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The study presents results of long term investigation of biodiversity and quantitative invasion indices of feather mites parasitizing passerines in the Lower Don area. In the period from 2001 to 2019, we examined 2246 bird individuals belonging to 85 species, 47 genera and 23 families, that comprise the majority of passerine species occurring in this area. On 83 passerine species were recovered 86 feather mite species belonging to 15 genera, 7 families and 2 superfamilies (Analgoidea and Pterolichoidea). A detailed taxonomic analysis of parasite fauna has been carried out. Among found feather mite species, four species have been recorded for the first time in Russia: Proctophyllodes balati Cerny, 1978, P. remizicola Cerny, 1979, P. cetti Badek, Mironov et Dabert, 2008 (Proctophyllodidae) and Corydolichus calandrellicolus Mironov et Sayakova, 2001 (Ochrolichidae). Faunal complexes of feather mites of all examined passerine families and their peculiarities in the examined region have been analyzed. Based on the data on feather mite numbers accumulated during our long term study, quantitative indices of feather mite invasion (intensity and prevalence) have been inferred for each mite species from each examined avian host.

The article presents the results of actual research to determine the population density and distribution of the deer ked Lipoptena cervi (Linnaeus, 1758) flight forms in various biotopes of Leningrad Province, and also contains information on the infestation of its main host, the European moose Alces alces (Linnaeus, 1758). At the current stage of research, the density determination of winged forms was carried out by a method of route registration with reference to biotopes. Mass flight starts in August 8-10 and lasts until September 18-20. The flight period lasts over 91 days (from July 18 to October 17). The density of bloodsuckers >50 pcs/10 min was recorded from August 31 till September 16. The main biotopes in which a significant number of flight forms were observed included mixed blueberry spruce forests with sphagnum in the ground cover (max = 35 pcs/10 min); natural glades (max = 81.4 pcs/10 min) and linear objects (Power lines, Gas/Oil pipelines) (max = 31.1 pcs/10 min) overgrown with young stands; sphagnum and moistened foib pine forests (max = 83.3 pcs/10 min); the outskirts of bogs and fens (max = 120.9 pcs/10 min); rich herb and moistened birch forests (max = 155 pcs/10 min); young stands renewable after clear and gradual cuts (max = 213.3 pcs/10 min); aspen sorrel forests with a high natural mortality of aspen as a result of a windblow (max = 264.2 pcs/10 min). Even taking into account rather small size of sample of examined animals, quantitative data on the number of deer keds parasitizing moose in autumn - winter, obtained for the first time for Leningrad Province, indicates an intense infection of various sex and age groups (min - 17 psc/dm² for adult female, 26.12; max - 455 psc/dm² for yearling male, 21.11).

The structure of seven species of horsefly larvae (Diptera, Tabanidae) of the group Hybomitra (s. str.) bimaculata Macq., including Hybomitra bimaculata (Macquart, 1826), H. ciureai (Seguy, 1937), H. distinguenda distinguenda (Verrall, 1909), H. lundbecki lundbecki (Lyneborg, 1959), H. lurida (Fallen, 1817), H. muehlfeldi (Brauer, 1880), H. nitidifrons confiformis (Chvala et Moucha, 1971) is described. Similar and differing characters in the external structure, structure of the head capsule and mouthparts in the examined species in comparison with literary data were revealed. For example, the presence of a chaetoid field on preanal and anal segments in H. lurida was noted. In Hybomitra n. confiformis larvae, lateral grooves are absent and dorsoventral grooves are poorly developed. Peculiarities of mouthpart structure completely coincide with those described in literature only in H. muehlfeldi; other six species possess some differences. A detailed study of the submentum showed that it differs in different species of larvae, making it possible to use this character as an additional diagnostic feature. Ratio between length of the submentum notch and length of the submentum itself differs in all larvae examined. In H. muehlfeldi larvae, the submentum clearly differs in the degree of chitinization of the anterior end around the notch.

Parasite fauna of the pike Esox lucius Linnaeus, 1758 was examined in 2014 in the Khatanga River. This Arctic river is 227 km long and is formed by fused Kheta and Kotui Riverts and flows into the Khatanga Bay of the Laptev Sea. Examination of 15 pike specimens resulted in the finding of nematodes Cystidicola farionis Fischer, 1798 in two pikes (13.3%). A male was found in guts of one fish, and in another, 78 worms of both sexes were revealed in the cavity of the swim bladder. The nematode C. farionis is a widespread parasite of salmon fish. In basins of the Yenisei, Khatanga, and Pyasina Rivers, this species was recorded in the vendace, muksun, common whitefish, etc. The pike is a non-specific host of this species. As a result of parasitizing of a large number of nematodes, the swim bladder was inflamed, with numerous hemorrhages. Finding of nematodes in pikes in the Khatanga River testifies to the fact, that infestation of fish in a Polar river is possible after feeding of a predator on whitefish.

The fauna of endobiotic ciliates of the rumen of the European bison Bison bonasus from the Vologda region of Russia was investigated. In the studied bisons, 12 species of trichostomatids (Trichostomatia, Litostomatea) were found, of which 10 are from the family Ophryoscolecidae and two species are from the family Isotrichidae. A high similarity of ciliate faunas in the rumen of different bison individuals in the studied population was noted. A comparative analysis of data on the species diversity and number of endobiotic ciliates in the rumen of various representatives of the genus Bison from different habitats was carried out.

Dedicated to Professor I.Ya. Eliava, outstanding Georgian soil zoologist and parasitologist, to his life, scientific contributions, and educational activities.