Article

Alexander S. Bondarenko, PhD, Forest pathologist engineer, Federal Budget Institution “Russian Centre of Forest Health” Branch “Centre of Forest Health of Krasnodar Region” (350020, Russia, Krasnodarsky Krai, Krasnodar, Odessky Passage, 4); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8042-7591; e-mail: bondt@yandex.ru
Alexander S. Zamotajlov, Dr.Sc., Professor, Head of the Department of Phytopathology, Entomology and Plant Protection, FSBEI HE “I.T. Trubilin Kuban State Agrarian University” (350044, Russia, Krasnodarsky Krai, Krasnodar, Kalinin Street, 13); Researcher of Research Institute of Complex Problems, FSBEI HE “Adygeya State University” (285000, Russia, Republic of Adygea, Pervomayskaya Street, 208); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3623-9219; e-mail: a_zamotajlov@mail.ru
Danil A. Zherebilo, Biologist, Engineer, Limited liability company “Ecoexpert-Yug” (Russia, Krasnodarsky Krai, Krasnodar, Vladislav Posadsky Street, 28); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5381-8967; e-mail: dogma22@inbox.ru

Bondarenko A.S., Zamotajlov A.S., Zherebilo D.A. 2026. Distribution patterns and biological features of protected ground beetle species Carabus bessarabicus (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in Krasnodarsky Krai (Russia). Nature Conservation Research 11(4). https://dx.doi.org/10.24189/ncr.2026.033

Electronic Supplement 1. Introduction and detail information on the material and methods and illustrations by the paper of Bondarenko et al. (2026) (Link).

Research on protected animal species, including invertebrates, is essential for developing effective conservation measures, preventing extinction, and addressing practical challenges such as habitat protection and the development of environmentally sound land-use technologies, which minimise the influence on the habitats of threatened species and promote sustainable ecosystem development. In 2025, a population of Carabus bessarabicus, a protected Carabidae species not recorded in the Krasnodarsky Krai (Russia) since the mid-1950s, was discovered in the eastern part of the region. This population is characterised by a relatively high density and high isolation from previously known localities of Carabus bessarabicus. Based on the research findings, it is proposed to re-assess the extinction risk of the species' population in the Krasnodarsky Krai from CR A4ab; B2ab(i) to VU A2c+3c; B1ab(ii, iii). Furthermore, it is recommended to update its regional Red Data Book Category from 1 (critically endangered) to the following category, status, and conservation priority: declining in population size and/or distribution, Vulnerable, Priority II for conservation measures.

conservation category and status, ecological features of ground beetles, IUCN criteria, Red Data Book of Krasnodarsky Krai, Western Ciscaucasia

Received: 05.10.2025. Revised: 08.06.2026. Accepted: 31.07.2026.

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