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The article reports on the first occurrence of the ectoparasitic genus Tropilaelaps in Russia. Tropilaelaps mites are known to damage honey bee brood and nests. The study found specimens of Tropilaelaps mercedesae in Western Siberia, Russia, which closely matched the incomplete description provided by previous researchers. The article highlights the need for further taxonomic analysis and emphasizes the importance of early detection and monitoring to mitigate the potential spread of Tropilaelaps mites. [Extracted from the article]

The multi-species associations of insects (symbiocenosis) in honey bee hives currently include more than 15 orders of Insecta. We present the results of studying the inquilines of bee hives in the south of Western Siberia. In the honeybee hives of this region 37 insect species from 8 orders (Dermaptera, Thysanoptera, Psocoptera, Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera) were identified. Inquiline insects were observed in 77% of hives in 81.5% of the studied apiaries. Coleoptera prevailed among the orders, accounting for 94% of observations. The overall eudominant was Cryptophagus scanicus (Linnaeus, 1758) (87.8%); the subdominants were Dermestes lardarius Linnaeus, 1758 and Contacyphon variabilis (Thunberg, 1787). The smallest number of insect species can be attributed to specific groups. These are C. scanicus, a detritophage that primarily feeds on mold fungi hyphae, but can also consume bee supplies; and Galleria melonella (Linnaeus, 1758), a widespread pest of bee colonies, that feeds on bee bread, honey, wax and bee brood. The facultative group includes detritophages, pollen- and honey-feeding species, that find suitable conditions for feeding and developing in beehives (Vespidae, Formicidae, etc.). Representatives of accidental group were the most diverse in species composition and type of nutrition but they were always individually found in hives. In total, 42 species of insects are currently recorded in the beehives of Western Siberia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporary ponds are specific freshwater habitats in which the characteristic fauna of aquatic organisms is formed. One of the large groups of invertebrates in temporary water bodies is water mites. In this work, water mites were studied in three different types of temporary ponds in the vicinity of the city of Tyumen, Western Siberia. The studies were carried out in two periods with a long time interval between them: in 2008–2010 and 2018–2019. In total, 33 species of water mites from 7 families were identified in the studied ponds. All ponds were dominated by vernal mite species typical for this type of water bodies. Also, they were characterized by similar seasonal dynamics of numbers. The species composition and the number of mites in different ponds varied, which is associated with different physicochemical parameters and the fauna of invertebrates, which served as food objects and hosts for the adults and larvae. Despite the small size and periodic drying of the ponds, the fauna of the mites inhabiting them has changed little over the long period of time that separates the studies. Only in one pond, which became permanent due to the rise of groundwater, significant changes in acarofauna were observed. Considering such constancy of the fauna of water mites of temporary ponds, they can be used as bioindicators of the ecological state of water bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]