We studied the biological characteristics and chemical control of Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on tomatoes under laboratory conditions within the temperature and relative humidity ranges of 25 ± 2°C and 70 ± 5% RH, respectively. Results show that the nymphal stage of males (16.3 ± 0.2 days) is longer that for females (15.4 ± 0.5 days) and the survival rate of second instars is lower (56.5%) than for first (80.5%) and third instars (68.1%). The average lifespan of males (1.8 ± 0.2 days) is significantly shorter than for females (42.6 ± 1.1 days), and the average fecundity per adult female is 134.6 ± 16.3 crawlers. Phenacoccus solenopsis grows rapidly in the end of the nymphal stage, and the size of adult females is nearly twice that of third instars. Control of P. solenopsis using imidacloprid was increased by nearly 35% by adding laundry detergent and this was most effective on the first instars. These results add to our scientific understanding how to improve effectivity of measures for control of this insect pest.

The Braconidae fauna (Agathidinae and Doryctinae, excluding Heterospilus Haliday) of the Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve in Yucatan, Mexico are recorded. Eighty-three species and 29 genera were found; of these 62 species are new records for Mexico. The general distribution and flight period of the taxa collected are provided.

Hydrogen peroxide is a toxic metabolite of oxidative metabolism, but may also serve as a broad spectrum signaling molecule controlling a variety of essential physiological processes. Photoperiod influences diapause beyond the maternal generation in Cotesia vestalis and we speculated that intracellular hydrogen peroxide was a possible signal mediating this generational effect. To investigate the signaling functions of hydrogen peroxide in diapause induction in C. vestalis, hydrogen peroxide and activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase were measured at diapause, and in maternal non-diapausing prepupa, adult, and offspring egg stages form the cultures reared at 25°C under the photoperiods of 8∶16, 12∶12, and 16∶8 (L∶D) h. The hydrogen peroxide contents and activities of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase in maternal non-diapausing prepupae and adults declined as the light period was reduced, whereas catalase activity increased significantly. Compared to diapausing prepupae, maternal non-diapausing prepupae under 8 h short light had significantly higher superoxide dismutase, lower catalase, and similar peroxidase activities. Under the three photoperiods, the variation trends of protective enzyme activities in offspring eggs were similar to the trends in maternal prepupae and adults. The variation trends of hydrogen peroxide in eggs were opposite to the trends in maternal prepupae and adults. Peroxidase and catalase activities in eggs were significantly higher after oviposition than before oviposition. These findings indicate that hydrogen peroxide plays an important role in signal transduction between two generations.

Surveys of baseball and softball diamonds for nests of the ground-nesting wasp Cerceris fumipennis were conducted between 2008 and 2011 in three states: Connecticut, Maine and North Carolina. A total of 1398 ball fields were surveyed, with roughly 22% of these positive for nests of the wasp. Nine percent of the fields had ≥15 nests and were therefore of practical use in a biosurveillance program for buprestid pests. Connecticut had the highest proportion of both positive fields and of fields useful for biosurveillance. Among fields with any number of nests, the two northern states had a significantly higher proportion with ≥15 nests. Characteristics of ball diamonds associated with the presence of C. fumipennis are discussed, and the advantages and disadvantages of using ball diamonds in a biosurveillance program addressed.

Lissagria foveolata Eldredge n. sp. is newly described from Mexico. A habitus photograph, illustrations of the male reproductive organ and a species diagnosis are provided.

Probrachida mergamentula Eldredge n. sp. is described as new from the state of Oklahoma, representing the first record of the genus from North America. A habitus photograph, illustrations of male and female reproductive organs, and an updated key are provided to facilitate future study.

A new fossil rove beetle, Juroglypholoma antiquum n. gen. n. sp., is described and figured based on a well-preserved specimen from the Middle Jurassic Daohugou biota (ca. 165 Ma), Inner Mongolia, northeastern China. It represents the first fossil belonging to one of the smallest and latest recognized staphylinid subfamilies, Glypholomatinae, which is now endemic to the Southern Hemisphere. The new genus is assigned to Glypholomatinae based on its body shape and size, clubbed antennae, relatively long elytra, abdominal intersegmental membranes with brick-wall-like pattern, metacoxae slightly excavate to receive the short metafemora, and paired curved ridges in the anterolateral margins of sternites IV–VI. It can be easily separated from the extant genera Glypholoma and Proglypholoma by a combination of shorter elytra with apical four abdominal segments exposed; and antennomeres 1 and 2 normal, not dilated, apical three antennomeres forming a slight club. The first discovery of a new species from the Middle Jurassic of China illustrates the antiquity of Glypholomatinae, and indicates that the Omaliine group of subfamilies had already originated by the Middle Jurassic.

Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) in aquatic naiad stages are known to be filter feeders of detritus and algae, but are nonfeeding during their short adult life. Members of Hexagenia form U-shaped burrows in the silt of lake bottoms or streams where they remain for a year or more before emerging as subimagos to fly to the shore. For activities such as mating flights and oviposition, adults must rely on stored energy sources which are principally glycogen and lipids. This study focuses on the fatty acid composition of lipid stores in Hexagenia limbata (Serville) adults and late-instar naiads from a North Central Texas lake. Lipids from whole-body homogenates were extracted with organic solvents, and fatty acids were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Total lipid extracts, as well as neutral lipids (triglycerides and diglycerides) and polar lipids (phospholipids), were analyzed. Adult males exhibited the highest amount of lipid as a percentage of dry weight, followed by naiads and females. The most abundant fatty acids were 16∶0 > 18∶1 > 16∶1 in both naiads and males and 18∶1 > 16∶0 > 16∶1 in females. Phospholipids and triglycerides were the most prominent lipid classes in naiads while free fatty acids were abundant in males, which also showed a diglyceride fraction. Triglycerides were the main lipid fraction in females. The profiles suggest that dietary fatty acids are stored in naiad triglycerides, and once adult emergence occurs, the triglycerides appear to be retained in the females primarily for oocyte production; whereas they are quickly mobilized to supply energy for flight in the males.

Biographical information is provided for Dr. Jules Desneux, prominent entomologist of the early 20^th Century who contributed not only considerably to the study of termites (Isoptera) but also to our knowledge of Paussidae (Coleoptera), ancient Greek numismatics, art criticism from a scientific perspective, as well as his professional field of dermatology.