded for the first time from Krasnodar Region

New faunistic data are reported on 32 species of Neuroptera, 2 species of Raphidioptera, and 3 species of Mecoptera from the North-Western Caucasus. Eight species of Neuroptera and Mecoptera are new for the Krasnodar Region, and five for Adygea. Night feeding of green lacewings Pseudomallada flavifrons, P. inornatus and Chrysoperla carnea on pollen or nectar of Inula flowers was observed. The most northern known locality of Dendroleon pantherinus in the Caucasus is established.

In the present paper we analysed in a historical perspective the formation of the key concepts concerning the military actions in the North-Western Caucasus of the 19th century in Russian, Turkish and Western historiography. We didn't set before ourselves the task to find out, “what really happened in the western North Caucasus”, but rather how actually “what happened in the western North Caucasus” is interpreted in different historiographical traditions. Our study has shown that Russian, Turkish and Western historiography on the North-Western Caucasus of the 19th century so strongly depends on local traditions that we can say about three separate historiographies. Current situation is noticeable for the development of Circassian ‘auto-historiography’ which is characterised by ethnocentrism and victimisation due to the trends of counter-history. In spite of interaction between Russian, Turkish and Western historiographies, each of them was formed according to own logic of development. Thus, the misunderstandings in the terminology on the North-Western Caucasus of the 19th century (in particular, with the term ‘Caucasian War’) lean on the differences of historiographical traditions leading to the conflicts of interpretations.

The paper presents the results of a study of the population of earthworms at three stages of after-felling succession of coniferous-deciduous forests in the North-West Caucasus (headwaters of the river Pshekha and headwaters of the river Belaya). Studies were conducted in three types of forest communities: the early stage – aspen-hornbeam-honeysuckle small herb forests, the intermediate stage – spruce-hornbeam small herb forests, the late stage – beech-fir dead cover forests. There are brown forest soils. It was shown that in the course of post-workout succession, significant transformations of the earthworm complex occur only at a late stage, where biomass worm increases significantly. Four morpho-ecological groups of Lumbricidae dwell only at a late stage in the old forest, despite the fact that at this stage the structure of ecological-cenotic groups of plants is simplified and oligodominant dead-cover communities with a predominance of boreal species are formed. Species of Lumbricidae with a сrimean- caucasian type of habitat (D. schmidti, D. mariupolensis) are dominated at all stages of forest succession. The demographic structure of the earthworm complex is stable in all types of forests and represented by different ontogenetic conditions with a significant predominance of juvenile worms – 65-78%.

В статье приведен анализ экспериментальных материалов, полученных на комплексном лесогидрологическом стационаре с постановкой активного эксперимента по ведению лесного хозяйства на малых водосборах. Показаны изменения элементов водного баланса горных склонов на малых (элементарных) водосборах в формации буковых лесов в связи с рубками, В результате 40-летних наблюдений за элементами лесных экосистем, которые были изменены в результате проведения рубок главного пользования, установлено, что все элементы экосистем подвержены динамике. На водосборах с котловинной и добровольно-выборочной рубками наблюдается тенденция к стабилизации водного баланса в сравнении с контрольным водосбором., The article provides an analysis of experimental material obtained at a complex forest-hydrological research station including a running experiment on forest management in small watersheds. Changes in the elements of the water balance of mountain slopes in small (elementary) catchments in the beech forest formation in connection with tree logging are shown. As a result of 40 years of observations of elements of forest ecosystems that have been changed as a result of felling operations, it has been found that all elements of ecosystems are susceptible in their dynamics. In watersheds with hollow and voluntary-selective felling, there is a tendency to stabilize the water balance in comparison with the control catchment area.

The transverse deep faults are inherent for the North-Western Caucasus. Their genesis can be explained by thermo-mechanical processes on the late geosyncline-orogenic stage of the geological evolution of the district. These processes include: the cooling of the upper core, thermal contraction of the rocks, appearance of tensile stresses and ruptures in the Earth’s crust. The calculations show that inner-core opening of the cracks is from 1 to 2 meters per 1 kilometer of axis line of the orogene. The dominance of the earthquakes with hypocenters at depths of 5-15 kilometers in the investigated region corresponds to its thermos-mechanical nature.

На примере поселения Суворовская поляна может быть рассмотрена традиция оседлости после распада Золотой Орды, закономерности урбанизации, преемственность городских культурных традиций в степи. Оно расположено на правобережье Кубани, в верхней части дельты, на границе степи и гор Северо-Западного Кавказа. Подъёмный материал состоит из ювелирных украшений, деталей одежды, бытовых предметов, торгового инвентаря, культовых предметов и монет. Интересны печати с арабской и армянской надписями. Торгово-ремесленное место активизировалось всякий раз с наступлением относительной стабильности. Это обычный пример распространения оседлости от периферии вглубь степи, преимущественно по речным путям.

Комплексные исследования многослойных стоянок каменного века, расположенных в предгорьях Северо-Западного Кавказа (Губское ущелье), позволили получить представительные коллекции археологических материалов конца верхнего палеолита, мезолита и энеолита, включающие каменный и костяной инвентарь, а также фаунистические остатки. В раннемезолитических и позднемезолитических слоях были зафиксированы крупные скопления раковин наземных брюхоногих моллюсков Helix sp. (виноградных улиток), которые, безусловно, были объектами собирательства и составляли значительную долю пищевого рациона первобытных сообществ. Находка крупных скоплений виноградных улиток сближает исследованные кавказские стоянки с целым кругом синхронных памятников Средиземноморья, Леванта и Загроса. Кроме пищевых ресурсов, на основании данных трасологии каменных орудий, микрохимического и ИКспектроскопического анализа микроостатков на поверхности каменных орудий было установлено, что древние обитатели Губского ущелья занимались сбором и обработкой различных растительных ресурсов, в том числе древесины, травянистых волокон, смол хвойных и плодовых растений с целью изготовления и крепления рукоятей, оправ и древков стрел. Из раковин речных моллюсков Theodoxus danubialis изготавливались украшения в виде бус или пронизок. Более 30 раковин этих моллюсков с намеренно пробитыми или просверленными отверстиями были найдены в самом нижнем слое пещеры Двойная., Complex studies of multi-layer Stone Age sites located in the foothills of the North-Western Caucasus (Gubs Gorge) made it possible to obtain fairly representative collections of archaeological materials including stone and bone artifacts and faunal remains, dating from the end of the Late Palaeolithic to Mesolithic and Eneolithic periods. Large concentrations of terrestrial gastropods Helix sp. shells were found in the Early and Late Mesolithic layers. These gastropods were the objects of collecting and probably composed a significant part of the primitive communities’ diet. Dvoinaya Cave and Chygai Rockshelter belong to series of synchronous Mediterranean, Levant and Zagros sites with large concentrations of grape snails in the late Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic layers. The data of the use-wear analysis of stone tools, micro-chemical and IR-spectroscopic analysis of the residues on the stone tools surfaces allow to conclude that the ancient inhabitants of the Gubs Gorge collected and processed various plant resources, including wood, grass fibers, resin of coniferous and fruit plants with the purpose of manufacturing and fastening of handles, frames and shafts of arrows. The river mollusks Theodoxus danubialis shells were used for making beads. More than 30 shells with punched or drilled holes were found in the lowest layer of the Dvoinaya Cave.

A review of the fauna of elongated water scavenger beetles (Hydrochidae) of the North-Western Caucasus is given. Five species are recorded: Hydrochus megaphallus Berge Henegouwen, 1988, H. elongatus (Schaller, 1783), H. ignicollis (Motschulsky, 1860), H. crenatus (Fabricius, 1792), H. roberti Shatrovskiy, 1993. Hydrochus megaphallus is new for the North Caucasus and Republic of Adygea (Russia). Zoogeographical characteristic of species and their bionomics are considered. A key to species of the family Hydrochidae of the North-Western Caucasus is given

This paper includes results on a study of montane forest ecosystems in the present-day climate change environment. We have worked out the principles and criteria for ecological monitoring of montane forest ecosystems. It is established that iconditions, the object of research, the basic requirements for ecological monitoring is a catchment. To assess the influence of forest vegetation (and, hence, forestry and recreation) on the slopes of the water balance and hydrological regime of streams it is proposed to use a tiered system of ranking watersheds. In order to obtain up-to-date information on the condition of montane forest ecosystems it is proposed to use GIS-technologies actively.