Russian knapweed (Acroptilon repens DC.) is a segetal weed contaminating crops of various agricultural crops (http://www.agroatlas.ru). Included in the first quarantine list of the USSR in 1938. The earliest detections in Russia are known on the territory of the Lower Volga Territory (Seregin, 2022). With the development of agriculture in the Middle and Lower Volga, the North Caucasus and the Urals, an increase in the share of arable land, and the expansion of cargo traffic from the countries of Central and Central Asia, the Russian knapweed began to move to new territories in the northern and western directions. One of the ways of spreading the weed was contaminated batches of alfalfa of Central Asian origin (Moskalenko, 2001). Since the first half of the 20th century Russian knapweed has become a significant problem in agricultural production in southern Russia (Maltsev, 1932; Nikitin, 1983). During the Soviet period, large-scale work is carried out to eradicate the weed, which in the end did not lead to real success due to the lack of effective chemical means of crop protection. The total plowing of virgin steppes and saline soils in the zone of arid agriculture led to an even greater development of the weed in agrocenoses. By 1967, the total area of land under Russian knapweed was 2.1 million hectares (Report of the Central Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture of the USSR, 1968). A particularly alarming situation has developed in Volgograd Oblast, where almost half of all arable land was contaminated with Russian knapweed. At present, it occurs on the territory of 18 constituent entities of the Russian Federation on a total area of almost 1.3 million hectares. An analysis of the phytosanitary state of the study area over the past 80 years has shown a consistently negative situation. However, in recent years, visible trends have been noted towards the elimination of existing outbreaks and the abolition of phytosanitary zones in most regions infected by it (Yakovleva, 2022).

As a result of the research, we studied 37 alien insect species, including the quarantine ones, that have been introduced into the territory of the Republic of Crimea in recent years. There were detected some of the species included in the Common List of Quarantine Objects of the Eurasian Economic Union: Chrysodeixis chalcites (Esper), Grapholita molesta (Busck), Hyphantria cunea (Drury), Quadraspidiotus perniciosus (Comstock), Lopholeucaspis japonica (Cockerell), Ceroplastes japonicus (Green), Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Fitch, 1855), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), Corythucha ciliata (Say), Corythucha arcuata (Say), Leptoglossus occidentalis (Heidemann) and Halyomorpha halys (Stål). Since 2017, one alien species has been rapidly spreading – C. arcuata. This phytophage harms various species of oaks, large-leaved linden and other crops almost everywhere, and also can harm humans by inflicting small skin injections with its proboscis. Of the non-quarantine species, it should be noted that Cydalima perspectalis (Walker) was introduced into the peninsula, which spread with planting material and by active flights. Since 2014, this species has been a major threat to various boxwood species in the Crimea. Significant damage to ornamental and agricultural crops is caused by 2 other alien species – Icerya purchasi (Maskell) (on the southern coast of Crimea since 2010), and Metcalfa pruinosa (Say), which has been spreading since 2018. The results of the work are of applied importance for assessing the phytosanitary state of agricultural, ornamental and forest crops in the Republic of Crimea in order to study alien species that have been introduced into the peninsula.

Leaf blight of maize Cochliobolus carbonum R.R. Nelson (= Bipolaris zeicola (Stout) Shoemaker) is a quarantine pest for the Russian Federation and some other countries, capable of infecting not only cereals, but also other agricultural plants. The species is spread in many regions of corn cultivation on all continents, has a high harmfulness under certain environmental conditions, causing massive epiphytoties and severe damage to cultivated plants. Imported regulated seed products of corn plants (Zea mays L.) poses a high phytosanitary risk of introduction of invasive species into the Russian Federation and their spread within it. Therefore, timely diagnosis, based on the correct approach to the application of methods for the detection and identification of quarantine pests, is an important criterion for mycological research. The article presents data on the species of the genus Cochliobolus detected from regulated corn plants in the course of laboratory studies for the period 2017–2021. The classical polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was tested using species-specific primers (Bz-F/Bz-R) developed by Kang et al. In the course of the research, working criteria were determined, according to which it was found that the test system under study is characterized by high analytical sensitivity and specificity and is applicable for laboratory testing of the quarantine species B. zeicola in incoming regulated corn plants. The article also describes the classical cultural and morphological methods for identifying the B. zeicola species, carried out a genetic analysis of the isolates in the region of the internal transcribed spacer ITS4-5, 8S-ITS5. A comparative morphological analysis of the target and closely related species occurring on corn plants is given.

The article is dedicated to Aphelenchoides besseyi Christie, 1942 – rice leaf nematode. It is widespread in many rice-growing countries. Currently, it is excluded from the Common List of Quarantine Objects of the Eurasian Economic Union, however, it is regulated by a number of countries importing Russian products.
The pest is polyphagous and infects a wide range of plants. In the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) countries, rice and strawberries are the main hosts most at risk from A. besseyi infestation (PM 7/39 (1), 2004). Since rice is an important food product, it occupies the second place (after wheat) in world agriculture in terms of sown area and gross grain harvest.
The article summarizes and analyzes scientific information on the geographical distribution, harmfulness of the rice leaf nematode A. besseyi, its bioecological features, and the method of morphological diagnosis. The methods of molecular genetic identification of the rice leaf nematode A. besseyi used in foreign research papers have been studied. When conducting our research, we used nematodes collected during expeditions to the Far East (Primorsky Krai, Khankaisky District) and Krasnodar Krai of the Russian Federation. The species identification of nematodes by morphological characteristics was carried out in accordance with the guidelines for the detection and identification of the rice nematode Aphelenchoides besseyi Christie (MR VNIIKR No. 89-2016). For laboratory research, both morphological and molecular methods are used. The development and application of modern diagnosis methods in the field of plant protection are relevant for the detection and identification of the rice leaf nematode A. besseyi.
The study was conducted with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using commercial amplification mixtures 5x MasDDTaq MIX-2025 and 5x MasORTaq MIX- 2025 Dialat Ltd. (Russia), as well as 5х ScreenMix,5х ScreenMix-HS and 5х ScreenMix-HS (UDG) Evrogen (Russia).

Common winter moth Operophtera brumata (Linnaeus, 1758) is a dangerous pest of forest plantations and fruit trees, common in the northwestern part of the Russian Federation, in Moldova, Siberia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. To control the moth, chemical, mechanical and biological methods are used, an important component of which is the timely identification and monitoring of the number of this pest. An indispensable tool for this is pheromone traps, which use dispensers with the sex moth pheromone (Z, Z, Z)-l,3,6,9-nonadecatetraene, synthesized in the pheromone synthesis department of FGBU “VNIIKR” according to the developed method. The active substance, pheromone, was applied to dispensers in a mixture with stabilizers – vitamin E and ionol.
This paper presents the results of field tests of various variants of glue pheromone traps with synthetic pheromone in two different dosages – 0.5 mg (mixture I) and 2.0 mg (mixture II) – per 1 dispenser. It was shown that mixture II was more effective than mixture I only in quantitative terms, but not in terms of the duration of the attractive action, which turned out to be the same for both options. Thus, when using pheromone traps, a 4-fold increase in the dosage of synthetic pheromone cannot be considered mandatory. It has been established that the rhomboid trap provides more effective pest trapping due to the greater closed structure in comparison with the Quadro trap, as well as with the deltoid trap in its various modifications. The advantage of entomological glue when used as a solvent for mineral oils (Polyfix glue) in comparison with water-mineral based glue (Uniflex glue) has been proved. 
The developed pheromone preparation can be used to identify the pest and monitor the abundance of the common winter moth.

The present article provides data on a rare and little-studied butterfly Styx infernalis Staudinger, 1876 (Lepidoptera, Riodinidae), collected by FGBU “VNIIKR” specialists during an entomological expedition to the Republic of Peru. It considers difficulties and contradictions in the taxonomy of this species, arising when studied by various researchers. S. infernalis has such an unusual appearance that since its description it has been attributed to different butterfly families: Pieridae, Lycaenidae, Riodinidae; moreover, it was even referred to as a separate family called Stygidae. It also highlights data on phylogenetic relationships, habitats and lifestyle of S. infernalis. It is noteworthy that S. infernalis is phylogenetically closer to the Old World than the New World riodinids. The article discusses the reasons for this interesting phenomenon. The detection of S. infernalis by FGBU “VNIIKR” specialists is of undeniable value. Firstly, another geographical point where this rare species lives became known, and secondly, data on its twilight lifestyle were confirmed (the butterfly was caught at twilight, although there is information in the literature about the daytime activity of this species). As an exclusive detection, this unique specimen was deposited in the entomological fund of FGBU “VNIIKR” and became one of the most valuable representatives of the butterfly collection. The article also provides photographs and collection points of other riodinids caught in Peru by FGBU “VNIIKR” specialists.