The article presents data on eight species of Auchenorrhyncha (Aphrophoridae, Cicadellidae, Issidae and Membracidae) registered in the green spaces of Donbass in 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024. All recorded species are newly reported for the region’s fauna, with Populicerus nitidissimus (Herrich-Schäffer, 1835) being documented for the first time in the steppe zone of Europe. Including data from literature, a total of 67 Auchenorrhyncha species have now been registered in the study area, seven of which are considered alien invasive species. Local outbreaks of mass reproduction in the region may be attributed to Oncopsis flavicollis (Linnaeus, 1761), Opsius stactogalus Fieber, 1866, and Gargara (s. str.) genistae (Fabricius, 1775). Additionally, Oncopsis alni (Schrank, 1801) may be as a vector for phytoplasmas that cause diseases in nut, fruit, and ornamental woody plants.

The article analyzes the collections of leaf beetles and weevils carried out using the method of pitfall traps lines in the Botanical Garden of Perm State National Research University (Perm) during four growing seasons (from April to October–November 2021–2023 and from April to August 2024). A total of 4425 specimens were collected, belonging to 92 species from three families (Chrysomelidae – 32; Brentidae – 14; Curculionidae – 46). Three invasive species (Exomias pellucidus Boheman, 1834), Otiorhynchus smreczynskii Cmoluch, 1968 and O. sulcatus (Fabricius, 1775)) native to Central and South-Eastern Europe have been registered. The fauna of leaf beetles and weevils of the Botanical Garden has a more southern appearance than the zonal fauna of the northern subtaiga, due to the significant proportion of species with south-boreal-subboreal (16; 17.5 %) and subboreal (6; 6.5 %) types of ranges. Among the phytophagous beetles, eurybionts and representatives of the pioneer complex are sharply predominant (a total of 86 %), while the proportion and abundance of forest and forest edge species, characteristic of the natural ecosystems of the region, are low.

A study of the syntaxonomic diversity and distribution in the Donetsk upland and Northern Azov region of phytocenoses of meadow and shrub steppes allowed us to determine the composition of plant communities with dominance and subdomination of feather grass: 50 associations from 14 formations of the meadow steppe (Steppa pratensis), 42 associations from 14 formations of the shrub steppe (Steppa fruticosa). Of these, 35 and 26 plant communities, respectively, can be recommended for special protection. Respectively, 15 and 16 plant communities are regionally rare. As many as 29 rarity communities of meadow steppe and 37 of shrub steppe have been recorded in specially protected natural areas. The widest environmental and phytocenotic range is associated with Stipa capillata L., S. grafiana Steven, S. lessingiana Trin. & Rupr., S. tirsa Steven, which enables these species to participate in forming of various classes of steppe vegetation formations. The most associatively represented formations are Stipeta capillatae, Stipeta grafianae, Stipeta tirsae.