Dung-beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Aphodiinae, Scarabaeinae) feeding on faeces of steppe marmots (Rodentia, Sciuridae) in Middle Volga territory.

Background: In open terrestrial biomes of Holarctic realm, ground squirrels are recognised as keystone species inhabiting steppes. They shape the plant species composition and diversity and support a fauna of species associated with their burrows. Ground squirrels and associated dung-beetles are important elements of the steppe food webs, yet the trophic associations between species are still poorly studied.

Introduction to the study of chromosomal and reproductive patterns in Paraneoptera.

This paper opens the themed issue (a monograph) "Aberrant cytogenetic and reproductive patterns in the evolution of Paraneoptera", prepared by a Russian-Bulgarian research team on the basis of long-term collaborative studies. In this first part of the issue, we provide the basic introductory information, describe the material involved and the methods applied, and give terminology and nomenclature of used taxonomic names.