Findings of insects on the territory of Rzhyshchiv city amalgamated territorial community (CATC) in 2020-2021 and earlier years

Study Extent

The dataset consists of data collected within the territory of Rzhyshchiv city amalgamated community (CATC) during field studies in the 2020-2021 period. Dataset also has separate registrations of insects found in earlier years by the authors.

Sampling

Lepidoptera. Collection of lepidopterological material was performed according to generally accepted methods in lepidopterological research. First of all, by attracting adults to artificial light sources - at night and with the help of an aerial entomological net - during the day. At the same time, visual observations and photo-fixation were carried out. In the case of species that are difficult to identify by external morphological features, resorted to the making of preparations of genital structures, on the basis of which the species determination was made. Diptera (Sciaridae). During a comprehensive expedition on inventarization of the biodiversity of Rzhyshchiv CATC, which took place on June 21-24, 2020, material was collected from 8 test plots by unaccounted mowing with entomological netting for hortobia (grass and shrub station), herpetobium (biogeogorizon, situated above the ground floor), tambonium (bush crown station) and dendrobium (tree crown biogeohorizon). Sciaridae imago caught with a net were taken in an exhauster, sprinkled with ethyl acetate and fixed with 70% ethyl alcohol in 5 ml tubes. In the laboratory, females and males of sciarids were taken from the fixed material, females were counted without identification and left in fixed samples, and males were dehydrated with absolute ethanol and mounted in Euparal as permanent micropreparations. Morphological features of adult males were studied using MBS-9 and Biolam D11 microscopes equipped with a Nikon D90 camera. All researched samples are stored in the private collection of the author - Andriy Babytskiy’s private collection, Kyiv (PABK). Diptera (Agromyzidae). During the warm season 2021, four expeditions were made: May 21–25, June 22–25, July 20–23, and August 28–29. The following research methods were used: mowing without quantitative accounting, collecting plants with minas for further removal of adults and visual observations in order to find already empty minas and their accounting. Parts of plants with empty minas were dried and preserved in a herbarium. Collecting of adult insects. Adult flies were selected from the net with Exhauster in 96% ethyl alcohol. During the in-house treatment, all flies were prepared according to the generally accepted method (Guglya, 2021) and determined using the features of external morphology and genital structure. Removal of adults from minas (Method developed by the author and tested at the eco-station "Hlyboki Balyky" during the summer of 2021). Leaves and stems with larvae in minas were cut from the plant and quickly immersed through the stem in a test tube with water, wrapping it with cotton wool (so that water does not spill). Each sample was placed in an individual transparent cloth bag and labeled. In this form, the samples were transported to a temporary laboratory, where each sample was placed in an individual plastic container with a vent tightened with a transparent cloth. Samples were tested daily to add the water if needed and subsequent collecting of last-day puparia in a separate dry container with the appropriate label. Thus, puparii and plants with larvae can be transported to a permanent place of removal in a stationary laboratory. The puparia stage can last from a week to many months, so for long-term maintenance it is necessary to move the puparia to the garden with simultaneous moistening and ventilation. All materials, i.e. glass, cotton wick, coconut fiber, white cardboard pad, plastic blister and the pupariums themselves should be treated with a fungicide to prevent mold. It is convenient and effective to use an antiseptic to treat conditioners in the form of a spray. This treatment should be repeated every month and a half. Puparii should be placed on a blister covering the top of the glass with a transparent cloth and place a label on the side. Such cups should be placed on a tray with water so that the wick was immersed in water and constantly wet the coconut fiber. It is recommended to use distilled water with the addition of a fungicide. Flies emerging from puparii are clearly visible through the transparent walls of the glass and transparent fabric on a background of white cardboard. It is convenient to catch them with an exhauster, lifting the fabric a little. All the collected material is stored in the fund of the State Natural History Museum of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University.

Quality Control

The authors are fully responsible for the quality of data provided within the dataset.

Method steps

1. Field expeditions and collecting of the material.
2. Preparation and species identification of adult flies.
3. Transportation of plant parts with minas to the laboratory with conditions suitable for development of puparii and adult flies.
4. Regular check for adult insects to emerge.
5. Species identification.
6. Georeferencing.

Dataset consists of findings of insects only: Lepidoptera and Diptera orders.

1. Animalia
   rank: kingdom
2. Arthropoda
   rank: phylum
3. Insecta
   rank: class
4. Lepidoptera
   rank: order
5. Diptera
   rank: order

The dataset consists of findings registered within the Rzhyshchiv city amalgamated territorial community (CATC), namely surroundings of Rzhyshchiv sity, Obukhiv district of Kyiv region, Ukraine.