A 327 bp region of the mitochondrial DNA NADH dehydrogenase 4 subunit (ND4) was analyzed for genetic variation in 43 wheat midges (Sitodiplosis mosellana) from 12 different areas of China. Nucleotide sequencing revealed 21 polymorphic sites and 22 distinct haplotypes. Haplotypes was closely related with geographical distribution based on Neighbor-Joining analysis. The haplotypes from the spring wheat region samples clustered into one group, and the majority of winter wheat region samples clustered into another group. However, the haplotypes in the Chang'an population in Shaanxi Province (SC) appeared synchronously in each group. Thus, the distribution area of the SC population became a transition place of haplotype distribution. The genetic distances among geographic populations of the wheat midges were 0.0000∼0.0180 and those within each populations were 0.0000∼0.0145.

For several groups of insects, including the velvet ants, male–female associations are difficult because of extreme dimorphism between the sexes. Many species, or even genera, are known from only a single sex. In this study, we investigate the use of DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS1 & ITS2) as a means of associating males and females in velvet ants. We compare ITS sequences between sexes in taxa where the associations are well documented and uncontested. We compare these sequences to other closely related species. The DNA sequence data show little or no variability between sexes, while much greater differences exist between species. This method should prove a valuable technique for making associations between previously unmatched males and females in velvet ants, and likely other hymenopteran taxa.

Observations were made of Polistes dominulus Christ (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) on budding Paeonia lactiflora plants (Paeoniaceae). Y-tube and parallel tube olfactometer experiments were performed on field-collected queens and workers to determine if peony odor is attractive to P. dominulus. In Y-tube olfactometer experiments, the wasps showed a significant orientation response toward peony bud odor but they did not show a significant response toward peony foliage odor, when compared to the control. Peony bud volatiles were collected in an adsorbent trap and tested in a parallel tube olfactometer for attractiveness to P. dominulus females. The wasp took significantly less time to travel upwind in the peony bud volatile tube compared to the control tube. Chemicals that produce peony bud odor could serve as a feeding attractant lure for trapping P. dominulus.

Latitudinal variation in body size, over-wintering emergence time and weight loss during development in the alkali bee, Nomia melanderi Cockerell, were studied in individuals from 24 populations in the western United States when reared under controlled laboratory conditions. Individuals from northern latitude sites were significantly heavier and took less time to develop to adults, but lost comparable weight during the developmental process.

The resources utilized by Centris flavofasciata were studied near Mexico's Pacific coast. An analysis of pollen showed that these bees are polylectic.

Sixteen pollen types were found, belonging to eight plant families; however only three plant species (Lonchocarpus guatemalensis, Tabebuia rosea, Prockia crucis) were found in abundance. The plant families that occurred most in pollen samples were Leguminosae, Bignoniaceae and Flacourtiaceae. The Leguminosae was rich in species and was an important pollen resource for the bees investigated.

Centris flavofasciata forage less resources than other Centris species and no plant family was represented by >70% the counted grains.

A 3 yr survey of the bee associates of flowering accessions of Astragalus and Onobrychis species was conducted in open-pollinated field nurseries at Central Ferry, Washington to gain insight into the potential for bee-mediated inter-accession out-crossing in these nurseries. Such nurseries are used by genebank managers at the USDA-ARS Western Regional Plant Introduction Station (WRPIS), Pullman, Washington, to multiply seed of accessions low in viability and/or supply. Fifty-two species of bees (Hymenoptera) in the Andrenidae (4 species), Apidae (18), Colletidae (1), Halictidae (5), and Megachilidae (24) were recorded. Species-rich genera were Bombus (8 species) and Osmia (16). One undescribed species of Osmia was collected. The bee fauna was more diverse on Astragalus (45 bee species) compared to Onobrychis (29 species). Among the 24 Astragalus and 13 Onobrychis species censused, bee diversity was highest on A. bungeanus Boiss. (24 bee species), A. chaborasicus Boiss. & Hausskn. (24 species), A. miser var. serotinus (A. Gray ex J.G. Cooper) Barney (14 species), A. cicer L. (13 species), A. schistosus Boiss. & Hohen. (12 species), A. onobrychis L. (11 species), A. podolobus Boiss. & Hohen. (11 species), and Onobrychis viciifolia Scop. (10 species). The presence of a rich bee fauna in WRPIS nurseries at Central Ferry, including documented pollinators of the allogamous species A. cicer and O. viciifolia, could complicate efforts to prevent hybridization and maintain genetic integrity of genebank accessions of allogamous plant species. Our results support a 1993 decision by WRPIS curators to discontinue the practice of clustering accessions of single species of Astragalus and Onobrychis in open-pollinated nurseries to regenerate seed.

A new Chinese species, Willowsia shiae, from Tibet is described here. It is similar to the Chinese species W. guangxiensis Shi and Chen 2004 and the Vietnamese species W. pseudosocia Stach 1965. A key to the Chinese species of the genus was provided.

A new species, Myrsidea willardi, is described from the Schlegel's Asity, Philepitta schlegeli, from Madagascar. The only previously described species from the host family Philepittidae, Myrsidea minuscula (Piaget), is redescribed and illustrated. These two species of lice show pronounced genetic divergence based on partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I sequences.

A systematic study of the chewing louse genus Acidoproctus (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera: Philopteridae) clarifies the identity of specimens placed as A. moschatae (L.) in the K. C. Emerson Collection. The described species are reviewed and A. kelloggi Carriker is placed as a synonym of A. moschatae. Acidoproctus granthami Arnold, new species is described from the freckled duck [Stictonetta naevosa (Gould)] from Australia.

In this work, a new species of Thamnotettix from Turkey, Thamnotettix lutfi n. sp., is described. A key for the discrimination of T. lutfi and T. exemtus Melichar, 1896 is given.

The subgenus Blepharipus Lepeletier et Brullé (Crabronidae: Crabroninae: Crossocerus) from southwestern China is reviewed. A key to the species is provided. Two new species, Crossocerus (Blepharipus) rudipunctatus n. sp. from Yunnan Province, China, and Crossocerus (Blepharipus) carinicollaris n. sp. from Yunnan and Hubei Provinces, China, are described and illustrated, and one new record for China, Crossocerus (Blepharipus) barbipes (Dahlbom) from Yunnan, Hebei and Xinjiang Provinces, is reported.