Fauna of Orthopteroidea (Orthoptera, Dermaptera, Mantodea and Blattodea) of the National Park “Smolny”

. The species diversity of insects from the orders Orthoptera, Dermaptera, Mantodea and Blattodea in the National Park "Smolny" (Republic of Mordovia, Ichalki and Bolshoe Ignatovo districts) was studied. It consists of 44 species: Orthoptera (40), Dermaptera (1), Mantodea (1) and Blattodea (2). For the first time for the Republic of Mordovia, two species are noted – Isophya modesta and Oecanthus pellucens . The most common are Ectobius lapponicus, Chorthippus biguttulus, Euthystira brachyptera. Rare are species confined to areas with sparse herbage ( Chorthippus pullus, Dociostaurus brevicollis, Myrmeleotettix maculatus ), inhabitants of rich meadows and steppes ( Isophya modesta, Poecilimon intermedius, Stenobothrus lineatus ), and inhabitants of eutrophic swamps ( Conocephalus dorsalis, Stethophyma grossum ). Differences in the distribution of two species of cockroaches of the genus Ectobius, two species of grasshoppers of the tribe Chrysochraontini, and three species of bush-crickets (Platycleidini) are described.


Introduction
The superorder Orthopteroidea includes several insects similar in development and structure.The biological diversity of the four largest orders (Orthoptera, Dermaptera, Mantodea and Blattodea) from this group is more than 37,000 species [1].These orders include some singing insects, such as crickets and grasshoppers.Nevertheless, at the same time, among them many species actively reproduce and cause irreparable harm to agriculture, human stocks [2][3].However, many species from these orders lead a secretive lifestyle.Other species, with their activity and ability to disperse, break records for the distance of migrations.Thus, despite their not very significant species diversity, representatives of Orthoptera, Dermaptera, Mantodea and Blattodea play a significant role in human life, as well as in all ecosystems in temperate latitudes [4][5].
Protected areas (in particular, national parks) are at the center of global efforts to protect nature and control biodiversity loss.National parks are created to protect the ecological integrity of ecosystems and biodiversity; to limit the extensive exploitation of natural resources in the territory; to provide conditions for the development of ecological tourism and recreation [6][7][8].Thus, the issue of biodiversity conservation is of considerable importance in the creation of national parks.Often it is carried out using the zoning of national parks, where in some functional areas any human activity is excluded, while in other areas tourism and recreation are allowed [9].In recent years, human activities and climate change have put increasing pressure on the environment and natural resources.Deforestation, large-scale fires and other disasters, agricultural development, urbanization, habitat defragmentation and other types of anthropogenic activities leave little space for the existence of flora and fauna.Under these conditions, national parks and other protected areas are a kind of islands of wild nature and serve to replenish the gene pool of populations of many species of plants and animals [10][11][12][13].The aim of the study was to research the biodiversity of four families of the superorder Orthopteroidea.

Materials and methods
The National Park "Smolny" (NPS) is located in the Ichalki district and the Bolshoe Ignatovo district of the Republic of Mordovia (the center of European Russia).Its area is 363.85 km2.The main part of the territory is covered with forests.Oak and linden forests grow in the northern part.Basically, these are forests of secondary origin, which resumed their existence after significant cuttings.Pine forests and mixed forests grow on sandy soils in the southern and central parts.Pine forests are mostly 40-50 years old.In the southernmost part, close to the Alatyr River, broad-leaved forests, aspen and alder forests grow.There are few open spaces.Basically, these are glades of different sizes inside forests, the remains of human habitation, glades after fires and cuttings.In different parts of the NPS, there are continental (upland) meadows on the territory.Small in area floodplain meadows are located in the floodplains of the Alatyr River and small rivers.Also, open spaces of considerable length are located under power lines, under which shrubs and growing trees are removed [14].
The studies were carried out during April-September in 2008, 2009, 2017-2022.Orthopteroidea were caught using an entomological net.Some species were collected under fallen trees, in litter, in grass, on tree trunks, and in shrub foliage.Yellow plate trapping, light trapping, and trapping with beer and sugar bait were also used.Species identification was carried out by known determinants, as well as by the vocalization of males of singing species.
According to the number of localities, we divided the detected species into 4 categories of occurrence: 4occur almost everywhere -species with occurrence of at least ¾ of the occurrence of the most frequent species; 3 -occurrence from ¾ to 1/3 of the occurrence of the most frequent species; 2occurrence less than 1/3, but more than 1/20 of the occurrence of the most frequent species; 1species found in 1-2 localities (occurrence less than 1/20 of the occurrence of the most frequent species).

Results
A total of 3313 specimens of 44 species from four orders -Orthoptera, Dermaptera, Mantodea and Blattodeawere viewed and analyzed.The greatest species diversity was in the order Orthoptera -40 species, one species was found in the order Dermaptera, Mantodea, and two species in the order Blattodea ( Among Orthoptera, the most numerous family is Acrididae -21 species, Tettigonidae -13 species, Gryllidae -1 species, Gryllotalpidae -1 species, Tetrigidae -3 species from one genus. The group of species with the highest occurrence (category 4) includes three species (2 grasshoppers and 1 cockroach); 10 species (5 grasshoppers, 3 locusts, 1grounhopper, 1 cockroach) occur in a significant number of localities (category 3).In a small number of localities (category 2), 20 species from different systematic groups were observed.Only in 1-2 localities there are 11 species (4 grasshoppers, 1 cricket and 6 Orthoptera).

Discussion
Three species -Ectobius lapponicus, Chorthippus biguttulus, Euthystira brachypteraare almost ubiquitous in the National Park "Smolny".The reasons for this high occurrence are not the same.As a saprophage, Ectobius lapponicus can inhabit a variety of forest and edge biotopes, as well as meadows with a sufficient stock of rags.Chorthippus biguttulus is distinguished by good migratory abilities; therefore, it can be found far from biotopes, where it fully realizes its life cycle, and in meadows, it is a mass species that can exist in areas of different herbage density with the participation of cereals.Compared to other grasshoppers, it occurs as an adult for a long period of time during the year.Euthystira brachyptera is less mobile, but can feed on a wide variety of cereals and sedges, so it penetrates deep into the forest.
Category 3 (present in many localities throughout the park) includes one typical forest species (Ectobius sylvestris), one inhabitant of sparse forest areas and forest edges (Pholidoptera griseoaptera), as well as eurytopic inhabitants of habitats with a relatively dense and high motley-grass herbage, inhabiting both meadows and ruderal habitats along roads and glades (Decticus verrucivorus, Phaneroptera falcata, Roeseliana roeselii, Chorthippus apricarius, Pseudochorthippus parallelus).A definite exception in this group is Oedipoda caerulescens.In the forest belt, this species inhabits well-warmed habitats with sparse and low herbage [15].Its high occurrence on the territory of the national park can be explained both by its good migratory abilities and by its ability to exist in suitable habitats of a small area.A special place is occupied by Tetrix bipunctata, which prefers forest edges, but needs plant debris on the soil surface.
The reasons for the rarity (category 1) of Orthoptera in the National Park "Smolny" are diverse.1) Locusta migratoria and Calliptamus italicus are grasshoppers capable of forming a gregarious phase and long-distance migrations, probably not reproducing in the national park.2) Chorthippus pullus, Dociostaurus brevicollisinhabitants of areas with sparse herbage.Isophya modesta, Poecilimon intermedius are associated with meadow or steppe motley grasses, they keep on inflorescences and shoots of plants.Psophus stridulus, also connected with motley grasses trophically, but keeping on the soil surface and avoiding dense and high herbage, belongs to the same group.Conocephalus dorsalis is an inhabitant of eutrophic swamps and hygrophytic meadows, laying its eggs in shoots of large grasses.Oecanthus pellucens is a steppe species, recently spreading northward.The reasons for the rarity of Chorthippus albomarginatus are not yet clear.Category 2 species are also divided into several groups according to the biotopic preference and distribution pattern on the territory of the national park.Stenobothrus lineatus, which tends to forest-steppe and steppe, is distributed in the national park along the Alatyr and Kalysh Rivers and associated meadow areas.Myrmeleotettix maculatus, confined throughout the range to dry sandy areas with sparse herbage, distributed only along edges in the southern part of the park.Omocestus haemorrhoidalis also prefers relatively dry open areas, but is more flexible and is found in different parts of the national park.Gomphocerippus rufus inhabits mesophytic forest glades and edges.Omocestus viridulus inhabits moist cuttings and interior forest glades.Stethophyma grossum inhabits only eutrophic, highly herbaceous swamps.Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa and Tetrix subulata are confined to the banks of rivers and reservoirs.Mantis religiosa was first found in the NPS in 2017 on the southern border, in subsequent years its abundance and number of finds increased, and now occurs in various meadow habitats.
None of the identified species is globally or Europe-wide threatened, but some are of regional conservation interest.Psophus stridulus, a species associated with grasslands, experiences a decline in numbers throughout much of its range [16].Myrmeleotettix maculatus, as an inhabitant of areas with sparse herbage, which has a weak migratory ability, markedly reduces its numbers in many regions of Europe [17].Poecilimon intermedius also has a low migratory ability and is included in the Red Books of many regions of Russia.
For the first time in the Republic of Mordovia, two species are found -Isophya modesta and Oecanthus pellucens.The first species lives in forb-feather grass steppes, on the edges and glades of forests.In sunny weather, individuals stay on inflorescences of Compositae, Rubiaceae and other plants.It is recorded at the southern border of the NPS at the edge of the mixed forest.Oecanthus pellucens has been actively spreading to the north of European Russia in recent years.It is first recorded in the NPS in 2022.
Additionally, the materials of the work allow us to shed light on some features of the ecology of closely related species.Thus, of the two species of Blattodea Ectobius lapponicus, it was more often caught with beer baits (both males and females).Such baits were placed in the crowns of trees as well as at the level of shrubs.Therefore, it can be said that this species clearly prefers the tree-shrub layer.At the same time, Ectobius sylvestris was more often collected by netting over herbaceous plants and fell into soil traps.Unlike the previous species, this cockroach is much less common above the shrub layer and prefers the herbaceous and ground cover layers.This observation correlates with the known morphological differencestronger wing shortening in females of Ectobius sylvestris.
Among bush-crickets, Metrioptera brachyptera inhabits small intraforest glades and edges in the western and northern parts of the surveyed territory, Roeseliana roeselii stays along rivers in areas with tall herbage in different parts of the park, and Bicolorana bicolor along drier warmed areas in the southern and eastern parts of the park.The first species, which is considered the most vulnerable representative of this group [18], was found together with Roeseliana roeselii in only two localities and with Bicolorana bicolor in one locality.
The grasshoppers Chrysochraon dispar and Euthystira brachyptera are both characterized by early emergence of adults, the ability to consume a wide range of cereal and sedge species, and a close relationship with plants throughout their life cycle (they lay eggs in shoots).However, the first species is distributed only along the Alatyr River and its tributaries, in meadows and forest glades no more than 500 m away from more extensive woodless areas.This is probably due to more expressed sexual dimorphism and weaker dispersal abilities of females of this species.It is noteworthy that among females of Euthystira brachyptera a significant percentage of long-winged individuals (forma macroptera) was observed.

Conclusion
The National Park "Smolny", as a predominantly forest area, has a limited diversity of Orthopteroidea, and the vast majority of finds are widespread eurytopic species.However, with a low occurrence, representatives of various ecological groups remain on its territory, from inhabitants of dry areas with sparse herbage to eutrophic swamps and river banks, including species rare in many regions of Russia, as well as species characteristic of more southern natural zones.Although the fauna has been sufficiently identified, further research is needed to monitor the habitats of rare species and conservation practices aimed at maintaining the diversity of vegetation cover.

Table 1 .
Species diversity of Orthopteroidea in the National Park "Smolny".