Composition and Ecological Structure of the Fauna of Litter and Soil True Bugs (Insecta, Heteroptera) in Kazakh Upland (Central Kazakhstan) Pine Forests

Abstract

We assessed true bugs among aboveground and soil inhabitants of four different biocoenoses of pine forests representing the intrazone flora and fauna areas of the Kazakh Upland. True bugs were collected from litter according to the methods of soil zoological studies. The results of a comparative analysis of the similarities and differences of the dominant and ecological structures of Heteroptera complexes of aboriginal and derived forest types are presented. Fourteen species and subspecies of three families were listed for the Central Kazakhstan region for the first time. Thespecies Eremocoris podagricus was not previously registered for the territory of Kazakhstan. Fifteen species (50%) were true aboveground inhabitants or live on grass, whereas other species use soil surfaces and ground litter as temporary habitats. Drymus brunneus and Eremocoris fenestratus play a key role in the structure and function of the true bug assemblages in the studied biotopes. The ecological success of typical forest and boreal inhabitants in biotopes of arid regions is explained by the relict nature of forests and ancient connections with the taiga zone of Western Siberia and the mountain forests of the Urals and Altai.