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In 2006-2007, the main features of life cycles in seven species of the tirbe Pogonini in the semi-desert Lake Elton region, Russia were studied. Six species, Cardiaderus chloroticus, Pogonus transfuga, P. meridianalis, Pogonistes rufoaeneus, P. angustus and P. convexicollis, are spring breeders. Among them, P. transfuga, P. meridionalis and P. rufoaeneus are iteroparous while C. chloroticus, P angustus and P convexicollis are semelparous. The life cycles of all these species are monovariant monovoltine with spring or spring-summer reproduction and adult (immature or both immature and spent) hibernation. However, the life cycle in C. chloroticus is possibly bivoltine. In contrast, P. cumanus is an autumn-breeding iteroparous species, its life cycle being monovariant monovoltine with obligate larval hibernation and obligate adult aestivation, parapause. This is a surprising finding, because previously all Pogonini were considered to be "spring breeders" or "imaginal hibernators". Among the species studied, P transfuga and P meridionalis can be characterized as halophiles, because they live in habitats with moderate salinity All the other species are pronounced halobionts because, with rare exceptions only, they are restricted to high-salinity habitats. Parasitic mites of the family Podapolipidae were found on P. transfuga, P meridionalis, P cumanus and P rufoaeneus adults. Survival over winter and reproduction during a second season, together with the new generation specimens, is an important precondition for dispersal of Podapohpidae. On the other hand, this greatly restricts the range of their possible hosts.