Species composition and taxonomic structure of Assassin bugs (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) in Southern Uzbekistan, with the first record of Nagusta goedelii

MAFTUNA VALIEVA (Institute of Zoology, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Bogishamol 232b, Tashkent 100053, Uzbekistan)
GULNORA MIRZAEVA (Institute of Zoology, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Bogishamol 232b, Tashkent 100053, Uzbekistan)
DILSHOD MUSAEV (Institute of Zoology, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Bogishamol 232b, Tashkent 100053, Uzbekistan)
BAKHTIYOR KHOLMATOV (Institute of Zoology, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Bogishamol 232b, Tashkent 100053, Uzbekistan)
VOKHIDJON AKHMEDOV (Republican Research and Production Center for Termite Control, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan. 70 Yahyo Gulomov Street, Tashkent 100047, Uzbekistan)
SARDORBEK KIMYONAZAROV (Kokand State University. 28-A Turkiston Street, Fergana 150700, Uzbekistan)
MARIFAT HUDOYBERDIEVA (Tashkent State Medical University. 2 Farabi Street, Tashkent 100109, Uzbekistan)
BEKZOD ESHKUVVATOV (Samarkand State University. University Boulevard 15, Samarkand 140100, Uzbekistan)
SANJAR USANOV (Samarkand State Medical University. Samarkand 140100, Uzbekistan)
AZIZA KHOLMIRZAYEVA (Jizzakh State Pedagogical University named after Abdulla Kodiriy. Jizzakh 130100, Uzbekistan)
JASUR KUDRATOV (Samarkand State University. University Boulevard 15, Samarkand 140100, Uzbekistan)

Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity
Vol. 27 No. 3 (2026)

Abstract. Valieva M, Mirzaeva G, Musaev D, Kholmatov B, Akhmedov V, Kimyonazarov S, Hudoyberdieva M, Eshkuvvatov B, Usanov S, Kholmirzayeva A, Kudratov J. 2026. Species composition and taxonomic structure of assassin bugs (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) in Southern Uzbekistan, with the first record of Nagusta goedelii. Biodiversitas 27 (3): d270331. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d270331. As climate change and urbanization intensify, it is of great importance to determine the systematic structure and diversity of the fauna of natural landscapes that are being degraded. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the species composition and taxonomic structure of the family Reduviidae (Heteroptera) in Southern Uzbekistan. Based on 162 specimens collected between 2021 and 2024 across four distinct ecological zones (Yakkabog, Sherabad, Nishon, and Termez), a total of 18 species belonging to 12 genera and 5 subfamilies were identified. Sampling was standardized using sweeping, pitfall traps, and light-traps to ensure comparability across different altitudes (800-1300 m asl) and land-use intensities. The subfamily Harpactorinae exhibited the highest diversity (6 species), followed by Reduviinae (5 species) and Stenopodainae (4 species). A major highlight of the study is the first formal record of Nagusta goedelii for the fauna of Uzbekistan. The identification of this species was validated through a detailed morphological diagnosis, focusing on key characters such as the prominent post-antennal spines, elongated "neck" structure, and pronotal tubercles, as well as molecular-genetic analysis. Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) gene sequencing (PX588124.1) and subsequent phylogenetic reconstruction using Maximum Likelihood supported the distinct placement of the Uzbek specimen within the Nagusta-Serendiba clade (bootstrap 89-100%). Comparative faunal analysis using Jaccard and Sørensen-Dice coefficients revealed significant regional differentiation. A complete faunal turnover (Cj:0.0) was observed between the mountainous habitats of Yakkabog and the arid lowland zones of Nishon, reflecting the impact of environmental filtering. These findings significantly expand the known distribution of Palearctic reduviids and provide a baseline for future biogeographic and ecological monitoring in Central Asia.