The Hessian fly (HF), Mayetiola destructor (Say), has historically been a significant pest of wheat throughout the Great Plains, including Kansas. However, it has been many decades since the flies’ activity has been monitored in the field. This paper presents research on the activity of the HF throughout the year in Kansas, i.e., examining when the fly is active and how moisture events may play a role. Results of a newer technology, pheromone trapping, in four counties in Kansas shows that HF males are active in the fall, at least 6 wk later than the historical fly-free dates established nearly 100 yr ago. Therefore, the ‘Hessian Fly-Free Date’ is not as valid as previously thought and might be better referred to as the ‘Best Pest Management Planting Date’. Using pheromones for fall and spring trapping also indicated that HF is more active throughout the spring than previously thought, with almost continuous fly emergence and numerous emergence peaks in both spring and fall. Pheromone traps were also used to determine if fly emergence peaked after moisture events as previously thought. Fly emergence could not be positively correlated with any moisture event.

Bumble bees (Bombus Latreille) provide indispensable ecosystem services for natural and agricultural systems by increasing crop yield and quality. With documented bumble bee declines throughout the world, the need for baseline data on these important insects becomes apparent. The bumble bees of Oklahoma have previously not been surveyed, hampering assessment of temporal change. The objectives of this study were to determine the past and present bumble bee species richness of Oklahoma and indicate possible temporal trends. Records were gathered from museum and university collections, as well as from a field survey of 46 sites in 21 counties. Historical records indicated ten bumble bee species in Oklahoma, four of which had fewer than ten total records. Only five species have been recorded since 2000, four being found in the targeted survey: B. pensylvanicus (DeGeer), B. griseocollis (DeGeer), B. fraternus (Smith) and B. impatiens (Cresson). The American bumble bee (B. pensylvanicus) has been, and continues to be, the most common bumble bee species in Oklahoma, despite showing clear patterns of decline in other regions of North America. Our results parallel several recent studies that failed to locate extant populations of the variable cuckoo bee, Bombus variabilis (Cresson), supporting possible extirpation in portions of its North American range. A targeted survey for this species is warranted, as its host, B. pensylvanicus, remains common in Oklahoma.

Ramitia kufrana Seven, sp. n. is described as new from southeastern Turkey. The holotype of the species is compared with the two known species in this genus R. obliquelineata Viidalepp, 1988 and R. kuhitangiensis Beljaev & Vasilenko, 1998. The adults and genitalia of both sexes and habitats are illustrated. Detailed description of the external morphology and the genitalia characters are given.

The mirid bug, Pachypeltis maesarum Kirkaldy, is a new pest on tea where biological and population parameters of this bug are reported, based on field and laboratory experiments. Camellia sinensis was used as host plant and all experiments were carried out at 25 ± 1°C and 12L: 12D. The developmental time for eggs and the total duration of nymphal instars was 8.0 ± 0.32 and 11.5 ± 0.65 days, respectively. Adult females lived longer than males. The intrinsic rate of increase was 0.1081. Mean total leaf consumption by fifth instars was significantly higher than fourth, third, second and first instars. Fifth instars and adult males and females made higher number of punctures per leaf in a day. Males exhibited brownish yellow and dark brownish colour variants while females were brownish yellow. Occurrence of P. maesarum on tea was high during October-November and negligible during January. The alternate host plants recorded for this pest were Acalypha wilkesiana, Psidium guajava and Malvaviscus penduliflorus. Based on the present study it could be forecasted that under favourable conditions P. maesarum can multiply rapidly on tea and establish as a major pest.

Effective rearing methods are needed to recover the federally endangered Salt Creek tiger beetle, Cicindela (Ellipsoptera) nevadica lincolniana Casey, a subspecies that occurs exclusively in saline wetlands and seeps along Little Salt Creek in Lancaster County, Nebraska. Experiments were initiated to determine soil type and salinity concentrations appropriate for stimulating female oviposition in laboratory settings to produce larvae and/or adults for reintroduction to native habitats. In 2013, there were highly significant differences between native soil and a sand/loess soil mixture, but no differences between two salinity levels, 0.354 M and 0.5 M. In 2014, using only a sand/loess soil mixture, there were again no differences between the test salinity levels. A sand/loess soil mixture of either 0.354 M or 0.5 M salinity was determined to be optimum for egg production.

Two new geographical records of Austrostelis iheringi from Atlantic Forest in the state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil are presented. Possible hosts of this parasitic bee species include Dicranthidium seabrai Urban, Epanthidium tigrinum Schrottky, and Saranthidium musciforme Schrottky.