Svalbard
Guides
Heleomyza serrata
Heleomyza serrata is a small fly in the family Heleomyzidae, measuring 3–7 mm in body length. The species is distinguished by specific chaetotaxy: setae present on the propleura, multiple pairs of setae on the prothorax, and at most one hair on the mesopleura. Males possess distinctive genitalia with rudimentary aedeagus, unexpanded epandrium base, and surstyles that are much longer than the epandrium and evenly curved throughout their length.
Micaria constricta
Micaria constricta is a small ground spider in the family Gnaphosidae, first described by Emerton in 1894. The species belongs to the genus Micaria, a group of spiders commonly known as 'ant-mimics' due to their resemblance to ants in both appearance and movement. M. constricta has a Holarctic distribution, occurring in North America and across northern Eurasia from Northern Europe to Middle Siberia. Records indicate presence in Alberta, Canada, and parts of the United States, as well as Svalbard and Russia.
Pemphigus populiglobuli
poplar bullet gall aphid
Pemphigus populiglobuli is a Nearctic aphid species known for forming bullet-shaped galls on poplar leaves during its primary generation. The Svalbard High Arctic population represents a remarkable secondary generation that has lost its primary host association and adapted to year-round root-feeding on grasses. Molecular analyses confirmed these specimens belong to P. populiglobuli rather than the historically assumed P. groenlandicus. The study proposes synonymizing P. groenlandicus and its subspecies crassicornis under P. populiglobuli based on morphometric similarity across Arctic and European populations.