The aim of this study was to determine species of bark beetles in the coniferous forests of Bahkesir. Five pheromone and two log traps were established in six plots and set 40 meters apart for each site. At the conclusion of the study, 15 species belonging to 4 tribes Hylastini, Ipini, Pholeosinini and Tomicini of Scolytinae were identified as follows: Hylastes angustatus, H. linearis, Ips sexdentatus, Orthotomicus erosus, O. longicollis, Pityogenes bistridentatus, P. pennidens, Pityokteines curvidens, P. vorontzowi, Phloeosinus aubei, Hylurgus ligniperda, H. micklitzi, Tomicus destruens, T. minor and T. piniperda.

The Conoderine beetle, Euryommatus berytensis (Marseul), is reported for the first time on Liquidambar orientalis. There is no previous evidence of its occurring in Turkey; we now add this species to the entomofauna of Turkey.

This study presents the first record of Ropalomeridae (Diptera, Sciomyzoidea) on dog corpses. Flies were sampled in a fragment of Cerrado (savanna formation) located in the city of Campo Grande, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. At the study area, two medium dog corpses were set out with a Shannon and four Pitfall traps, allocated around each one. The dog corpses were obtained from the Centro de Controle de Zoonoses de Campo Grande, MS respecting all ethical procedures. The family is represented by the genera Ropalomera Wiedemann and Willistoniella Mik. We obtained seven specimens of R. femorata (Fabricius, 1805) and one specimen of W. spatulata Marques & Ale-Rocha, 2005. This is also the first record of W. spatulata for the state of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS).

In order to study the coefficient of restitution (Cr) during the vibrational separation of maggots, which were provided by Hubei Province Insect Resource Utilization and Pest Sustainable Management Key Laboratory, based on kinematic principles, a series of collision experiments were conducted. The maximum force that a maggot can withstand was tested. A range of free-falling heights on collision was analyzed. The L8 (4¹×2⁴) orthogonal table scheme was designed to analyze the four influential factors: collision material, material thickness, free-falling height and moisture content. The results showed that the maximum force a maggot can withstand is 9.64±0.26 N, where N means Newton, and is the unit of force. The factors influencing Cr are: collision material, free-falling height, material thickness and moisture content. The single-factor test showed that the collision material and the free-falling height were the most influential factors on the Cr of the maggots.

Most neuropteran species have similar male genitalia which makes their morphological identification difficult. The aim of this study was to investigate potency of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene-based marker to distinguish twenty-one morphospecies members of Neuroptera and to reveal their phylogenetic relationships. The samples representing four neuropteran families (Ascalaphidae, Myrmeleontidae, Nemopteridae and Chrysopidae) were collected from geographically separated cities (Kamyaran, Saghez, Mari van, Sanandaj, Divandareh and Baneh) from the west of Iran. Initially, the samples were identified morphologically and then subjected to DNA extraction, PCR assay and DNA sequencing. Accordingly, seven morphological species including Chrysopa pallens, Suarius nanus, Distoleon nuristanus, Acanthaclisis occitanica, Iranoidricerus iranensis, Nemoptera rachelli and Halter nutans were identified. Analysis of genetic similarity among Neuropterans showed that Suarius nanus and Chrysopa pallens species from Chrysopidae had the most dissimilarities with the other species. Results of phylogenetic analysis corroborated these finding in which S. nanus and C. pallens formed a monophyletic clade and were separated from the other species. Interestingly, Nemoptera rachelli and Halter nutans from Nemopteridae separated genetically from each other which shows their different genetic pattern. Analysis of nucleotide conversion rate for COI sequences showed that the most and the least conversion rates occurred between T-A and C-G bases, respectively. Pairwise genetic analysis showed the most inter-species variation in S. nanus and C. pallens. Accordingly, Distoleon nuristanus, Acanthaclisis occitanica, and Iranoidricerus iranensis showed the most intra-species variations. As a conclusion, the COI gene-based marker could produce a clear-cut resolution among these morphospecies insects similar to what should be obtained from their morphological classification.

The Opuntia cochineal scale Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) causes severe damage to prickly pear (Opuntia sp.). This cochineal was first detected in Morocco in fall 2014 during sampling in the cactus crop in the Sidi Bennour region. In an attempt to find natural enemies that have a potential to be used as biological control agents, a team of researchers have conducted surveys in cactus production areas. In July of 2017, an unidentified coccinellid species was observed feeding actively on D. opuntiae in the Zemamra locality (Sidi Bennour, Morocco). The aim of this paper is to report the identification of this coccinellid and to confirm that D. opuntiae can be a prey of this newly recorded species. The coccinellid was identified as Hyperaspis campestris (Herbst, 1783). Under laboratory conditions, feeding habits were studied, and it was confirmed that adults of H. campestris can feed on both first and second instar of D. opuntiae. Preliminary trials showed that one adult of H. campestris consumed an average of 10 and 7.5 larvae of first and second larval instars of D. opuntiae in 24h, respectively. This is the first record of H. campestris as a biological control agent of D. opuntiae. This finding can be considered as part of an IPM program to control the wild cochineal cactus scale and reduce the pesticides used on this crop.

The fauna of Iranian Leucospidae and Tetracampidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) is summarized in this paper. A total of six species of Leucospidae (all within the genus Leucospis Fabricius, 1775) and four species of Tetracampidae (within four genera, Epiclerus Haliday, 1844, Foersterella Dalla Torre, 1897, Platynocheilus Westwood, 1837 and Tetracampe Förster, 1841) are listed as the fauna of Iran. Platynocheilus cuprifrons (Nees, 1834) (Tetracampidae) is a new record for the fauna of Iran.

The objective of the current study was to determine the fumigant toxicity of Thuja essential oil against 3rd and 5th instar larvae of the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella. Thuja essential oil was extracted from unripe fruits of Thuja orientalis plant by water distillation. The mortality of larvae at the end of larval period, pupation and adult emergence were tested at different concentrations of Thuja oil after a 24h exposure period ranging from 5 to 25µL for 3rd instar larvae and 80µL for 5^th instar. The combined effect of Thuja essential oil and larvae resulting from parents irradiated as pupae of G.mellonella with 80Gy was investigated. The results demonstrated that the mortality increased by increasing oil concentration. The percent mortality of 3rd instar larvae reached 100% when exposed to a higher concentration of Thuja oil (25µL) after 24h, while in the case of 5th instar larvae the mortality was 73.3% at (80µL). Larvae of both instars resulting from parents of G. mellonella irradiated as pupae with 80Gy and exposed to the same concentrations of Thuja oil vapor became more susceptible to the oil as a result of the combined effect of the two agents. The LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values for each experiment were calculated. The tested plant oil prolonged the larval - pupal periods and reduced both pupation percentage of adult emergence.

External morphology of antennal sensilla of both sexes of irradiated with sterilizing and substerilizing doses and unirradiated peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata were studied with scanning electron microscopy. The antenna of this fly consists of 3 segments: Basal scape, pedicel and funiculus. The antennal segments of males tended to be longer and more elongated than those of females. Eight distinct morphological types of sensilla belong to four groups. These sensilla are: trichoid sensilla type I and II, chaetica sensilla type I and II, basiconic sensilla type I, II, III and campaniform sensilla (in the pedicel of female). The changes which occurred to the antennae and their associated sensilla due to the sterilizing dose (90Gy for male and 50Gy for female) were investigated; distribution, size and position are also described.

During the August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse across the United States, males of the dusk active firefly species Photinus pyralis (L.) were observed flashing at sites experiencing the totality portion of the eclipse which formed a band 113 km wide. Observers at 10 sites from Missouri to North Carolina reported observing this flash activity across a path stretching 912 km across the states where remnant late season populations of P. pyralis were active. Possible mechanisms for triggering firefly flashing behavior are discussed in the context of a total solar eclipse.

We report the first record of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855) (Hemiptera:Heteroptera, Pentatomidae), in Turkey. This agricultural pest was detected in October 2017 in Kemalpaşa District of Artvin Province located in the Eastern Black Sea Region near the Georgian border. We discuss potential further spread of the pest and its host plants in Turkey.

The nesting biology of Tachysphex puncticeps Cameron is described for the first time. The female observed dug its nest in a groove of a house wall. The excavated nest consisted of three nearly elliptical cells, each provisioned with 8–9 acridid grasshopper nymphs placed head inward and venter up. The wasp egg was laid on the largest grasshopper which appeared to be placed in the middle of the cell. The nest entrance was left open during the provisioning period. The wasp brought prey in flight and directly entered the nest without releasing its grip on the prey. The wasp egg, curved, yellowish, 2.1 mm long and 0.4 mm wide, was attached rather firmly between the fore coxae of the prey just near the base of the left coxa, extending across the sternum and protruding between the foreand mid-femora on the left side and it hatched about one day after being laid. It took the immature larva 3–4 days to consume all the provision. The mature larva stage lasted about one day; the prepupa stage lasted 3 days; the period between pupation and emergence of the adult wasp was 13 to 14 days under laboratory conditions with the temperature about 28°C and the humidity around 80%. The total development time of T. puncticeps was 22 days for the male.