Genetic and cytogenetic structure of biological diversity and taxonomic interpretation of this structure are currently highly debated among biologists since these problems are important for understanding both biological evolution and functioning the ecosystems, as well as for environmental protection. The authors of the current special issue use the mitochondrial molecular and chromosomal characters (or a combination of these two types of genetic markers) to reveal genetic and cytogenetic structure in several groups of insects belonging to the orders Lepidoptera, Neuroptera and Hemiptera. Then they use the data obtained for testing taxonomic hypotheses and providing insight into systematics and phylogenetics of the studied groups.
1 Taxonomic interpretation of chromosomal and mitochondrial DNA variability in the species complex close to Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) dama (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae)
Nazar A. Shapoval, Vladimir A. Lukhtanov
21 Interpretation of mitochondrial diversity in terms of taxonomy: a case study of Hyponephele lycaon species complex in Israel (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Satyrinae)
Vladimir A. Lukhtanov, Asya V. Novikova
35 DNA barcoding reveals twelve lineages with properties of phylogenetic and biological species within Melitaea didyma sensu lato (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae)
Elena A. Pazhenkova, Evgeny V. Zakharov, Vladimir A. Lukhtanov
47 Chromosome numbers in antlions (Myrmeleontidae) and owlflies (Ascalaphidae) (Insecta, Neuroptera)
Valentina G. Kuznetsova, Gadzhimurad N. Khabiev, Victor A. Krivokhatsky
63 Comparative cytogenetics of Auchenorrhyncha (Hemiptera, Homoptera): a review
Valentina Kuznetsova, Dora Aguin-Pombo
95 Achiasmate male meiosis in two Cymatia species (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Corixidae)
Desislava Stoianova, Snejana Grozeva, Nikolay Simov, Valentina Kuznetsova