The taxonomic identification and a re-description of the problematic Meligethes longulus Schilsky, 1894 from eastern Turkey are presented. This species, belonging to the M. coracinus complex and known so far on the basis of a single immature holotype, was repeatedly confused in the past with other closely related taxa, thus introducing considerable instability in the nomenclature and taxonomy of the whole group, involving several distinct biological species throughout southern Europe and western Asia. The recent re-discovery of this species in eastern Turkey allowed M. longulus to be definitely identified as being an extremely rare and localized species, with larval stages strictly associated with the host-plant Matthiola odoratissima (Bieb.) R.Br. (Brassicaceae), in dry exposed terrigenous and sandy hill slopes of eastern Turkey. An updated key to the identification of both described and un-described members of the M. coracinus complex is also presented, and a rather isolated species of the M. coracinus complex from southern Turkey, M. cristofaroi n. sp., is described as new. A preliminary evolutionary scenario of the whole species--complex, based also on results from a companion molecular research, is finally discussed.

Lixus cardui is a successful biocontrol agent against scotch thistle already introduced to Australia. Lixus filiformis is a potential biocontrol agent for musk thistles in native distribution areas in the Palearctic. Mature larvae of both Lixus Fabricius species collected from Onopordum acanthium and Carduus nutans are described, illustrated and comparative remarks presented.

The xerophilous vegetation with characteristic insect assemblages is described in the main agricultural regions and native landscapes of Turkey. Long term intensive investigations documented vast biotic degradation of soil and vegetation (commonly referred to as desertification) by overgrazing, construction, recreation etc. Two main types of xeric landscape are under investigation: 1) natural highly specific deserts, semi-deserts, dry mountain slopes and screes; and 2) anthropogenic, newly emerged, floristically impoverished desertified areas. The presence of a multi-species insect assemblage on a xerophilous plant in certain area testifies its indigenous nature, whereas the absence of the specific consortium suggests recent plant invasion. The examples of the first case are the consortia of 3-6 species of Coleoptera, mainly Buprestidae, Chrysomelidae, and Curculionoidea, on some Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Ephedraceae (Ephedra spp.) and Polygonaceae (Calligonum polygonoides L.). Extreme examples of anthropogenic vegetation are overgrazed wormwood steppe and semidesert which lack usually diversified coleopterous consortia, including the most characteristic of this landscape, e.g., tenebrionids, and orthopterans. Rapid disappearance of the xerophilous complexes from the extraordinarily diversified and largely uninventoried Turkish biota makes preservation of the endangered plant and animal assemblages in different climatic zones of Turkey an urgent task. Bioindicator beetles and plantsKorotyaev et al.

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