An aphid, Macrosiphoniella yomogicola, establishes an obligate symbiosis with ants and cannot survive without attending ants. Several species of ant attend this aphid, but differences in the effects of attending ant species on the fate of aphid colonies are unknown. Here, we report that parasitism rates by parasitic wasps and the survival of aphid colonies differ depending on the species of attending ants in this symbiotic system in autumn 2017. the proportions of mummies (parasitized aphid individuals) were significantly higher in colonies attended by ants (tetramorium tsushimae and Pheidole fervida) other than lasius japonicus, which is the most abundant attender. Only the aphid colonies attended by l. japonicus survived to the end of the observational period. Our results indicate that the species of attending ant has a crucial effect on the fate of symbiotic aphid colonies.

Battus polydamas (Linnaeus, 1758) (Papilionidae, Troidini) has a close ecological relationship with species of Aristolochia (Aristolochiaceae), which has been treated as an example of coevolution. All species of the Troidini feed almost exclusively on Aristolochia. Here we report a case of herbivory by B. polydamas on Aristolochia hypoglauca from Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil, as a new host plant record.

Three new species are added to the genus Pachyopsis from Colombia, Bolivia and Peru.

Prionyx radoszkowskyiKohl, 1888 (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) was recorded for the first time from Turkey as well as the Western Palearctic region. The specimens were collected from Erzincan province which is now the westernmost point of the distribution for the species. A brief description of specimens with a key to Turkish Prionyx species is included.

Macrosiagon ferruginea (Fabricius, 1775) is here reported for the first time in Tunisia, expanding its distribution range in North Africa.

A new species of scorpionfly, similar to Panorpa helena and Panorpa insolens, but lacking 2–4 long, stout, black setae on the male basistyles apices and possessing long barbs on the apices of the male ventral parameres, is described from the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky.

The importance of cryptic species is poorly understood for medical entomologists and parasitologists because of the taxonomic challenge that they pose. The recent advent and development of molecular tools to species delimitation allowed discovering an important number of cryptic species considered previously as a single morpho-species. So far, however, this form of genetic taxonomy frequently remains incomplete and needs a nomenclature description of new species. Here, we synthesize the literature of Phlebotomus chabaudi and Phlebotomus riouxi which are related species and discuss trends in their discovery. However, a lack of systematic studies leaves many questions open, such as are they cryptic or pseudocryptic species and whether one has a vectorial role? Indeed, the two closely related species are suspected as vectors of Leishmania tropica, a causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in North Africa, and among priority recommendations to prepare the area for future public health challenges is understanding what is a vector. This will help to evaluate and predict vector transmission risks and therefore improve current control methods. Based on our review it is possible to suggest that possibly many times species are classified as cryptic due to inappropriate methodological designs and comparisons. In this context, a formal nomenclature and description of cryptic species was provided on the basis of an integrated taxonomy. Corroboration from independent data, including morphology, molecules and biology may provide a basis for the delimitation and formal nomenclature of these cryptic species.

Flightless Transylvanian Dark Bush-cricket Pholidoptera transsylvanica is subendemic to the Carpathians and the Pannonian basin and one of ten species of European Community interest. In the last few years we have increased survey efforts aimed to obtain distributional data for this species along the northern range margin in Western Carpathian mountains covering most of Slovakia and reaching also south of Poland. Thus in Slovakia, where only 5 sites were known in 1996, 56 sites are known in 2017. The species was discovered for the first time in Poland in July 2017, in two sites in the south-eastern part of the country. Both sites are located in submountain mesophilous meadows of the alliance Arrhenatherion elatioris Luquet 1926, in its various successional stages along mainly mixed forests dominated with European beech and in alluvial vegetation. The presence of the species in these new sites is at the northern edge of its distribution area, and we suppose that only lack of data and no surveys in the past caused this knowledge gap. Data on its habitat and main threats and conservation measures of the species are discussed, and accompanying orthopteran species are characterised.

In this paper, a total of twenty species of Braconidae (Hymenoptera) within sixteen genera and eight subfamilies, Agathidinae (one species, one genus), Alysiinae (two species, two genera), Brach istinae (four species, two genera), Braconinae (six species, four genera), Cheloninae (two species, two genera), Doryctinae (one species, one genus), Euphorinae (three species, three genera) and Exothecinae (one species, one genus) are represented as new records for the fauna of Iran.

The operational sex ratio (OSR) is one of the most important ecological factors affecting the structure of mating systems and individual mating investment. Bush cricket males produce a highly costly nuptial gift during mating, so it is expected that OSR would affect this investment. In this study, we confronted the bush cricket Isophya rizeensis with three different OSR environments, measuring effects on the males' spermatophore, spermatophylax, ampulla weight, and absolute sperm transfer. As expected, male I. rizeensis showed a decrease in the transferred sperm in a female-biased environment. When mating in different OSR environments, males did not modify their behavioral strategies with respect to spermatophore transfer and copulation duration, which was largely influenced by male body size, likely due to the high costs of nuptial gifts. Although we dismiss the “longer copulation durations function as a mate assessment period” hypothesis, longer copulations positively affect spermatophore size and sperm number.

Hyalopeplus similis Poppius is herein reported attacking young mango fruits, the first report on the commercial variety, Amrapali. Feeding of the bug on the immature fruit surface led to damage that resulted in the development of scarring and pitted marks which enlarged as the fruit developed. As it is a direct pest on fruit this bug needs to be carefully monitored to prevent fruit loss and avoid quarantine issues. The bug was not recorded on older fruits closer to harvest.

Polyphylla adspersa Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae) is the key white grub species in the Eastern part of Iran. Due to increasing concerns about its damage on different tree and crop species, addressing environmentally friendly management tactics including biological control has top priority. Here, we report new natural enemies of the white grub larvae in Razavi Khorasan province, North East Iran. The most prevalent natural enemies were entomopathogenic fungi including, Beauveria bassiana s.l. (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) and Metarhizium anisopliae s.l. (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae). A parasitic nematode, Cephalobellus sp. (Oxyurida: Thelasto matidae) as well an insect pathogenic nematode, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) were collected as natural entomopathogens. Among protistans, two species of eugregarines, Stictospora sp. and Gregarina sp. were found as coelomic parasites infecting the larvae. A tachinid fly, Micro phthalma europaea (Diptera: Tachinidae) was identified as a koinobiont endoparasitoid of the larva and a humpbacked fly, Megaselia scalaris (Diptera: Phoridae) recognized as an ectoparasite. All records are presented as first associations with the P. adspersa. New information about all newly recorded taxa is provided here. This information is useful for designing future biological control programs.

The widespread eastern North American mydas fly, Mydas clavatus (Drury, 1773) is reported for the first time from eastern Colorado. Including M. clavatus, six species of Mydidae are now known from Colorado. these also include M. luteipennis Loew, 1866, M. xanthopterus Loew, 1866, Nemomydas solitarius (Johnson, 1926), N. venosus (Loew, 1866), and Phyllomydas phyllocerus Bigot, 1880.