Two new ectoparasitic species of the subfamily Harpirhynchinae (Acari: Harpirhynchidae) are described from African birds: Harpyrhynchoides clamator sp. nov. from Clamator jacobinus (Boddaert, 1783) (Cuculiformes: Cuculidae) from South Africa and Neharpirhynchus oenanthe sp. nov. from Oenanthe oenanthe (Linnaeus, 1758) (Passeriformes: Muscicapidae) from Rwanda.

Four new species of the genus Euphthiracarus (Euphthiracaridae) from litter and soil samples collected in Madagascar and East Tanzania are described. Two belong to the subgenus Euphthiracarus: Euphthiracarus (Euphthiracarus) duplex sp. nov. and Euphthiracarus (Euphthiracarus) netron sp. nov., and two to the subgenus Pocsia: Euphthiracarus (Pocsia) paraafricanus sp. nov. and Euphthiracarus (Pocsia) uluguruensis sp. nov. Detalied descriptions and figures are provided. A key to all species of the genus Euphthiracarus from the Afrotropical Region is presented.

The shape of adult mouthparts (proboscis) of all genera of Hyadinini (Diptera: Ephydridae) is provided, including variability of cibarium, lacinia and the number of pseudotracheae. Its usage in phylogenetic construction is documented. All ten genera are diagnosed, including the genus Lytogaster, which is formally restored from synonymy with Hyadina. The ventral receptacle of four genera (Garifuna, Parahyadina, Parydroptera and Pelinoides) and the male terminalia of Parahyadina are presented for the first time. Monophyly of the tribe is discussed and the relationships among genera of Hyadinini are proposed. Ten Hyadinini genera are grouped into four lineages 1) Pelina group with Pelina and Parydroptera, 2) Pelinoides group with Pelinoides, 3) Philygria group with Nostima and Philygria, 4) Hyadina group with Axysta, Lytogaster, Hyadina, Parahyadina and Garifuna.

The paper describes a new genus of the Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Flatidae, Kirkamflata gen. nov., and a new species K. socotrana sp. nov. from the Hagher Mountains in central Socotra island (Yemen). Habitus, external morphology, male and female terminalia and internal genital structures of the new species are illustrated. The new genus is similar to Latois Stål, 1866 in head morphology, wing shape and venation, male and female terminalia but differs in a rudimentary median carina on pronotum and mesonotum, longer apical cells of tegmen and details of the male reproductive parts: style, periandrium, aedeagus, as well as female ones: gonapophysis VIII and diverticulum ductus.

The aim of our study was to find suitable molecular markers for genetic studies of the population of Montagu's harrier Circus pygargus. We used the crossspecies amplification strategy to test the usefulness of 24 primer pairs, amplifying the microsatellite loci of several other members of Accipitridae. The analysis was performed on 139 Montagu's harriers from breeding populations in Spain and Poland. We found an amplification success of 50%; however, the level of polymorphism in cross-amplified microsatellites was low, especially in terms of heterozygosity. We did not find significant differences in genetic variability, estimated based on microsatellite markers, between breeding populations from Spain and Poland. The level of genetic differentiation between these two populations was low (F_ST = 0.016), although significant. An analysis of genotypes of nestlings in 10 nests suggested one case of extra-pair paternity.