The discovery of new specimens of the Late Carboniferous species elongata Brongniat, 1893: 433, belonging to the taxon Archaeorthoptera nom. Béthoux and Nel, 2002, dis.-typ. Béthoux, 2007c (i.e. is more closely related to the Linnaean order Orthoptera than to any other recent insect order) is reported. The head and leg morphology of the species could be investigated thanks to the good preservation of the specimens, and new preparation. The tarsus is 5-segmented, supporting the view that this state is plesiomorphic for orthopterans s. s. Morphology of mandibules indicates a carnivorous food-habit. Fore- and mid-leg femora and tibiae were provided with long and spaced out spines, most probably arranged in two rows. These spines might have assisted the entrapment of preys. The relative length of leg segments, and the length of antennae, are reminiscent of the condition exhibited by phasmidans, suggesting a similar locomotion behavior.

The taxonomic status of some Ephemeroptera species is still not finally established. Such a situation is found in the case of a few species from the family Baetidae. Procloeon nana and Pseudocentroptiloides shadini have been included in the past in one of the following genera: Centroptilum, Cloeon, Procloeon or Pseudocentroptiloides. The changes in the taxonomic positions of these species are presented, starting from their first descriptions. After critical analysis of all these opinions, the following status: Procloeon nana (Bogoescu, 1951) and Pseudocentroptiloides shadini (Kazlauskas, 1964) is considered valid. On the basis of the material from the river Bug (North-West Poland), the different stadia: nymph, male and female imagoes, egg are redescribed and the main diagnostic features are presented.

The genus Prosopophorella de Meijere, 1917 is recorded from China for the first time. One species, Prosopophorella zhuae sp. nov., is described as new to science and one species, Prosopophorella yoshiyasui Sasakawa, 2001 is newly recorded for China. A key to separate species of the genus in the world is presented.

Two new species of Ichneumonidae: Xoridinae parasitizing Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) in China are described. Xorides cinnabarius sp. nov. reared from Saperda balsamifera Motschulsky on Populus alba Linn, var.pyramdalis Bunge in Xinjiang and Xorides asiasius sp. nov. reared from Asias halodendri (Pallas) on Hippophae rhamnoides sinensis Rousi in Ningxia.

The genus Oxyrrhexis Foerster, 1869 from China is revised, and three species: O. eurus Kasparyan, 1977, O. rugosus sp. nov., and O. shaanxiensis sp. nov. are described and illustrated. The species Oxyrrhexix chinensis He, 1996 is synonymized with O. eurus. A key to the Chinese species of this genus is given.

Wood ants are often absent on islands of the Gulf of Finland, even when seemingly suitable habitats are available. Their absence may partially be explained by the lack or rarity of ant species suitable as host during colonisation through temporary parasitism. To search for the limits of living conditions on islands, given colonisation constraints are overcome, we artificially established wood ant colonies on several islands constituting a series from suboptimal to extremely harsh living conditions. The case reported here showed that a barren < 0.2 ha islet, with aphids on its single pine tree the only permanent and relatively rich food source, has allowed the existence of an artificially introduced Formica polyctena Först. colony for 22 years. The ambient living conditions are probably close to the limit for the species, as evidently the colony does not produce sexual offspring. Thus the sustained existence of the colony is dependent on adoption of fertile gynes originating in colonies that live in more optimal conditions. We suggest that the polygynic social mode of the inherently polycalic F. polyctena is the key for its sustained existence on the islet, as polygyny together with receptivity to new, even alien queens keeps the colony alive in a sink habitat insufficient for production of own sexual offspring.

The name Ligniperda Pallas, 1775 is considered nomen oblitum, and Apate Fabricius, 1775 — nomen protectum, under the provision of the Article 23.9 of the ICZN. Apate is hereafter used as a valid generic name.

A new flea beetle, Aeschrocnemis turcica sp. nov. from Southwest Turkey is described and illustrated. The new species is compared with the closely related species, Aeschrocnemis whiteheadi (Warchałowski, 1998), occurring in Turkey. They can be easily distinguished by differences in colour, the shape of aedeagus and prothorax, the pronotal punctation, male tarsi, and the fifth abdominal sternite.

Notosacantha dammaropsi, a species new to science is described and figured from New Guinea. It is a member of the N. molucana group. New host plant records to N. molucana (Boheman, 1850) and N. dammaropsi sp. nov. are given.

Spermathecae of 72 species of the genus Stolas Billberg, 1820 have been studied and figured. Spermathecae of particular species are characterized by a set of constant and distinct characters and in many cases they are also diagnostic on species group level. Correlation was observed between some species groups created on the basis of external characters and structure of their Spermathecae.

The members of the Australian genus Australoneda Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1984 are revised. Seven species from New Guinea and single species from Australia are recognised, described and illustrated. Two new species: A. bielawskii sp. nov. (Irian Java), A. ruitong sp. nov. (Papua New Guinea) are described. A key to the species is also provided.

Taxonomical and systematic status of the species of Contipus Marseul, 1854 was analyzed. The following new synonyms have been established: Contipus digitatus Marseul, 1854 = C. sudanicus Mazur, 1979 syn. nov., C. flexuosus Schmidt, 1889 = C. tardus Bickhardt, 1919 syn. nov., C. oblongus Lewis, 1906 = C. tristriatus Thérond, 1965 syn. nov., Hister tropicus Paykull, 1811 = Contipus pavani Vienna, 1980 syn. nov. and Hister paganus Schmidt, 1889 = Contipus semiopacus Müller, 1939 syn. nov. Contipus pycnurus Müller, 1942 has been transferred to Afrohister Mazur, 2006. Lectotypes for Contipus tardus and Hister kristenseni Bickhardt, 1911 are designated. All the species of Contipus are keyed and catalogued.

The catalogue of all known World genera and species of the subtribe Stizopina is presented; 21 genera, 95 species and subspecies are listed. The data of primary types and distributional maps for known species and subspecies are included. The type species are designated for the following genus-group names: Blacodes Mulsant et Rey, 1859 (Pedinus sulcatus Laporte de Castelnau, 1840) and Planodes Mulsant et Rey, 1859 (Planodes byrroides Mulsant et Rey, 1859). Incertae sedis taxa are listed separately.