Alex Rasnitsyn
Encyclopedia
Rasnitsyn, Alexandr Pavlovich (Russian: Александр Павлович Расницын) — Soviet and Russian entomologist, expert in palaeoentomology. Honored Scientist of Russian Federation (2001).
His scientific interests are centered on the palaeontology, phylogeny, and taxonomy of hymenopteran insects and insects in general. He has also studied broader biological problems such as evolutionary theory, the principles of phylogenetics, taxonomy, nomenclature, and palaeoecology. He has published over 300 articles and books in several languages. In August 2008 he was awarded the Distinguished Research Medal of the International Society of Hymenopterists.
. In 1955 he became a student at the Biological Faculty of the Moscow State University
and in 1960 he graduated with honors from the Department of Entomology. His Master thesis was "Hibernation in the ichneumon-fly subfamily Ichneumoninae". The same year Rasnitsyn joined the Laboratory of Arthropods at the Paleontological institute, Academy of Sciences of USSR. In 1967 he received his Ph.D. in biology from the Paleontological Institute with the thesis "The Mesozoic Hymenoptera Symphyta and the early evolution of Xyelidae". After defending in 1978 his Dr. hab. (doktor nauk) thesis "The origin and evolution of Hymenoptera" Rasnitsyn became Head of the Laboratory of Arthropods. In 1991 he received the title of a Biology Professor. In 1996 he resigned from heading the Laboratory and continued there as a principal research worker, but after the new leader, Vladimir Zherikhin, died in 2001 Rasnitsyn again became the acting Head of the Laboratory (2002—present).
Between 2001 and 2005 Rasnitsyn served as President of the International Palaeoentomological Society. Since 2007 he is serving on the Council of the Russian Entomological Society
.
During more than 20 field seasons between 1956 and 2009 Rasnitsyn conducted field work in various regions of Russia
and the former USSR, including Fergana Valley
, Issyk Kul
, Central Asia
, Transbaikalia, Taimyr, Okhotsk
, Sikhote-Alin
, and other parts of Siberia
, Far East
, and Mongolia
.
He is one of the foremost authorities on the paleontology and systematics of Hymenoptera
whose ideas have formed the foundation of the modern classification of that insect order. Instead of the traditional division into Symphyta and Apocrita
, he divided the order into “sawflies” (Siricina) and “stinging and parasitic wasps’’ (Vespina), the latter suborder including the parasitic Orussoidea, traditionally placed in the Symphyta.
Rasnitsyn suggested his own hypothesis on the origin of insect flight. According to him, the wings first evolved, as a means to control gliding, in relatively large insects that had turned to feeding on generative organs of arboreal plants.
Rasnitsyn is one of the most consistent opponents of cladism. He develops an alternative approach to biological systematics, called “phyletics”, which differs from phenetics
in taking into account genealogy in addition to similarities and hiatuses.
He also contributed significantly to the epigenetic theory of evolution and, in particular, has put forward the concept of “adaptive compromise” and the notion of macroevolution being irreducible to microevolutionary processes alone.
Rasnitsyn has also made a significant contribution to paleoecology and in collaboration with Vladimir Zherikhin developed the theory of ecological crises.
A.P. Rasnitsyn has also described ca. 250 new genera and over 800 new species of arthropods, mainly fossil.
His scientific interests are centered on the palaeontology, phylogeny, and taxonomy of hymenopteran insects and insects in general. He has also studied broader biological problems such as evolutionary theory, the principles of phylogenetics, taxonomy, nomenclature, and palaeoecology. He has published over 300 articles and books in several languages. In August 2008 he was awarded the Distinguished Research Medal of the International Society of Hymenopterists.
Biography
Alexandr Rasnitsyn was born on 24 September 1936 in Moscow. As a schoolboy Alex was active in the Society of Young Biologists at the Moscow ZooMoscow Zoo
The Moscow Zoo is a zoo founded in 1864 by a group of professor-biologists, K.F. Rulje, S.A. Usov and A.P. Bogdanov, from the Moscow State University. In 1919, the zoo was nationalized. In 1922, the ownership was transferred to the city of Moscow and has remained under Moscow's control ever...
. In 1955 he became a student at the Biological Faculty of the Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
and in 1960 he graduated with honors from the Department of Entomology. His Master thesis was "Hibernation in the ichneumon-fly subfamily Ichneumoninae". The same year Rasnitsyn joined the Laboratory of Arthropods at the Paleontological institute, Academy of Sciences of USSR. In 1967 he received his Ph.D. in biology from the Paleontological Institute with the thesis "The Mesozoic Hymenoptera Symphyta and the early evolution of Xyelidae". After defending in 1978 his Dr. hab. (doktor nauk) thesis "The origin and evolution of Hymenoptera" Rasnitsyn became Head of the Laboratory of Arthropods. In 1991 he received the title of a Biology Professor. In 1996 he resigned from heading the Laboratory and continued there as a principal research worker, but after the new leader, Vladimir Zherikhin, died in 2001 Rasnitsyn again became the acting Head of the Laboratory (2002—present).
Between 2001 and 2005 Rasnitsyn served as President of the International Palaeoentomological Society. Since 2007 he is serving on the Council of the Russian Entomological Society
Russian Entomological Society
The Russian Entomological Society is a Russian scientific society devoted to entomology.The Society was founded in 1859 in St. Petersburg by Karl Ernst von Baer , Johann Friedrich von Brandt who was then the director of the Zoological Museum of the Russian Academy of Science , Ya. A...
.
During more than 20 field seasons between 1956 and 2009 Rasnitsyn conducted field work in various regions of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and the former USSR, including Fergana Valley
Fergana Valley
The Fergana Valley or Farghana Valley is a region in Central Asia spreading across eastern Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Divided across three subdivisions of the former Soviet Union, the valley is ethnically diverse, and in the early 21st century was the scene of ethnic conflict...
, Issyk Kul
Issyk Kul
Issyk Kul is an endorheic lake in the northern Tian Shan mountains in eastern Kyrgyzstan. It is the tenth largest lake in the world by volume and the second largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea. Although it is surrounded by snow-capped peaks, it never freezes; hence its name, which means "hot...
, Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
, Transbaikalia, Taimyr, Okhotsk
Okhotsk
Okhotsk is an urban locality and a seaport at the mouth of the Okhota River on the Sea of Okhotsk, in Okhotsky District, Khabarovsk Krai, Russia. Population: 4,470 ;...
, Sikhote-Alin
Sikhote-Alin
The Sikhote-Alin is a mountain range in Primorsky and Khabarovsk Krais, Russia, extending about 900 km to the northeast of the Russian Pacific seaport of Vladivostok...
, and other parts of Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
, and Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
.
Major Research Achievements
One of the world’s leading paleoentomologists, Rasnitsyn has described ca. 250 new genera and over 800 new species of fossil insects from various orders.He is one of the foremost authorities on the paleontology and systematics of Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera is one of the largest orders of insects, comprising the sawflies, wasps, bees and ants. There are over 130,000 recognized species, with many more remaining to be described. The name refers to the heavy wings of the insects, and is derived from the Ancient Greek ὑμήν : membrane and...
whose ideas have formed the foundation of the modern classification of that insect order. Instead of the traditional division into Symphyta and Apocrita
Apocrita
Apocrita is a suborder of insects in the order Hymenoptera.Apocrita includes wasps, bees and ants, and consists of many families. It includes the most advanced hymenopterans and is distinguished from Symphyta by the narrow "waist" formed between the first two segments of the actual abdomen; the...
, he divided the order into “sawflies” (Siricina) and “stinging and parasitic wasps’’ (Vespina), the latter suborder including the parasitic Orussoidea, traditionally placed in the Symphyta.
Rasnitsyn suggested his own hypothesis on the origin of insect flight. According to him, the wings first evolved, as a means to control gliding, in relatively large insects that had turned to feeding on generative organs of arboreal plants.
Rasnitsyn is one of the most consistent opponents of cladism. He develops an alternative approach to biological systematics, called “phyletics”, which differs from phenetics
Phenetics
In biology, phenetics, also known as taximetrics, is an attempt to classify organisms based on overall similarity, usually in morphology or other observable traits, regardless of their phylogeny or evolutionary relation. It is closely related to numerical taxonomy which is concerned with the use of...
in taking into account genealogy in addition to similarities and hiatuses.
He also contributed significantly to the epigenetic theory of evolution and, in particular, has put forward the concept of “adaptive compromise” and the notion of macroevolution being irreducible to microevolutionary processes alone.
Rasnitsyn has also made a significant contribution to paleoecology and in collaboration with Vladimir Zherikhin developed the theory of ecological crises.
New taxa described by Alexandr Rasnitsyn
- Suborder †Eolepidopterigina Rasn., 1983 – a suborder of butterfliesLepidopteraLepidoptera is a large order of insects that includes moths and butterflies . It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
with the family Eolepidopterigidae Rasn., 1983 - Suborder †Aneuretopsychina Rasnitsyn et Kozlov, 1990 – a suborder of MecopteraMecopteraMecoptera are an order of insects with about 550 species in nine families worldwide. Mecoptera are sometimes called scorpionflies after their largest family, Panorpidae, in which the males have enlarged genitals that look similar to the stinger of a scorpion...
with the family Aneuretopsychidae Rasnitsyn et Kozlov, 1990 - Superfamily †Karatavitoidea Rasn., 1963 – a Mesozoic superfamily of the infraorder Orussomorpha Newman, 1834 with the family Karatavitidae Rasn., 1963
- Superfamily †Bethylonymoidea Rasn., 1975 – a Mesozoic superfamily of Hymenoptera Apocrita with the family Bethylonymidae Rasn., 1975. The ancestor group of Aculeata.
- Family †Parapamphiliidae Rasn., 1968 – later was included into SepulcidaeSepulcidaeSepulcidae is a family of extinct hymenopteran insects. The family is known primarily from late Mesozoic fossils found in 1968 in Transbaikalia. The insects were distant relatives of modern sawflies....
Rasn., 1968 as the subfamily Parapamphiliinae Rasn., 1968 - Family †Xyelydidae Rasn., 1968 – a Mesozoic family of Hymenoptera Symphyta from the superfamily Pamphilioidea
- Family †Gigasiricidae Rasn., 1968 – a Jurassic family of Hymenoptera Symphyta from the superfamily SiricoideaSiricoideaThe superfamily Siricoidea is an archaic group of the order Hymenoptera, consisting of three families of xylophagous sawflies. The group is well-represented in early Tertiary and Mesozoic times, but a number of living taxa remain, including the family Anaxyelidae, which has recently been linked to...
- Family †Xyelotomidae Rasn., 1968 – a Mesozoic family of Hymenoptera Symphyta from the superfamily TenthredinoideaTenthredinoideaThe Tenthredinoidea are the dominant superfamily within the Symphyta, containing some 7000 species worldwide, primarily in the family Tenthredinidae. All known larvae are phytophagous, and a number are considered pests....
- Family †Pararchexyelydae Rasn., 1968 – a Mesozoic family of Hymenoptera Symphyta
- Family †Praeaulacidae Rasn., 1972 – a Mesozoic family of Hymenoptera Apocrita from the superfamily EvanioideaEvanioideaEvanioidea is a small Hymenopteran superfamily that includes three families, two of which are much more closely related to one another than they are to the remaining family, Evaniidae. There is a rich fossil record, however, that helps fill in the gaps between these lineages...
- Family †Maimetshidae Rasn., 1975 – a Cretaceous family of Hymenoptera Apocrita from the superfamily CeraphronoideaCeraphronoideaCeraphronoidea is a small Hymenopteran superfamily that includes only two families, and a total of some 800 species, though a great many species are still undescribed...
- Family †Cretevaniidae Rasn., 1975 – a Mesozoic family of Hymenoptera Apocrita from the superfamily EvanioideaEvanioideaEvanioidea is a small Hymenopteran superfamily that includes three families, two of which are much more closely related to one another than they are to the remaining family, Evaniidae. There is a rich fossil record, however, that helps fill in the gaps between these lineages...
- Family †Kotujellidae Rasn., 1975 – a Mesozoic family of Hymenoptera Apocrita from the superfamily EvanioideaEvanioideaEvanioidea is a small Hymenopteran superfamily that includes three families, two of which are much more closely related to one another than they are to the remaining family, Evaniidae. There is a rich fossil record, however, that helps fill in the gaps between these lineages...
(later included into GasteruptiidaeGasteruptiidaeThe family Gasteruptiidae is one of the more distinctive among the Apocritan wasps, with surprisingly little variation in appearance for a group that contains around 500 species in 9 genera worldwide. The propleura form an elongated "neck", the petiole attaches very high on the propodeum, and the...
Ashmead, 1900) - Family †Anomopterellidae Rasn., 1975 – a Mesozoic family of Hymenoptera Apocrita from the superfamily EvanioideaEvanioideaEvanioidea is a small Hymenopteran superfamily that includes three families, two of which are much more closely related to one another than they are to the remaining family, Evaniidae. There is a rich fossil record, however, that helps fill in the gaps between these lineages...
- Family †Baissidae Rasn., 1975 – a Mesozoic family of Hymenoptera Apocrita from the superfamily EvanioideaEvanioideaEvanioidea is a small Hymenopteran superfamily that includes three families, two of which are much more closely related to one another than they are to the remaining family, Evaniidae. There is a rich fossil record, however, that helps fill in the gaps between these lineages...
(later was included into AulacidaeAulacidaeThe family Aulacidae is a small cosmopolitan group, with 3 extant genera containing some 200 known species. They are primarily endoparasitoids of wood wasps and xylophagous beetles...
Schuckard, 1841 ) - Family †Ichneumonomimidae Rasn., 1975 – a Mesozoic family of Hymenoptera Apocrita. Systematic position uncertain, probably a relative of Ichneumonoidea
- Family †Angarosphecidae Rasn., 1975 – a Mesozoic family of Hymenoptera Apocrita from the superfamily Scolioidea
- Family †Falsiformicidae Rasn., 1975 – a Cretaceous family of Hymenoptera Apocrita from the superfamily Scolioidea
- Family †Baissodidae Rasn., 1975 – a Mesozoic family of Hymenoptera Apocrita
- Family †Evenkiidae Rasn., 1977 – a Carboniferous family of the order Protortoptera
- Family †Permonkidae Rasn., 1977 – a family of MiomopteraMiomopteraMiomoptera is an extinct order of insects. Although it is thought to be a common ancestor of all holometabolous insects, because no smooth transition between Miomoptera and other holometabolous insect orders is known it is considered to be in a separate order unto itself.The Miomopterans were small...
- Family †Palaeomantiscidae Rasn., 1977 – a family of MiomopteraMiomopteraMiomoptera is an extinct order of insects. Although it is thought to be a common ancestor of all holometabolous insects, because no smooth transition between Miomoptera and other holometabolous insect orders is known it is considered to be in a separate order unto itself.The Miomopterans were small...
- Family †Karataidae Rasn., 1977 – a Mesozoic family of Hymenoptera Apocrita
- Family †Electrotomidae Rasn., 1977 – a family of TenthredinoideaTenthredinoideaThe Tenthredinoidea are the dominant superfamily within the Symphyta, containing some 7000 species worldwide, primarily in the family Tenthredinidae. All known larvae are phytophagous, and a number are considered pests....
from Baltic amber - Family †Praeichneumonidae Rasn., 1983 – a Lower Cretaceous family of the superfamily Ichneumonoidea
- Family †Strashilidae Rasnitsyn, 1992 – a family of Mecopteroidea. Hypothetical ancestors of Anoplura
- Family †Saurodectidae Rasnitsyn et Zherikhin, 2000 – a Mesozoic family of Mallophaga
- Family †Andreneliidae Rasnitsyn et Martinez-Delclos, 2000 – a family of Hymenoptera Apocrita of the superfamily EvanioideaEvanioideaEvanioidea is a small Hymenopteran superfamily that includes three families, two of which are much more closely related to one another than they are to the remaining family, Evaniidae. There is a rich fossil record, however, that helps fill in the gaps between these lineages...
- Family †Tshekarcephalidae Novokshonov et Rasnitsyn, 2000 – a Paleozoic family of uncertain systematic position
- Family †Daohugoidae Rasn. et Zhang Haichun, 2004 – a family of Hymenoptera Symphyta of the superfamily SiricoideaSiricoideaThe superfamily Siricoidea is an archaic group of the order Hymenoptera, consisting of three families of xylophagous sawflies. The group is well-represented in early Tertiary and Mesozoic times, but a number of living taxa remain, including the family Anaxyelidae, which has recently been linked to...
- Family †Khutelchalcididae Rasnitsyn, Basibuyuk et Quicke, 2004 – a family of Chalcidoidea
- Family †Radiophronidae Ortega-Blanco, Rasnitsyn et Delclos, 2010 – a Mesozoic family of CeraphronoideaCeraphronoideaCeraphronoidea is a small Hymenopteran superfamily that includes only two families, and a total of some 800 species, though a great many species are still undescribed...
- Subfamily †Archexyelinae Rsan., 1964 – a subfamily of XyelidaeXyelidaeThe Xyelidae is a small family of sawflies known from fewer than 50 extant species in 5 genera, but with an extensive fossil record; they are the oldest fossil Hymenoptera, dating back to the Triassic, some 200 million years ago. Most species occur in the Northern Hemisphere, especially in boreal...
Newman, 1834 - Subfamily †Dolichostigmatinae Rasn., 1968 – a subfamily of Anaxyelidae Martynov., 1925
- Subfamily †Karatavitinae Rasn., 1968 –a subfamily of Karatavitidae Rasn., 1963
- Subfamily †Sepulcinae Rasn., 1968 – was described as a subfamily of Karatavitidae Rasn., 1963, later was raised to the family rank, SepulcidaeSepulcidaeSepulcidae is a family of extinct hymenopteran insects. The family is known primarily from late Mesozoic fossils found in 1968 in Transbaikalia. The insects were distant relatives of modern sawflies....
Rasn., 1968 - Subfamily †Auliscinae Rasn., 1968 – a subfamily of Karatavitidae Rasn., 1963
- Subfamily †Praesiricinae Rasn., 1968 – was described as a subfamily of Karatavitidae Rasn., 1963, later was raised to the family rank, Praesiricidae Rasn. 1968
- Subfamily †Madygellinae Rasn., 1969 – a subfamily of XyelidaeXyelidaeThe Xyelidae is a small family of sawflies known from fewer than 50 extant species in 5 genera, but with an extensive fossil record; they are the oldest fossil Hymenoptera, dating back to the Triassic, some 200 million years ago. Most species occur in the Northern Hemisphere, especially in boreal...
Newman, 1834 - Subfamily †Cleistogastrinae Rasn., 1975 – a subfamily of MegalyridaeMegalyridaeMegalyroidea is a small Hymenopteran superfamily that includes a single family, Megalyridae, with 8 genera and at least 45 extant species. Modern megalyrids are found mostly in areas of relict primary tropical forests, and there are very few New World representatives. The most abundant and...
Schletterer, 1889 - Subfamily Proscoliinae Rasn., 1977 – a recent subfamily of ScoliidaeScoliidaeScoliidae, the scoliid wasps, is a small family represented by 6 genera and about 20 species in North America, but they occur worldwide, with a total of around 300 species. They tend to be black, often marked with yellow or orange, and their wing tips are distinctively corrugated...
- Subfamily †Juralydinae Rasn., 1977 – a subfamily ofPamphiliidaePamphiliidaeThe Pamphiliidae are a small family within the Symphyta, containing some 200 species from the temperate regions of North America and Eurasia...
Cameron, 1890 - Subfamily †Mesorussinae Rasn., 1977 – a subfamily of OrussidaeOrussidaeThe family Orussidae is the only Symphytan group which is parasitic, thus giving them the common name parasitic wood wasps...
Mewman, 1834 - Subfamily †Cretogonalinae Rasn., 1977 – a subfamily of TrigonalidaeTrigonalidaeTrigonalidae is one of the more unusual families of hymenopteran insects, of indeterminate affinity within the suborder Apocrita , and presently placed in its own superfamily, Trigonaloidea...
Cresson, 1867 - Subfamily †Manlayinae Rasn., 1986 – a subfamily of AulacidaeAulacidaeThe family Aulacidae is a small cosmopolitan group, with 3 extant genera containing some 200 known species. They are primarily endoparasitoids of wood wasps and xylophagous beetles...
Schuckard, 1841 - Subfamily †Ghilarellinae Rasn., 1986 – a subfamily of SepulcidaeSepulcidaeSepulcidae is a family of extinct hymenopteran insects. The family is known primarily from late Mesozoic fossils found in 1968 in Transbaikalia. The insects were distant relatives of modern sawflies....
Rasn., 1968 - Subfamily †Trematothoracinae Rasn., 1986 – a subfamily of SepulcidaeSepulcidaeSepulcidae is a family of extinct hymenopteran insects. The family is known primarily from late Mesozoic fossils found in 1968 in Transbaikalia. The insects were distant relatives of modern sawflies....
Rasn., 1968 - Subfamily †Priorvespinae Carpenter et Rasnitsyn, 1990 – a subfamily of Vespidae Latrielle, 1802
- Subfamily †Archaeoscoliinae Rasnitsyn, 1993 – a subfamily of ScoliidaeScoliidaeScoliidae, the scoliid wasps, is a small family represented by 6 genera and about 20 species in North America, but they occur worldwide, with a total of around 300 species. They tend to be black, often marked with yellow or orange, and their wing tips are distinctively corrugated...
- Subfamily †Karataoserphinae Rasnitsyn, 1994 – a subfamily of Mesoserphidae Kozlov, 1970
- Subfamily †Iscopininae Rasnitsyn, 1980 – a subfamily of Pelecinidae Haliday, 1840.
- Tribe †Angaridyelini Rasn., 1966 – a tribe of the subfamily Macroxyelinae Ashmead, 1898 of the family XyelidaeXyelidaeThe Xyelidae is a small family of sawflies known from fewer than 50 extant species in 5 genera, but with an extensive fossil record; they are the oldest fossil Hymenoptera, dating back to the Triassic, some 200 million years ago. Most species occur in the Northern Hemisphere, especially in boreal...
- Tribe †Cretodinapsini Rasn., 1977 – a tribe of the subfamily Megalyrinae of the family MegalyridaeMegalyridaeMegalyroidea is a small Hymenopteran superfamily that includes a single family, Megalyridae, with 8 genera and at least 45 extant species. Modern megalyrids are found mostly in areas of relict primary tropical forests, and there are very few New World representatives. The most abundant and...
- Tribe †Gigantoxyelini Rasn., 1969 – a tribe of the subfamily Macroxyelinae Ashmead, 1898 of the family XyelidaeXyelidaeThe Xyelidae is a small family of sawflies known from fewer than 50 extant species in 5 genera, but with an extensive fossil record; they are the oldest fossil Hymenoptera, dating back to the Triassic, some 200 million years ago. Most species occur in the Northern Hemisphere, especially in boreal...
Newmann, 1834
A.P. Rasnitsyn has also described ca. 250 new genera and over 800 new species of arthropods, mainly fossil.
Animal names in honor of Alexandr Rasnitsyn
Over 50 species of animals have been named in honor of Rasnitsyn, as well as some taxa of higher rank:- Rasnicynipidae Kovalev, 1996 (a replacement name for Rasnitsyniidae Kovalev, 1994)— a fossil family of CynipoideaCynipoideaCynipoidea is a moderate-sized Hymenopteran superfamily that presently includes five modern families and three extinct families, though others have been recognized in the past. The most familiar members of the group are phytophagous, especially as gall-formers, though the actual majority of...
with the genus Rasnicynips Kovalev, 1996 (a replacement name for Rasnitsynia Kovalev 1994) - Alexarasniidae Gorochov, 2011 — a fossil family of Polyneoptera with the genus Alexarasnia Gorochov, 2011
- Alexrasnitsyniidae Prokop & Nel, 2011 — a family of the Paleozoic order DiaphanopterodeaDiaphanopterodeaThe Diaphanopterodea or Paramegasecoptera are an extinct order of moderate to large-sized Palaeozoic insects. They are first known from the Middle Carboniferous , and include some of the earliest known flying insects.-Overview:Despite their very early appearance in the insect fossil record, they...
with the genus Alexrasnitsynia Prokop & Nel, 2011 - Plumalexiidae Brothers, 2011 — a fossil family of Hymenoptera with the species Plumalexius rasnitsyni Brothers, 2011
- Rasnitsynaphididae Homan & Wegierek, 2011 — a fossil family of Aphidoidea with the species Rasnitsynaphis Homan & Wegierek, 2011
- Rasnitsynitini Kasparyan, 1994 — a tribe of the fossil subfamily Townesitinae of the family IchneumonidaeIchneumonidaeIchneumonidae is a family within the insect order Hymenoptera. Insects in this family are commonly called ichneumon wasps. Less exact terms are ichneumon flies , or scorpion wasps due to the extreme lengthening and curving of the abdomen...
with the genus Rasnitsynites Kasparyan, 1994 - Rasnitsynella Krivolutzkii, 1976 — a fossil genus of Acarina
- Rasnitsynia Pagliano et Scaramozzino 1989 (a replacement name for Oligoneuroides Zhang 1985) — a fossil genus of BraconidaeBraconidaeBraconidae is a family of parasitoid wasps and one of the richest families of insects. Between 50,000 and 150,000 species exist worldwide. The species are grouped into about 45 subfamilies and 1,000 genera, some important ones being: Ademon, Aphanta, Asobara, Bracon hebetor, Cenocoelius, Chaenusa,...
- Rasnitsynitilla Lelej, 2006 — a genus of MutillidaeMutillidaeMutillidae are a family of more than 3,000 species of wasp whose wingless females resemble ants. Their common name velvet ant refers to their dense pile of hair which most often is bright scarlet or orange but may also be black, white, silver, or gold. Their bright colours serve as aposematic signals...
- Alicodoxa rasnitsyni Emeljanov et Shcherbakov, 2011 — fossil genus and species of Fulgoroidea of the family DictyopharidaeDictyopharidaeDictyopharidae is a family of bugs in the suborder Auchenorrhyncha belonging to the infraorder Fulgoromorpha. The family comprises nearly 760 species in more than 150 genera.-Classification:...
- Palerasnitsynus Wichard, Ross et Ross, 2011 — a fossil genus of TrichopteraTrichopteraThe caddisflies are an order, Trichoptera, of insects with approximately 12,000 described species. Also called sedge-flies or rail-flies, they are small moth-like insects having two pairs of hairy membranous wings...
of the family PsychomyiidaePsychomyiidaePsychomyiidae is a family level taxon consisting of trumpet-net and tube-making caddisflies. Members of this family are typically very similar to polycentropodids, but usually differ in leg characters. Larvae also tend to construct silken tubes.... - Rasnitsynala Zessin, Brauckmann et Groening, 2011 — a genus of Odonata from the family Erasipteridae
Publications
A.P. Rasnitsyn is an author of more than 300 books and articles, including 17 monographs.Major works
- Rasnitsyn AP (1969) Origin and evolution of lower Hymenoptera. Trudy Paleontologicheskogo Instituta Akademii Nauk SSSR 123: 1–196 [In Russian, with English translation by Amerind Co., New Delhi, 1979].
- Rasnitsyn AP (1975) Hymenoptera Apocrita of the Mesozoic. Trudy Paleontologicheskogo Instituta Akademii Nauk SSSR 147: 1–134 [In Russian].
- Rasnitsyn AP (1980) Origin and evolution of Hymenoptera. Trudy Paleontologicheskogo Instituta Akademii Nauk SSSR 174: 1–192 [In Russian].
- Rohdendorf BB, Rasnitsyn AP, editors (1980) Historical development of the class Insecta. Trudy Paleontologicheskogo Instituta Akademii Nauk SSSR 175: 1–269, +8 pls. [In Russian].
- Rasnitsyn AP, Quicke DLJ, editors (2002) History of Insects. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, xii+517 pp. ISBN 1-4020-0026-X.
- Rasnitsyn AP (2005) Selected Works on Evolutionary Biology. KMK Scientific Press, Moscow, Russia, iv+347 pp [In Russian] [Collection of earlier papers, except for: “Dynamics of taxonomic diversity: An afterword of 2004”, pp. 247–248]. ISBN 978-5-87317-454-6
- Zherikhin VV, Ponomarenko AG, Rasnitsyn AP (2008) Introduction to Palaeoentomology. KMK Scientific Press, Moscow, 371 pp. [In Russian].