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The exhaustion of the traditional raw material export model, which results in a growing dependence of the core economic industries on imported goods and components, makes it increasingly relevant to develop tools for finding promising areas of import substitution. The paper proposes a methodology for assessing imported commodity groups to identify the priority areas for import substitution in a region. The theoretical framework of the study includes comparative and competitive advantage theories, as well as the concepts of production concentration, clusters, and industrial complexes. The research methods of economic-statistical, structural analyses and clustering were applied. The statistical data were retrieved from the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation, the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat), and the Unified Interdepartmental Statistical Information System (EMISS). The proposed methodology was tested using the case of imports and exports in the Republic of Tatarstan in 2013–2021. We identified four key commodity clusters for import substitution, which account for more than 40 % of the region’s current imports, these are 1) the important localized import-dependent commodity groups a) having potential for import substitution in the region (tools, petroleum products), b) promising for import substitution in the RF (equipment and mechanical devices, furniture), as well as 2) the important non-specific import-dependent commodities a) having potential for import substitution (paints, electrical machines), and b) promising for import substitution (milk, clothing). The largest producers of the Republic of Tatarstan were identified for each cluster. Matrix modeling showed that some commodity groups are positioned in the area of the region’s low specialization, low localization and share of imports, which are typically grouped into three additional clusters that do not require enhanced policy on import substitution: growing import-dependent goods (grain, etc.), goods requiring no particular attention (silk, wool, etc.), and significant import-dependent goods (essential oils, etc.). The research findings can be used by regional ministries and departments when making strategic decisions on import substitution.

The Neuroptera of the pine Tanaika Forest in the Republic of Tatarstan were studied using five beer-and-sugar bait crown traps operated continuously from April 30 to October 1, 2021. The chrysopids Apertochrysa prasina and Chrysotropia ciliata clearly dominate among 1043 collected specimens (17 species). The number of species stenotopic for pines (Chrysopa dorsalis and Wesmaelius concinnus) is very low. The large number of Chrysopidae in this forest, normally characteristic of a deciduous forest, and the rarity of species characteristic of pines, can be explained by the fact that the traps mainly attract Neuroptera that feed at the imaginal stage on pollen and honeydews, whereas almost all species characteristic of pines are predators. In addition, the traps on pine trees were located at a relatively low height (4–5 m from the ground), so they attracted more specimens from the nearest deciduous trees and deciduous undergrowth than from pines, whose canopies are located much higher. Eleven species of Neuroptera are recorded from the Republic of Tatarstan for the first time; 32 species are now known from the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]