Peculiarities of the ecology of Molytinae and Hyperinae (Curculionidae, Coleoptera, Insecta) of the Verkhovynsky national park and adjacent territories

Abstract

The species composition and ecology of weevil beetles from the subfamilies Molytinae and Hyperinae (Curculionidae, Coleoptera, Insecta) of the Verkhovynsky National Nature Park and adjacent territories were studied. An areological analysis was conducted, the altitudinal gradient, features of ecology, trophic specialization, biotopic and ecotone distribution of the identified species were studied. The results of studies for 2002–2025 inclusive are presented. 27 species were identified, of which 2 species are new to the fauna of the Ukrainian Carpathians, 2 species are endemic to the Carpathians. The largest number of species was identified in mountain wet river meadows (15), the smallest in subalpine meadows (5). 8 of the 27 identified species of Molytinae and Hyperinae were found exclusively in one biotope. The studied biotopes differed significantly in the species complexes of Molytinae and Hyperinae. The most related species complexes of Molytinae and Hyperinae were dry mountain meadows on slopes (E) and the edge of the spruce virgin forest (D) (S = 72.73; K = 0.845). The least related were wet mountain river meadows (A) and spruce virgin forest (C) (S = 4.17; K = 0.080). An altitudinal gradient of the distribution of Molytinae and Hyperinae was found in the conditions of the Verkhovynsky National Park, but the negative linear correlation between the height of the stationary site and species richness was insignificant (ρ = - 0.564). It was found that the correlation between the species richness of Molytinae and Hyperinae and altitude is nonlinear, which is explained by the dependence of the species richness of Molytinae and Hyperinae primarily on floristic complexes - the presence of food plants for certain species of Molytinae and Hyperinae, and then on temperature factors. Of the 27 identified species of Molytinae and Hyperinae, 11 species have Eurasian range variants, 11 species have European range variants, 2 species have an endemic Carpathian range, 2 species have a subarctic range, and 1 species has a West Palearctic range.