Trophic relations and ecological niches of darkling beetles of the genus <i>Nalassus</i> Mulsant, 1854 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in the Caucasus and description of a new species from Abkhazia

Aim . To reveal mutual relations between species of the genus Nalassus in taxocenes and division ecological niches during cohabitation. Material Methods Observations collection adult beetles food objects were carried out 2020–2022 Dagestan, North Ossetia, Kabardino‐Balkaria, Karachay‐Cherkessia, Krasnodar Region (Russia) Abkhazia. The nutrition was observed directly nature at night with headlamps, some cases laboratory conditions using test cafeteria method. number per area counted on 100 × 4 m transects. number, sexual structure diurnal activity (feeding, copulation) pause 15 to 25 minutes. We measured temperature (the range from −4 +40°C) humidity 0 100%) by loggers every 7 Results New localities for seven known are presented. new N. ( Caucasonotus ) ritsanus M. Nabozhenko, sp. n. is described environs Ritsa Lake Abkhazia it compared other Abkhazian representatives subgenus revealed or added information about trophic eight genus; lichenophagy typical majority species; phytophagy saprophagy registered first time; algophagy fixed two species. sex micropopulations ranges air period imagoes analyzed. Conclusion most important perhaps only strategy reducing competition cohabitation Caucasus a specialization. An occupation open landscapes Caucasian did not play role subgeneric differentiation, but partially accompanied transition saprophagy.