Fauna and biotopic distribution of weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) of the Zhiguli State Nature Reserve, Russia

Curculionoidea (hereinafter – weevils) comprises the largest group of phytophagous beetles. They are an integral component terrestrial and freshwater communities associated with a wide range plants. Therefore, weevils can serve as one model taxa for assessing diversity specificity biota, including those in Protected Areas various ranks. This article is based on results original studies (in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2021) critical review literature sources. The species composition was identified, characteristics weevil fauna Zhiguli State Nature Reserve (Samara Region, Russia) carried out. characterised by very high richness considerable originality. As result research, 355 from five families this were identified. Of these, 66 recorded first time Reserve, 52 that Samara Region. In terms number species, studied considerably exceeds similar faunas forest-steppe Southern Urals twice rich southern steppe Orenburg It complex composition, which caused sympatry European, Siberian Kazakh-Turanian (including narrow endemics River Volga Region heterogeneous relicts), steppe, nemoral boreal forms study area. we distinguished complexes forb-feather-grass steppes (120 species) petrophytic (113 species), broad-leaved (117 pine (97 forests, floodplain islands (92 well ruderal habitats (126 species). Trophically specialised plants 34 families. found Fabaceae (66 Asteraceae (39 Brassicaceae (27 general, be considered reference Upland, confirms its great importance preservation natural ecosystems Middle