ADAPTIVE POTENTIAL AND DECORATIVNESS OF BEARDED IRIS COLLECTIBLE VARIETIES IN THE INTRODUCTION TO THE CHERNOZEM ZONE

In the conditions of the Tambov region, the gene pool of the bearded iris of domestic and foreign breeding is studied. The collection of bearded iris is represented by varieties ('Snow White', 'Border Black', 'Guards', 'Count Tolstoy', 'Ancient Rome', etc.) of medium and late ('Cascade Springs', 'Green Quest', 'Gypsy Caravan', 'Spurna') flowering period. The duration of flowering of the studied varieties is from 7 to 11 days. The longest flowering period (10–11 days) is observed in varieties: 'Snow White', 'Guards', 'Count Tolstoy', 'Marshal Pokryshkin' and 'Gypsy Caravan'. The main disease of the bearded iris in the black earth region is rust (Puccinia iridis), the main pest is the bronze beetle (Cetonia aurata). Varieties with high decorative features with the largest flower diameter (up to 12.5 cm) and peduncle height (up to 90 cm) have been identified: 'Ancient Rome', 'Lilac Wreath', 'Cascade Springs', 'Gypsy Jewels', 'Stepping Out'. Varieties of bearded iris with a light color of the flower (from white to pale blue), severely damaged by a bronze beetle, were noted: 'Snow White' (pale blue), 'Belyanchik' (white), 'Kassandra' (white), etc. The most severe rust damage was observed on varieties of bearded iris with yellow flowers and its shades: 'Galatea' (bright yellow), 'Elf' (yellow-brown), 'Fiesta Time' (golden-amber), 'Invitation' (apricot). Recommendations are given for the introduction of the bearded iris culture in the landscaping of settlements and personal subsidiary farms.

On the identity of Sternosternus grouvellei Guillebeau, 1894 (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae, Phalacridae)

The genus Sternosternus Guillebeau, 1894 was described as an aberrant taxon of the family Phalacridae from Sumatra, based on the unique morphology of its meso- and metaventrite resembling those of Cetonia aurata Linnaeus, 1758 (Guillebeau 1894). It contained the single species, S. grouvellei Guillebeau, 1894, known from a single specimen. The identity of Sternosternus was long unclear, and nothing was published on the genus until Gimmel (2013) studied the type specimen and recognized it actually belonged to the family Hydrophilidae, likely being a member of the genus Dactylosternum Wollaston, 1854.

Scarabidae: Intermediate host for Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus

ltd. za kontrolu kvaliteta, Beograd KW Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus % coleopteras % swine's % epysootiology KR nema Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus infestation is parasitosis caused by Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus Adult forms parasite in small intestine of swine. Development of parasite is happening through intermediate hosts - coleopteras from Scarabaeidae family (Melolontha vulgaris, Cetonia aurata, Polyphilla fullo, Anomalia vitis etc). Infection begins when swines ingest infected coleopteras. Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus infestation is encountered in swines in extensive breeding, as well as in wild boars.

Freezing susceptibility and freezing tolerance in Palaearctic Cetoniidae (Coleoptera)

Insects have evolved various adaptations that allow them to survive adverse seasons. In terms of cold-hardiness, they may classically be divided into freezing-susceptible versus freezing-tolerant species. But this concept of two alternative cold-hardiness strategies is now amendable, and to better understand these adaptive mechanisms, it is of interest to study freezing resistance in taxonomically related insect species, i.e., belonging to the same family or to a group of closely related organisms sharing similar resources. Freezing susceptibility and freezing tolerance have previously been recorded in the larvae of species in the same guild of the family Cetoniidae, which mainly colonise wood mould in hollow trees. We compared freezing hardiness in five species of Cetoniidae, three species in the subfamily Trichiinae, Gnorimus nobilis (Linné), Trichius fasciatus (Linné), and Osmoderma eremita (Scopoli), and two species in the subfamily Cetoniinae, Cetonia aurata (Linné) and Cetonischema aeruginosa (Drury). Our results mainly show that two contrasting mechanisms are used during winter by third-instar larvae: those of the Trichiinae (apart from O. eremita) are probably characterized by year-round freezing susceptibility, and those of O. eremita and the Cetoniinae are probably distinguished by seasonal freezing susceptibility (summer) and seasonal freezing tolerance (winter). We question the current taxonomic position of the genus Osmoderma. Morphological, ecological, and behavioural arguments may be put forward to support the transfer of O. eremita from the Trichiinae to the Cetoniinae, and we stress that ecophysiological arguments, often neglected in this kind of taxonomic revision, must also be taken into account.