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Information is given about the finding of Hieracium pilosella L. in the Issyk River valley on the northern slope of the Zailiysky Alatau ridge. The habitat of the species, the composition of the plant community with its participation are described, the data on the population density of the species, the ratio of generative and vegetative individuals are provided. The appearance of this adventive species in the immediate vicinity of Almaty in the last decade is most likely due to the increasing recreational load on this territory., Приводятся сведения о находке Hieracium pilosella L. в долине реки Иссык на северном склоне хребта Заилийский Алатау. Описано местообитание вида, состав растительного сообщества с его участием, представлены данные о плотности популяции вида, соотношении генеративных и вегетативных особей. Появление этого адвентивного вида в ближайших окрестностях г. Алматы в последнее десятилетие связано, скорее всего, с усиливающейся рекреационной нагрузкой на данной территории.

The parameters of the undergrowth in the forbs and berry groups of pine forest types in 9 parks in Yekaterinburg and areas of natural forest have been investigated. Data on the species composition, density, and distribution by groups of heights of plants that make up the undergrowth collected. It has been established that the transformation of the undergrowth by an urbanized environment neutralizes the influence of the growing conditions of the considered forest types on it. In the forest-park zone, an increase in the density of the undergrowth is observed in comparison with the natural forest. The specificity of the forest park undergrowth is the floristic contamination with adventive species, the number of which is close to 50% of the total number of undergrowth species. The coefficient of floristic similarity of the undergrowth, according to the Sorensen coefficient between forest parks and a site of natural forest, was 0.26-0.46. In quantitative terms, the self-seeding of adventive species in the undergrowth is less than that of native plants. The invasive activity of ash-leaved maple in city parks and its dynamics over a 10-year period are considered, using the example of one of the parks.

In this study, 56 adventive species have been identified in Khakas flora to date. In terms of the introduction method, xenophytes dominate; this group is composed of 44 species, which is 78.6% of all the adventive species under study. The ergasiophyte group consists of 12 species (21.4%). According to the naturalization degree, we identified three groups: epecophytes, agriophytes, and ephemerophytes. The epecophyte group is in the lead and consists of 21 species (37.5%). The agriophytes are represented by 19 invasive species (33.9%). The ephemerophyte group is composed of 16 species (28.6%). Thus, the ratios of the synanthropic-plant groups defined according to the introduction method and naturalization degree indicate that most of these adventive plants have been introduced unintentionally and successfully established themselves on a territory new to them. The adventive fraction of natural ecosystems in Khakas flora contains 20 species included in the report “The Black Book of the Flora of Siberia” [1].

В статье приводится краткий анализ синантропной флоры особо охраняемой природной территории федерального значения «Ботанический сад Южного федерального университета». Синантропная флора насчитывает 394 вида семенных растений из 76 семейств и 249 родов. Во флоре представлены как апофитные (235 таксонов), т ак и а двентивные ( 159 таксонов) виды. Коэффициент синантропизации флоры составляет 48,8%., The article provides a brief analysis of the synanthropic flora of a specially protected natural area of federal significance «The Botanical Garden of the Southern Federal University». The synanthropic flora includes 394 species of seed plants from 76 families and 249 genera. The flora includes both apophytic (235 taxa) and adventive (159 taxa) species. The coefficient of synanthropization flora is 48.8%.

New species have been reported for the Novosibirsk Region: ergasiophytes Calendula officinalis L., Dianthus barbatus L., Euonymus verrucosus Scop., Lamium galeobdolon (L.) L., Solidago gigantea Ait., Ulmus pumila L., as well as Lappula redowskii (Hornem.) Greene found on the border of the range. New sites of ergasiophytes of Cotoneaster lucidus Schltdl., Digitalis grandiflora Mill., Echinops sphaerocephalus L., Malva sylvestris var. mauritiana (L.) Boiss., Rubus odoratus L., Rudbeckia hirta L., Ribes aureum Pursh, Ulmus laevis Pall. and xenophyte Euphorbia helioscopia L. were noted. Trapa natans L. populations were confirmed in the region. In the city of Novosibirsk, an arbitrary settlement of Anemone caerulea L. introduced into the culture here was noted.&nbsp, Сообщается о новых для Новосибирской области видах: эргазиофитах Calendula officinalis L., Dianthus barbatus L., Euonymus verrucosus Scop., Lamium galeobdolon (L.) L., Solidago gigantea Ait., Ulmus pumila L., а также Lappula redowskii (Hornem.) Greene, обнаруженном на границе ареала. Отмечены новые местонахождения редко встречающихся в Новосибирской области эргазиофитов Cotoneaster lucidus Schltdl., Digitalis grandiflora Mill., Echinops sphaerocephalus L., Malva sylvestris var. mauritiana (L.) Boiss., Rubus odoratus L., Rudbeckia hirta L., Ribes aureum Pursh, Ulmus laevis Pall. и ксенофита Euphorbia helioscopia L. Подтверждено наличие популяции Trapa natans L. на территории области. В г. Новосибирске отмечено произвольное расселение введенного здесь в культуру Anemone caerulea L.

Specimens of an ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus monographus (Fabricius), were found infesting oak trees in California. This is the first record of this species established in North America. Based on collection information, this species most likely has been established in the Napa County area for several years. A modified key to Xyleborus in North America, and diagnosis of the species is provided.

Originally from eastern Asia, the giant resin bee, Megachile sculpturalis (Smith), was accidentally introduced into the United States in the 1990s. It is considered an adventive (not native and usually not established) species and is present in most states in the eastern US. Although these bees can be found on various plants, they typically prefer plants that have been introduced from their native area. Some have observed that when collecting pollen or nectar, Megachile sculpturalis will damage local flora, making it unusable to future bee visitors. However, evidence has shown that, although an adventive species, Megachile sculpturalis is thought to be a pollinator of a native and federally threatened plant, the Apios Pricenana.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1258 Also available on the Featured Creatures website: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/MISC/BEES/Giant_resin.html

Larvae, pupae and imagoes of Megabruchidius dorsalis have been found in October 2018 as a result of examination of the beans of the honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) in the arboretum of the Dokuchaiev Kharkiv National Agrarian University. The seed beetles colonized in 52% of the beans harvested in the current year and in 81% of the beans harvested in the previous years.

Processes of plant regeneration and restoration of destroyed ecosystems, naturally occurring, in such areas are very slow. Considering sand pits as a man-made form of relief necessitates a comprehensive study of the features of sand pits vegetation, which helps stop the movement of sandy slopes, stabilize sands, and land reclamation. We have studied the slopes of the northern and southern exposition in some sand quarries (Zvenigorodsky, Dzerzhinsky, Ramensky (GOK), Lytkarinsky, Lyzlovo). Geobotanical descriptions, performed according to a standard method on the experimental areas of 5×5 square meters, are the basis of our work. The article shows that all the 93 species which we have found in the surveyed area were species of vascular plants. In this case the number of species is not only determined by the smooth running development of the landscape (taking into account the fact that the interference was rude and had a man-made factors), but by other factors such as steep slopes, light, moisture, and richness of the soil. The projective cover of sand pits constitutes 20-30 % which, in general, is a typical characteristic of sandy terrain [3]. Plants overwhelming majority in the spectrum of life forms according to K. Raunkiaer, are Hemicryptophytes, which is typical for the phytocoenosis of the Central Russia. It can be noted that the Chamaephytes are absent in most quarries, except for Dzerzhinsky. According to the classification of life forms by I.G. Serebryakov, sand slopes are dominated by herbaceous perennial polycarpics, among which long and short rhizome plants and tap rooted plants are in majority. Meadow plants are dominant in ecological-coenotic group. This group consists of fully developed plants, only, under conditions of good lighting. The rate of adventive species is low.

This paper presents an evaluation of full-area floristic investigation of floodplain forests in Soutok forest district (Židlochovice Forest State Enterprise) based on an individual forest stand inventory. The study area encompasses 5103 ha of forests, where 1186 segments were inventoried, and 71 223 single records about presence of vascular plant species were done. We found 761 taxa (species, subspecies and hybrids), out of which 655 were herbs, 106 woody plants, 156 were endangered species and 177 adventive species. The average area of a segment was 4.3 ha. The mean number of species per segment was 64.42 in a range of 4–180.

The anthropophytisation processes pose a real threat to the phytodiversity on the territory of Ukraine. To study the interpopulation variability and to analyze the factors leading to the excessive increase in quantity of the adventive species individuals in the conditions of anthropogenic transformation, we took as a model the invasion species on the territory of Ukraine: Solidago canadensis L. and Solidago gigantean Ait. According to the study of the morphological signs variability in local populations S. canadensis and S. gigantea in different ecological conditions, we have revealed that the morphometric signs (length of the ramet, number of leaves, length of inflorescences, number of flowers in the inflorescences) of the S. canadensis ramets are characterized by medium and high intrapopulations variability (V = 11.46-68.67 %), and S. gigantea ramets are characterized by insignificant and high levels of intrapopulation variability (V = 7.01-90.04 %), which correlates with unfavourable conditions of anthropogenically transformed habitats. According to the study results, we have discovered that the depressive vitality type, and, correspondingly, the low vitality level is common for the local populations of S. canadensis for ruderal biotopes of anthropogenic herb stands, ruderal biotopes of fallows on sand, highly artificial broadleaved deciduous forestry plantations and fruit and nut tree orchards. Such a vitality type of S. canadensis populations is probably explained by the high level of digression of the above-mentioned biotopes. The local population of the ruderalized thickets of bushes is characterized by the comparatively high value of the vitality index, which is due to the favorable edaphic conditions. On the other hand, the local populations of S. gigantea of ruderal biotopes of anthropogenic herb stands, ruderal biotopes of fallows on sand, highly artificial broadleaved deciduous forestry plantations, fruit and nut tree orchards and ruderalized thickets of bushes are characterized by a prosperous vitality type and, accordingly, a high level of vitality.

The paper summarizes new and literature data on the species composition, trophic relationships, and population dynamics of phyllophagous lepidopterans dominant on woody plants in St. Petersburg and its environs (Russia). Most of these species have concealed larvae (e.g., leaf miners and leaf rollers), and some of them are invasive. The data were accumulated during approximately a hundred years of observations and field collections. Concealed species form the dominant group within the studied complex of phyllophagous moths in St. Petersburg and Leningrad Province (27 species from 13 families). Changes in the composition of dominant pests of the dog rose, bird cherry, elm, poplar, and other woody plants have been recorded. Outbreaks of some species, such as Phyllonorycter salicicolella (Gracillariidae), Archips rosana (Tortricidae), Leucoma salicis, Lymantria monacha, and Orgyia antiqua (Erebidae), were recorded during the XX century but since about 1980 the population density of these species has remained at a very low level. Another group of species, which includes Phyllonorycter populifoliella (Gracillariidae), Batrachedra praeangusta (Batrachedridae), Acleris bergmanniana, and Epinotia abbreviana (Tortricidae), demonstrated a sharp increase in population density in the 1990–2000s, a phenomenon which had not been observed before. The possible causes of such population dynamics are discussed. The dominant species of phyllophagous micro-lepidopterans, including some recent invaders (e.g., Cameraria ohridella and Phyllonorycter issikii, Gracillariidae) and adventive species (e.g., Ph. populifoliella and Ph. acerifoliella, Gracillariidae) pose a serious threat to woody plants in St. Petersburg and Leningrad Province.

The distribution and phytocenotic association of Parthenocissus vitacea and Vinca minor on the territory of the Bryansk oblast has been studied. An assessment of the distribution of invasive species is performed on a grid basis. Vinca minor is registered in 19 cells on the territory of the oblast, which is 4.9% of the total number of cells and 11.9% of the surveyed cells; Parthenocissus vitacea is registered in 50 cells, which is 12.8% of the total number of cells and 31.2% of the surveyed cells. The invasive status of Parthenocissus vitacea and Vinca minor is category 3: an adventive species whose invasions into natural and seminatural habitats in the region at the moment are rare and, as a rule, confined to the outskirts of populated areas, abandoned parks, and old plantings. The indices of successful invasion in forest communities is the formation of syntaxonomically valid variants of the communities of Corylo avellanae-Pinetum sylvestris Bulokhov et Solomeshch 2003 with depleted cenoflora. Invasive species change the phytosphere and reliably decrease the indices of α and β diversity, the structural indices of communities. The invasion of Parthenocissus vitacea and Vinca minor is successful due to active vegetative reproduction, allelopathic effects on native species, and decreasing illumination of the ground cover. The introduction of invasive species into complex pine forests blocks demutational changes of endogenous succession during the restoration of broad-leaved forests: they simplify the structure of communities and reduce the intensity of the mosaic. Parthenocissus vitacea and Vinca minor can exhibit signs of an edificator, a community builder, and a violent and transformer type. There has been only one case of a radical transformation of the natural community, registered on the territory of the Lyubin Khutor nature monument (Novozybkovskii district, Bryansk oblast).

The problem of urbanization lies in increasing of the number of adventive species, which leads to a decrease of the share of aboriginal ones. The study of alien species is of great practical importance, since most of them are weed crops, poisonous plants and species with high invasive capacity. The study of the flora of floodplain communities was conducted by traditional route and reconnoitring methods. A herbarium collection of vascular plants has been prepared during the field research. According to the obtained results, the share of the adventive flora fraction of Lutsk city comprises 121 species of vascular plants (88,3 % of the total number of adventive species of the studied territories), belonging to 3 classes; 26 orders; 33 families and 91 genera. The leading place in the taxonomic hierarchy belongs to the Magnoliosida class (126 taxa or 92,71 %). The family Asteraceae is characterized by the richest species diversity – 33 species (26,19 %). The second and third places belong to Fabaceae and Lamiaceae respectively (12 species or 9,52 % and 11 species, 8,73 % respectively). Twenty-three families of Magnoliosida (or 74,19 %) in the studied cenoflora are represented by only single species and monotypic genera form 25,25 %. The river flood plains of Lutsk city form a powerful center of concentration of adventive plants (45,50 % of the total number of species); several families predominate in the systematic structure of the adventive cenoflora of the flood plains, most of which are represented by single species; the prevalence of archeophytes is observed. The structure of the adventive cenoflora is dominated by Eurasian (31 species, 25,6 %), Holarctic (23 species, 19 %), cosmopolitan (8 species, 6 %) and Euro-Asiatic-North African and North American species (6 species each, 4,9 % respectively). The most abundant groups according to the moisture regime are xeromesophytes – 49 species (40,5 %) and mesophytes – 43 species (35,5 %). As for the light regime the most numerous are heliophytes – 59 species (48,7 %) and scioheliophytes – 45 species (37,1 %). The ratio of trees to herbaceous plants is 1: 13.7. Regarding the ways of seed dispersal the most numerous groups in the adventive fraction are: anemochores, endozoochores, barochores and zoochores. The alien species are intensively introduced and naturalized into the regional flora and are becoming its integral component. Knowledge of the species composition of the adventive fraction of the flood plain flora of Lutsk city and its suburbs, biological and cenotic features of these species, their migratory opportunities and naturalization ability will help to clarify the trends in the development of flood plain cenofloras, as well as preserving their unique ecosystem functions.

The results show the effect of water extracts from dry biomass of adventive plant species with high invasive activity from Belarus on the growth of seedlings of test plants. High correlation between the effect of biologically active substances released from the seeds of Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden on various test plants and plant species is discussed. The strong stimulating effect of water extracts on plant species from Cruciferae family is shown. Plant species from Poaceae family are mainly characterized by a neutral reaction to the biologically active substances emitted from H. sosnowskyi seeds. It has been found that water extracts at the concentrations from 0.01 to 0.001 % have a stimulatory effect on the growth and development of test plants, while an inhibitory effect was observed at the concentrations in the range from 1 to 10 %.

Stenopelmus rufinasus, a North American weevil introduced to Europe along with the invasive aquatic fern Azolla filiculoides, has been recorded from Poland for the first time. Its locality is a natural oxbow lake of the River Odra in Wrocław, the only city in Poland where A. filiculoides has been repeatedly recorded over the last dozen years. The diagnostic characters of this weevil species, its biology, current distribution in Europe and its prospects in Poland are discussed.

The presence of 267 vascular plants species from 190 genera, 63 families, 26 orders, 4 classes (Equisetopsida, Polypodiopsida, Pinopsida, Angiospermae) and 3 divisions (Equisetophyta, Polypodiophyta, Spermatophyta) was established for Kuznetsov Mountain. The absolute majority of species belong to Spermatophyta (258 species, 96,7%), Angiospermae (257 species, 96,3%), Dicotyledones (228 species, 85,4%). Vascular spore plants are represented by 9 species belonging to 6 genera ( Equisetum , Matteuccia , Athyrium , Cystopteris , Dryopteris , Pteridium ), 5 families (Equisetaceae, Onocleaceae, Woodsiaceae, Dryopteridaceae, Dennstaedtiaceae), 2 classes (Equisetopsida, Polypodiopsida) and 2 divisions (Equisetophyta, Polypodiophyta). The leading families according the species diversity are Compositae (44 species, 16,5%), Leguminosae (22 species, 8,2%) and Rosaceae (18 species, 6,7%). The leading families according the number of genera are Compositae (29 genera, 15,3%), Rosaceae (14 genera, 7,4%) and Labiatae (13 genera, 6,8%). The largest number of species is concentrated in the genera Trifolium (7 species), Viola , Campanula , Galium and Carex (4 species each). According to the climamorphic system of K. Raunkiaer, hemicryptophytes predominate in the flora (148 species, 55,4%). According to the biomorph system I.G. Serebryakov and T.I. Serebryakova - perennial polycarpic short-stemmed, long-rooted, and rod-root grasses (47,0%) predominate. 76,8% of the species are vegetatively still and immobile.

The Paititi Natural Reserve is located in the southeastern part of the Tandilia mountain range (Buenos Aires province,Argentina). With the aim of recording the floristic richness of Sierra Chica, an untouched area of the reserve, all vascularplants were inventoried and categorized by family, status, and life form. Altogether, 364 taxa from 72 familieswere found, with the most predominant families being Poaceae (20.7%), Asteraceae (20.1%), and Fabaceae (5.8%).We found 95 adventive species, 4 cosmopolitan, and 265 native. The most abundant life forms were hemicryptophytes(33.1%), therophytes (30.6%), and criptophytes (22.6%); the therophytes were mostly represented by adventive species.We also found species that were known from Buenos Aires province but not from mountainous areas. Despitebeing a small area within Argentina, Sierra Chica constitutes a valuable refuge for native flora of the Tandilia mountainrange system, which is in danger of being affected by exotic plants.

Tree ferns are a remarkable group among the lycophytes and ferns. Geographical isolation is suggested as one of the main reasons for local endemism of tree ferns and the island of Sri Lanka has been identified as one of the best demonstration sites to observe this phenomenon. Despite its small size, Sri Lanka has a rich diversity and one of the highest levels of endemism of tree ferns in Asia. Their diversity here is considered as an unique and important gene pool in the world. The present eco-spatial survey is to study the diversity and ecology of tree ferns in Sri Lanka. The study identified nine tree fern species including one new record of an adventive species. The species are Cyathea hookeri, C. sinuata, C. sledgei, C. srilankensis, C. walkerae, C. crinita, C. gigantea, C. australis and Dicksonia antarctica. Of these, the first five species are endemic to Sri Lanka. Dicksonia antarctica and Cyathea australis are exotic and naturalised in forest clearings in Piduruthalagala forest. Cyathea hookeri, C. sinuata, C. sledgei and C. srilankensis are confined to limited populations in lowland rainforests (62-550 m). Cyathea walkerae is distributed in a wide elevational range throughout the wet zone (30-2,300 m), whereas C. crinita shows a restricted distribution pattern at a high altitude range (1,800-2,400 m). In this study C. gigantea was recorded additionally from lowland rain forests, though it was previously reported to be confined to submontane and montane ecosystems. The results of this study provide baseline information on the distributional ecology of Sri Lankan Cyathea species. It will be useful to assess their current conservation status and to formulate conservation guidelines for these remarkable and spectacular ferns so characteristic to Sri Lanka.

The bryocorine mirid Tenthecoris tillandsiae Henry (Hemiptera: Miridae) was described as a new species in 2016. Although the type locality is Charleston, South Carolina, the species is considered adventive in the United States and native to Latin America. Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides [L.] L.; Bromeliaceae) is the plant bug's only known host. Tenthecoris tillandsiae was found in three counties of the greater Charleston area in clumps of Spanish moss that grew on ten species of woody plants, especially Darlington oak (Quercus hemisphaericaW. Bartram exWilld.; Fagaceae) and live oak (Q. virginiana Mill.). Nymphs and adults fed on strands of the moss, on which they left dark spots of excrement. Overwintered eggs hatched in mid- to late April, with first-generation adults appearing by early May. Two additional generations were produced; nymphs were present into October, and an adult female was found as late as mid-December. Tenthecoris tillandsiae sometimes was syntopic with a native plant bug (Phytocoris tillandsiae Johnston) that specializes on Spanish moss. Pathways of entry that might have allowed T. tillandsiae to enter the southeastern United States from South America (where Spanish moss originated), Central America, or Mexico are discussed. This immigrant mirid is suggested to be a benign addition to the arthropod community associated with Spanish moss, a plant not only symbolic of the South, but also one known to help conserve insect biodiversity.

The following paper is a result of many-year-observations of the railways flora in the Middle Volga Region. Observations were carried out on the territory of several entities with different configurations of the railway network and the intensity of its operation. The cited data characterize the foreign component as a two-level dynamic system consisting of a core and a fluctuating outer belt. The core is represented by American and Eurasian invasive species that are firmly established in the natural plant communities and capable of prolonged growth in one place. External fluctuating belt consists of naturalized alien species and permanently or occasionally presents in the composition of ruderal vegetation, capable of changing their numbers, depending on the living conditions and the operation of the railways. Structurally alien flora is formed under the influence of extreme living conditions that is reflected in the predominance of annual herbaceous plants xerophytic spectrum, as well as the cosmopolitan weed. The taxonomic structure shows impoverishment of the species composition, low values of the species occupancy rate, but at the same time the generic fillability of the families shows relatively high indices. In general, foreign component flora characterized by considerable resistance to extreme environmental conditions, is capable of long-term existence in a certain area, with a tendency to settling in adjacent territories characterizing similar habitat conditions.

Nematus spiraeae Zaddach, a European sawfly that feeds on Aruncus diocus (Walter) Fernald (Rosaceae), was discovered in Quebec. This probable introduction is the first report of N. spiraeae in North America and the first record of a sawfly feeding on Aruncus in North America. A diagnosis and some life history notes are given for N. spiraeae.