Dataset: Fauna of Adult Ground Beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) of the National Park “Smolny” (Russia)

Abstract

(1) Background: Protected areas are “hotspots” of biodiversity in many countries. In such areas, ecological systems are preserved in their natural state, which allows them to protect animal populations. In several protected areas, the Coleoptera biodiversity is studied as an integral part of the ecological monitoring of the ecosystem state. This study was aimed to describe the Carabidae fauna in one of the largest protected areas of European Russia, namely National Park “Smolny”. (2) Methods: The study was conducted in April–September 2008, 2009, 2017–2021. A variety of ways was used to collect beetles (by hand, caught in light traps, pitfall traps, and others). Seasonal dynamics of the beetle abundance were studied in various biotopes. Coordinates were fixed for each observation. (3) Results: The dataset contains 1994 occurrences. In total, 32,464 specimens of Carabidae have been studied. The dataset contains information about 131 species of Carabidae beetles. In this study, we have not found two species (Carabus estreicheri and Calathus ambiguus), previously reported in the fauna of National Park “Smolny”. (4) Conclusions: The Carabidae diversity in the National Park “Smolny” is represented by 133 species from 10 subfamilies. Ten species (Carabus cancellatus, Harpalus laevipes, Carabus hortensis, Pterostichus niger, Poecilus versicolor, Pterostichus melanarius, Carabus glabratus, Carabus granulatus, Carabus arvensis baschkiricus, Pterostichus oblongopunctatus) constitute the majority of the Carabidae fauna. Seasonal dynamics are maximal in spring; the number of ground beetles decreases in biotopes by autumn.

Dataset: Biodiversity of Ground Beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) of the Republic of Mordovia (Russia)

“…The Republic of Mordovia, occupying an intermediate position between the western and eastern regions of European Russia, is of great interest in faunal studies. Datasets were published earlier on the beetles of the largest protected natural areas, such as the Mordovia State Nature Reserve and National Park "Smolny" [37,38]. However, the diversity of the carabid fauna in this region is far from being limited to them.…”

Diversity and Biology of Terrestrial Orthopteroids (Insecta) in the Republic of Mordovia (Russia)

“…The next list was published in 2005 and included insect species known in the whole Republic of Mordovia [26]. Then, a list of insects of National Park "Smolny" was compiled in 2008 [27]. An updated list of orthopterans and mantids of Mordovia State Nature Reserve was published in 2018 [28].…”