We sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of the fishfly species Acanthacorydalis fruhstorferi van der Weele (Megaloptera: Corydalidae). The genome, which was 15,286 bp in length, included a standard set of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and a putative A+T-rich region. The gene arrangement is identical to that of most common Megaloptera mitochondrial genomes. We analyzed the preferred codon usage of the protein-coding genes and predicted the secondary structures of all the RNA transcripts. In addition, a phylogenetic tree was constructed based on the sequences of the 13 protein-coding genes, and the results supported the current view of a close relationship between Megaloptera and Neuroptera. Our analyses suggest that complete mitochondrial genome sequences are a promising method to fully resolve the phylogenetic relationships within Megaloptera.

The cereal ground beetle,Zabrus tenebrioides Goeze (Coleoptera: Carabidae) is one of the most important pests of wheat in the southeastern region of Turkey. The larval stage lives in the soil and may cause severe damage to wheat crops. Damage by this pest is favored by a wheat monoculture or the use of untreated seeds. High soil moisture and moderate temperatures are favorable conditions for the development and attack of Z. tenebrioides larvae. The southeastern Anatolia region of Turkey is a hub of cereal production and Z. tenebrioides can attack the seedling stage of cereals in this region, resulting in heavy economic losses. This study was carried out during the years 2015 and 2017 to determine the biology of Z. tenebrioides in the southeastern Anatolia region. Surveys could not be carried out in 2016 as the climatic conditions were not suitable. Adults of this pest were monitored and data on the biology, aestivation and hibernation periods of Z. tenebrioides were recorded. Results indicated that aestivation (the last week of October) and hibernation (at the end of November and most of December) times, and the duration of egg, larval, pupal and adult stages are closely associated with soil temperature and moisture, followed by temperature and humidity of food and air. It was further observed that pest populations increased when the temperature was low and humidity was high, especially in the years receiving high precipitation during early spring and late autumn.

The taxonomy of neotenic female strepsipterans has previously relied upon characteristics of color, measurements of the cephalothorax, and identification of the host for species identification, but these characters have proven mostly uninformative in defining species. Taxonomically important characters of females of the genus Xenos (Strepsiptera: Xenidae) are presented, which should provide for species level identification using females in the genus Xenos, and these methods should be generally applicable to other strepsipterans. Xenos kifunei, X. nigrescens, and X. peckii are re-described using these characters.

Stage-specific functional response of Coccinella septempunctata L. was evaluated under laboratory conditions to varying densities (10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150 and 200) of Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach)., Diuraphis noxia Kurdjumov. and Aphis nerii Fonscolombe. Logistic regression analysis of all life stages of C. septempunctata exhibited negative linear-coefficient (P1), confirming a curvilinear type II functional response against all the tested aphid species. The fourth instar of C. septempunctata, in comparison to other stages, exhibited the highest predation activity against D. noxia and A. nerii, with an attack rate (a) of 7.31 h-1, 5.79 h-1 and handling time (Th) of 0.0106 h, 0.0092 h, respectively. Under different densities of L. erysimi, adult females of C. septempunctata exhibited the highest predation activity with an a of 7.58 h-1, followed by the fourth instar with a of 7.31 h-1 and adult male 6.60 h-1 and Th of 0.0066 h, 0.0079 h and 0.0092 h, respectively. The attack rate and handling time estimated for different stages of C. septempunctata showed that the fourth instar of C. septempunctata had the highest attack rate, whereas handling time was variable. Adult females of C. septempunctata showed minimum handling time (0.00013 h) in most of the cases. Our results suggest that the fourth instar larvae and adult female of C. septempunctata are efficient predator for the biological control of L. erysimi, D. noxia and A. nerii. Further field-based studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

Pityopsis ruthii (Small) Small (Asteraceae: Asterales) is a federally endangered aster that only grows along short stretches of the Hiwassee and Ocoee Rivers in southeastern Tennessee, U.S.A. The species is self-incompatible and genetic drift and inbreeding depression have been reported. Multiple investigators have observed highly variable sexual reproductive capacity of P. ruthii. To better understand which insect species may be contributing roles as potential pollinators, floral visitation to P. ruthii was assessed at in situ and ex situ locations. Forty-seven insect species in 15 families and 3 orders were recovered across 2 years during more than 70 hours of observation and specimen collection. Megachile brevis Say (Megachilidae: Hymenoptera) carried the most pollen, yet just three specimens were collected, all from the ex situ location. In both years, Halictidae were common at the ex situ location and were infrequently collected at the in situ location. Apis mellifera L. (Apidae: Hymenoptera) and Bombus impatiens Cresson (Apidae: Hymenoptera) were commonly observed at in situ locations in both years, and in 2013 at the ex situ location. Toxomerus geminatus (Say) (Syrphidae: Diptera) was the most abundant floral visitor in both years but carried very little pollen. Floral visiting lepidopteran species carried no pollen. Greater numbers of P. ruthii inflorescences did not reliably influence Apoidea or Syrphidae floral visitor abundance in either the in situ or ex situ locations. Assessments of filled seeds revealed low germination rates. Hybridization between geographically disparate parent plants propagated from the distal ranges of Hiwassee River distribution yielded an average of 33 percent germination, validating evidence of inbreeding depression. Knowledge of P. ruthii floral visitors at in situ and ex situ locations can be employed to assist breeding efforts intended to increase genetic diversity through ongoing efforts in plant re-introduction and habitat management.

Stelis costalis Cresson is an anthidiine cuckoo bee known from Texas and Mexico. Currently, it is placed in the subgenus Dolichostelis, a small group of seven species (; ). To date, its members have only been reported laying their eggs in the nests of various resin-using species of Megachile (Chelostomoides) (). Here, I report on the successful parasitism of a nest of the introduced resin-using bee, Megachile (Callomegachile) sculpturalis Smith by S. costalis.

We document the first New England records of the bee Perdita bequaerti Viereck. Perdita bequaerti is a specialist on Asteraceae flowers, especially Helianthus, and is native to much of eastern North America, where it is often associated with predominantly sandy habitats. Previous records indicated P. bequaerti reached the northeastern extent of its range in the state of New York, but in August 2019, during a survey of bees on Helianthus, we collected five specimens of P. bequaerti at two sites in western Massachusetts. Both sites were located on small-scale farms with abundant non-native Helianthus, on soils characteristic of sandy outwash plains and silty floodplains. These records constitute an extension of P. bequaerti's known range into New England.