Singing cicada dimissa - Cicadetta dimissa Hag Like other equal-winged insects, the singing cicada dimissa is characterized by four wings of equal density and a proboscis that replaces its mouthparts. The proboscis contains long, thin, and very sharp bristles. With their help, the cicada easily pierces the bark of plants and sucks the sap, which is the only food for these insects. In German, "cicadas" translates to "singing grasshoppers." They are called this because the
Singing Cicada Querula - Cicadatra querula Pall. Cicadas are mostly large insects that predominantly inhabit hot countries across all parts of the world. They live on trees and shrubs and fly quite well. These insects are of medium to large size (in temperate climate countries, body length ranges from 23 to 55 mm). They have a short head with prominently bulging eyes; on the crown, there are 3 simple eyes forming a triangle; the short bristle-like antennae consist of 7 segments; the mouthparts
Spittlebug - Philaenus spumarius L. The spittlebug is an insect from the family of froghoppers, and it is relatively smaller than singing cicadas. It is a polyphagous pest. The adult spittlebug has a wedge-shaped body, measuring between 5 to 7 mm in length, with variable coloration: it can be solid-colored; with black or light brown patterns; with longitudinal stripes or transverse streaks; spotted (light cream spots on a dark background); with a dark rear and a light front. Its mouthparts are
Migratory or Asian locust - Locusta migratoria L. The Asian locust is a large insect, reaching a length (excluding wings) of 50—55 mm (females), with males being somewhat smaller; the folded wings of the locust noticeably extend beyond the end of the abdomen, making the locust appear even longer. It is a dirty green or brownish color, with brown spots on the forewings, and the hind wings are transparent, slightly greenish or yellowish. The upper jaws are blue, the hind shins are yellowish or
Melon Grasshopper - Thisoicetrinus pterostichus F.-W. A desert species of Central Asia, usually found in river valleys. In appearance, grasshoppers are similar to crickets, but at first glance, a significant difference is noticeable: grasshoppers have short antennae, usually less than half the body length. The body is of various colors, but always without a black longitudinal median stripe. The antennae are short, not reaching the base of the hind femora or just reaching it. The cerci of both
Steppe Black Cricket - Melanogryllus desertus Pall. A large insect, 12-19 mm in length, black in color, with a round hypognathous head. The mouthparts are chewing, and the antennae are longer than the body. The thorax is large, with a well-developed pronotum that covers most of the thorax from above; the lateral parts of the pronotum form lobes that cover the prothorax from the sides. The mesothorax and metathorax are closely fused, their pleural sections sharply divided by oblique or vertical
One-spined mole cricket - Gryllotalpa unispina Sauss. Large brown insects with velvety bodies, small heads, short antennae, and digging front legs that resemble the front paws of a mole (the literal translation of the Latin name for mole crickets is "cricket-mole"). Mole crickets are capable of flying, but they need sufficiently warm air to take off; otherwise, their wing muscles cannot function, which is why they fly rarely. They swim well. During the day, mole crickets hide in
Common Trumpeter - Oecanthus pellucens Scop. The trumpeter is a relative of crickets and grasshoppers. Its body is narrow and elongated; it can be greenish-yellow, yellow, or light brown, with no black stripe on the underside. The body length of males is 10.1—12.8 mm, and for females, it is 11.3—13.8 mm. The head is narrower than the pronotum, usually with two sharp narrow black spots behind the eyes. The length of the pronotum in males is 2.1—2.3 mm, and in females, it is 2.2—2.4 mm; its
Green Grasshopper - Tettigonia viridissima L. The body of this grasshopper is almost entirely green, sometimes with brown spots on the chest and wings. The wings are very long, extending far beyond the end of the abdomen. The antennae are very thin, longer than the body. The body length can reach up to 40 mm. This is the grasshopper referred to in the famous song: "There sat a grasshopper in the grass... he was green..." Grasshoppers produce their chirping by rubbing their forewings
White-fronted Grasshopper - Decticus albifrons F. A large insect of brown or green color, blending in with the vegetation. Very light front part of the head. Size: 50—60 mm. Antennae are very thin, longer than the body. The female is easily distinguished from the male — at the end of her abdomen, she has a long, sword-like ovipositor measuring 20—25 mm. The larvae hatch in spring and molt from 4 to 6 times throughout their life cycle. After the first molt, wing buds appear as elongated lower
Tree Mantis - Hierodula tenuidentata Sauss. The tree mantis is very similar to the common mantis. This species can be distinguished primarily by the presence of a sharp opaque white spot on each forewing. In the common mantis, this spot (stigma) is not pronounced and is light green. The tree mantis, as its name suggests, is associated with woody and shrubby vegetation and is most often found in river floodplains, climbing high into the mountains — up to 1700 m above sea level. The hatching of
Fedchenko's Earwig - Oreasobia fedtschenkoi Sauss. The body is narrow and long; the head is well-defined, with forward-directed chewing mouthparts; the pronotum is flat, the elytra are short, leathery, and devoid of veins, the wings in a folded state protrude from under the elytra as short triangular wing plates, or the wings, and sometimes even the elytra are absent; the legs are short, running with 3-segmented tarsi; the abdomen at the end has a pair of strong, hard pincers, which are
Common Mantis - Mantis religiosa L. In translation from Latin, "Mantis religiosa" means "divine prophet." In African and Asian countries, these insects were considered sacred. Mantis have elongated bodies, a large mobile head with prominent eyes, and an elongated prothorax. Their strong, serrated forelegs are the main weapon of this ambush predator. When at rest, these legs are folded in a position resembling a praying person, which is how the mantis got its name.
Dusky Darner - Sympycna fusca V. d. Lind. The body of this dragonfly is mainly brown-bronze in color, with a stripe on the thorax. The body length is up to 35 mm, and the wingspan is up to 45 mm. Adult dragonflies fly around water bodies from late June to October. The lifespan of dragonflies is up to 10 months. Darners fly poorly and therefore often sit on coastal plants. Females lay up to 350 eggs, placing them in dead tissues of sedges, reeds, bulrushes, and other plants directly at the
Karakurt - Latrodectus tredecimguttatus Rossi The Karakurt is the most venomous of spiders. Its Latin name means "13-spotted," which is associated with superstitious fear of it, supposedly having a warning of deadly toxicity on its body — the unfortunate and fateful number of bright spots. The female typically eats the male after mating, which is why the Karakurt is colloquially referred to as the "black widow." Female Karakurts can reach sizes of up to 2 cm, while males
Black Thickhead - Eresus collari Rossi The most beautiful spider on the planet — this is what most arachnologists believe. And it really is true! By the way, this is a rare, endangered species. The thickhead has eight eyes arranged in three rows. Males have an orange-red abdomen on top, with four round black spots and usually two small black dots. Females have a completely velvety black abdomen. The legs are thick and hairy; the front two pairs of legs in males are black with white rings,
Dzhungarian Tarantula - Lycosa singoriensis L. Like most arthropods, the body structure of the tarantula, covered with the finest tiny hairs, is divided into two main parts: the cephalothorax and the abdomen. At the top of the cephalothorax, the tarantula has 8 eyes, four of which form a straight line, while the others, larger in size, are arranged in a trapezoid. Thanks to this arrangement of the visual organs, venomous tarantula spiders can observe their surroundings in a 360-degree view. In
Taiga Tick - Ixodes persulcatus Schul. The taiga tick is one of the ixodid ticks, which are exclusively blood-sucking parasites that feed on the blood of large animals, as well as humans, and live in coniferous forests. The body of the taiga tick, like all ixodid ticks, is divided into a head, or proboscis, and a body. The head of hungry ticks is directed forward and pointed (wedge-shaped), which creates a streamlined shape and facilitates the movement of ticks in the fur and feathers of their
Only the Brave Travelers Will Conquer Takyrtor In the Issyk-Kul region, there are many gorges, in the middle of which flow numerous mountain rivers. Traditionally, the rivers and gorges are named the same. This also applies to the Takyrtor Gorge. The Takyrtor River merges near the bridge with a second river and becomes the large Arashan River. Earlier, a tributary of the Ekichat River flows into it. Along the right side of this river, there is an opportunity to ascend to the very interesting
Fang, or Solifuge - Solifugae The appearance of the fang is frightening. Its body, 5–7 cm long, is usually brown-yellow in color and covered with numerous tactile hairs. The first two head appendages, which are used for grasping and grinding food, are well-developed in solifuges and resemble large pincers or claws. In total, solifuges (fangs) have 10 legs. Unlike the front legs, which serve a tactile function, the hind legs of the solifuge are equipped with sticky claws, between which are
Spotted Scorpion - Mesobuthus eupeus C.L.K. Scorpions belong to arachnids, they are relatives of insects. The Latin name for arachnids, Arachnida, is derived from the name of a heroine from Ancient Greek mythology — the weaver Arachne, who was transformed into a spider by Athena. The species is distributed from Syria, Turkey, and the southern part of European Russia to Afghanistan, Southern Mongolia, and Northern China.
Memorable hike with elements of extreme to Ontor Pass In the Terskey Alatoo system, there is a pass that tourists prefer over others. There is a reason for this. The route to it is simple yet intricate. The views that unfold before travelers amaze with their pristine beauty. This is Ontor Pass. Indeed, the route to the pass is quite passable, with diverse vegetation and fauna. Nevertheless, all the components of an exciting mountain hike are present – rocky peaks, glaciers, noteworthy
American Mink - Mustela vison Previously, this species was considered the closest relative of the European mink, but recent studies suggest that the European species is closer to the column, while the American one may be related to the marten genus. The body of American minks is relatively flexible and long: males are about 45 cm, while females are slightly smaller. They can weigh up to 2 kg. Their legs are short. The tail can grow up to 25 cm. The ears are rounded and small. The eyes glow
Hypotheses on the Origin of the Kurmentin Catacombs The abundant and astonishing territory of Preissykul holds many secrets. The very landscape is steeped in mysteries and enigmas. You will be amazed at how many beautiful tales the local inhabitants can tell you. Every village, town, and extraordinary rock formation has its own story. And all of them are magnificent! Some mysteries have had their veil of secrecy lifted over time, while others remain shrouded in mystery to this day. In 2005,
The Natural Beauty of Turgen-Aksu Gorges are those rare places in nature that have not been touched by the ubiquitous hand of man, which has not introduced its urban changes. But there is one gorge in the Issyk-Kul region, whose breath has been slightly touched by humans. However, it has not spoiled the creation of nature but has only slightly improved it. This is the Turgen gorge. It is perhaps the only gorge in Kyrgyzstan that has a paved road. Not all of it, of course, but only about 20
Festival Pass – a challenging, exciting trekking adventure At an altitude of 4000 meters lies the pass, which has been given a difficulty category of IIБ. It is called the Festival Pass. The Festival Pass stretches between the peaks of the Terkey Ala-Too ridge. This challenging crossing was first conquered in 1957 by a team of climbers led by M. M. Gantsevich. Since it was conquered by Soviet climbers, it was named in the traditions of the Soviet era – Festival Pass. This was because that year
Kavashinsky Cliffs and Laylak Kavashin is a mysterious and enchanting oasis of wild nature, located in the very heart of Pamir-Alai. It is a unique crossroads of the republics of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.
Common Catfish - Silurus glanis In the republics of Central Asia, the catfish is found in the basin of the Aral Sea (Syr Darya with its tributaries). In Kyrgyzstan, it inhabits the Kara-Darya River from its confluence with the Syr Darya to the mouth of the Kurshab-Darya, in the Naryn River up to Uch-Kurgan, and in the Chu River from the city of Tokmak to the lower reaches, where in floodplains (uzyaki) and floodplain lakes it is one of the main commercial fish. Although within Kyrgyzstan, in
Snakehead - Channa (Ophiocephalus) argus A freshwater fish that reaches a length of about 110 cm and a weight of 9 kg. The snakehead has a long, almost entirely scaled body, a flattened head with a large mouth armed with numerous small, bristle-like teeth arranged in multiple rows. It has small eyes, a short snout, and a very long back part of the head, which houses a suprabranchial organ formed by the lamellar processes of the first gill arch and one of the skull bones. The mucous membrane of
Amur Goby - Rhinogobius brunneus = R. similis Like the Amur loach, this species was introduced into the water bodies of Kyrgyzstan along with Amur herbivorous fish. It quickly spread not only in the water bodies of the Chui Valley but also in the Issyk-Kul region and the Toktogul Reservoir. It reaches a length of 6 cm, with typical sizes being 4–5 cm. Males are larger than females and are more brightly colored, with a bright sheen on the first dorsal fin. There is a suction cup on the chest
Mississippi Gambusia - Gambusia affinis Small livebearing fish from America. Most gambusias are freshwater, although some can inhabit brackish or saltwater. Males differ from females by their smaller body size and long ventral fins. Gambusia was introduced to Kyrgyzstan to eradicate malaria mosquitoes, first in the water bodies of the southern regions of the country, and later in the Chui region. Gambusia quickly multiplied in the water bodies of the Chui Valley.
What fate awaits modern culture? We have talked about the tragic fate of just one sunken city in the waters of the lake. Researchers know of more than a dozen such cities beneath the waves of Issyk-Kul, which perished as a result of disasters. What nature did these disasters have? Academician L. S. Berg had no doubt: “The underwater ruins at Issyk-Kul,” he wrote, “are due to the subsidence of part of the shore as a result of earthquakes.” Tectonic disasters at Issyk-Kul, located in a highly
Balkhash Perch - Perca schrenki In the water bodies of Kyrgyzstan, representatives of this family were absent until the late 1950s, although the common river perch is native to the lower reaches of the Chu River (within Kazakhstan). In the 1960s, amateur fishermen introduced Balkhash perch into the water bodies of the Chui Valley. It is an endemic species of the Balkhash-Alakol water system. It differs from the common river perch — Perca fluviatilis — by its more elongated body, the absence of
Zander - Zander lucioperca - Lucioperca lucioperca The zander is a typical lake-river fish that can also live in brackish areas of the seas. Successfully acclimatized in our water bodies, this predator was introduced in the mid-20th century. Its acclimatization was particularly successful in Lake Issyk-Kul, where it found favorable conditions for reproduction and growth. However, the introduction of zander into Lake Issyk-Kul caused significant damage to the indigenous fish, many of which are
1600 Years of the Great Road In the decades following the death of Zhang Qian, his plan of "10,000 li" began to yield results. Dayuan and Wusun came under the sphere of Chinese influence. Trade communications, once fragmented and disconnected, now merged. Trade caravans from China began their journey from Chang'an and traveled to Dunhuang — a city on the border, near the Great Wall. From there, two routes branched out: the northern and the southern. The southern branch went
Turkestan sculpin - Cottus spinulosus The Turkestan sculpin, like the Turkestan loach, is another exotic species of our ichthyofauna. It has 7-8 rays in the first dorsal fin, VII 16-17 in the second, and 11-14 in the anal fin. There are 30-35 pores on the lateral line. The back and sides are covered with small spines. The back is grayish-brown with small dark spots, which are also present on the fins. It reaches 10 cm in length and weighs 18 g. Males are larger than females.
Wild Custom Kunbag fell ill. His younger wife fussed around him with tears in her eyes. But she was soon pushed aside by the stout, powerful daughter of the steppes. The old man was moved to the Big Tent. — Oh, dear...— groaned the old man. — Even the dog laughs at the old wolf... What to do? Death is an uninvited guest for everyone.
Turkestan Loach - Glyptosternum reticulatum This small fish, measuring 20–25 centimeters in length, is quite widely distributed in the channels of mountain rivers, particularly in their mountainous and foothill areas. The loach is not so easy to catch. With its flattened body and head, it skillfully hides under stones. It has 6 rays in the dorsal fin and 5 rays in the anal fin (II—III). There are 4 pairs of whiskers on the snout. The body is bare, and the head is flattened from top to bottom.
How the Palace in Chigu Was Built A person gets used to everything! The princess got accustomed to her situation, In Chigu, there was a famous market (primitive from the perspective of a resident of Chang'an). Here, local craftsmen sold grain grinders, crudely made clay dishes, pestles, hammers, anvils, whetstones, sickle-shaped knives, and even hoes—some of the herders tried to cultivate the land. Trade was mainly barter. People came from all around to the market.
Nine-spined stickleback - Pungitius platygaster This fish is the smallest species of sticklebacks. It differs from the three-spined stickleback by having a greater number of spines and a completely bare body, not covered by bony plates. The body of the stickleback is brown-yellow, with numerous dark spots in males and transverse stripes in females, while the belly is whitish-yellowish. During spawning, males become completely black, almost velvety, and only the abdominal spines remain
Unyielding Ferganans In 105 BC, a Han embassy led by the official Chelin passed through the capital of the Xiongnu. This was the same one who advised the emperor to marry off the Lotus Flower. The angry princess did not even come out to greet her compatriots. Chelin was heading to Dayan to buy "heavenly" horses.
Aral Loach - Cobitis aralensis This is a small fish measuring 6—8 cm, rarely reaching 12—13 cm. It is found in Central Asia in the water bodies of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya river basins. In Kyrgyzstan, the loach inhabits the water bodies of the Chui Valley, as well as in Naryn and Kara-Darya. The dorsal fin has II—III 6—7 rays, and the anal fin has II—III 5—6 rays. The body and head are strongly compressed from the sides and covered with very small scales. The eyes are covered with skin, and
Tibetan loach - Triplophysa (Noemacheilus) stoliczkai It has a bare body, with a fold of skin extending from the eye to the tip of the snout. A fleshy ridge behind the dorsal fin is absent. The usual length is 10–12 cm, with a maximum of up to 16 cm. The Tibetan loach is a typical inhabitant of high mountain rivers and lakes. Other species and subspecies are found in water bodies with a wide range of hydrological conditions, where they reach mass development.
“The City of the Red Valley” In connection with the discovery of a large settlement from the 1st millennium BC, only partially freed from the underwater captivity of Lake Issyk-Kul, we are entitled to raise a quite reasonable question: could the settlement of Sarybulun be the ruins of the long-sought city of Chigu? In favor of the legitimacy of our proposed identification, the following arguments can be put forward:
Sarybulun Palace at the Issyk-Kul Settlement The "Jianhanpu" contains significant details that allow for a representation (albeit quite vague) of the external and internal appearance of the Usun residence in the 1st century BC. The ruler preferred to live in a "round hut covered with felt." Does this mean that the Usun ruler lived in a portable yurt? Apparently not, as the yurt in the full sense of the word, i.e., a dwelling of nomads with a disassembled lattice frame,
Abbottina river (Amur loach, Chinese loach) - Abbottina rivularis A representative of the Chinese faunal complex. The Abbottina entered the water bodies of Kyrgyzstan, like many representatives of this fish complex, accidentally. In the early 1960s, this species was introduced to the pond farms of Chui region along with other fish and spread throughout all plain water bodies, penetrating into Lake Issyk-Kul. The mouth of the Abbottina is small, lower, and crescent-shaped, with one very short
Redfin - Scardinius erythrophtalmus One of the most beautiful fish found in the water bodies of Kyrgyzstan. It is widespread in the water bodies of the Chui Valley, in the Chu River from the city of Tokmak to its lower reaches, where the redfin ranks among the most numerous fish populations in the floodplain lakes and backwaters. The favorite habitats of the redfin are quiet or slow-flowing bays with soft, muddy bottoms overgrown with aquatic vegetation. It avoids areas of the river with fast
On which shore of Issyk-Kul was the ancient Chigu located? Sarybulun is the only known large settlement of the 1st millennium BC in the Issyk-Kul basin. Written sources mention the name of only one settlement in this territory — the residence of the Usun ruler, Chigu. This raises the question: could Sarybulun be the ruins of Chigu? Let us turn to ancient chronicles. The earliest information about Chigu comes from the "Shiji" ("Historical Records") as told by the involuntary
