Article

Alexander B. Ruchin, Dr.Sc., Associate Professor, Director of the Joint Directorate of the Mordovia State Nature Reserve and National Park «Smolny» (430005, Russia, Republic of Mordovia, Saransk, Krasnaya Street, 30); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2653-3879; e-mail: ruchin.alexander@gmail.com

Ruchin A.B. 2026. Results and challenges of insect biodiversity inventory in Protected Areas: a case study of the Mordovia State Nature Reserve, Russia. Nature Conservation Research 11(2): 1–13. https://dx.doi.org/10.24189/ncr.2026.008

This study presents the results of entomofauna research conducted in the Mordovia State Nature Reserve (Central European Russia) over a 90-year period. For this purpose, information from publications up to 2011 was used, as well as the results of our own research, which was carried out in 2008–2025. Over 1936–2010, a total of 1714 insect species were recorded in the Mordovia State Nature Reserve. In the subsequent period up to 2025, additionally 4576 species were identified, bringing the total documented insect fauna to 6290 species. This considerable increase is primarily attributed to the intensification of entomological research, including the expansion of survey methods, the enlargement of study areas, and the involvement of a greater number of taxonomists for species identification. In recent years, three species (Lonchaea cervisiae, Lonchaea cryptica, Lydella villosoventralis) have been described newly to science from the Mordovia State Nature Reserve, along with over 40 species previously unrecorded in Russia and Europe. However, despite this progress, biodiversity research in Protected Areas face several challenges, particularly the «crisis in taxonomy» and «crisis in faunistics», which hinder comprehensive species assessment and conservation efforts. To ensure high-quality biodiversity studies, several key measures must be implemented: (1) expanding the surveyed area or ensuring maximum habitat coverage; (2) employing a full range of study and sampling methods, from traditional techniques to advanced acoustic and molecular-genetic approaches; (3) strengthening collaboration with taxonomists specialising in specific insect groups; (4) engaging citizen scientists and volunteers in faunistic research through accessible collection methods.

biodiversity loss, citizen science, conservation, ecology, faunistics, taxonomy

Received: 10.06.2025. Revised: 15.07.2025. Accepted: 29.08.2025.

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