Distribution patterns and biological features of protected ground beetle species Carabus bessarabicus (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in Krasnodarsky Krai (Russia)

Abstract

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.