Some aspects of the ecology of the species Creophilus maxillosus Linnaeus, 1758 and Emus hirtus Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in southwestern part of the North Asia

The article considers some aspects of the ecology of the 2 largest species of the rove beetles of the local fauna — C. maxillosus and E. hirtus. The first species as across the whole territory, and in most of the studied habitats and localities is a subdominant species, while the second is rare everywhere — its numbers is so strongly reduced that there is a proposal to list it in the Red List of Threatened Species of the Altai Krai. Both species are quite thermophilic and prefer meadow steppes. C. maxillosus is found in all 3 types of investigated habitats and has a strong preference to the remains of homoeothermic organisms, which it visits together with other necrobiont Coleoptera, where it eats decaying meat and hunts larvae and imago of smaller species. E. hirtus tends to well-warmed areas, which are used as pastures, because its main attractant is dung, at the same time does not ignore the carrion, but practically showing no preference to a certain type of bait. Both species are experiencing a strong anthropogenic pressure and for this reason they are absent in localities in the central part of the city of Biysk (urban ecosystems).