Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the morphology of the chorionic surface of two pyralids that feed on Opuntia cactus. The chorionic surface of Cactoblastis cactorum has a reticulate pattern due to the ridges on the surface and aeropyles. The chorionic surface has a granular appearance at low magnifications and rugose at high ones. The micropylar area has a central depression with the micropyles and is surrounded by irregularly shaped polygonal cells. The tertiary cells have aeropyles associated with the cells, and these aeropyles have mesh-like extensions that cover their openings. The general appearance of the chorionic surface of Melitara prodenialis is similar to C. cactorum, but the micropylar region differs in that primary cells surrounding the micropylar depression are looping cells of varying sizes. Also, no aeropyles are associated with the looping cells around the micropylar region.

Only two species, Xystrologa grenadella (Walsingham) and X. nigrovitta (Walsingham), of the predominantly Neotropical genus Xystrologa are known to occur in the West Indies. Xystrologa antipathetica (Forbes), originally described from Puerto Rico but also reported from the United States (Florida), is considered a junior synonym of X. grenadella. The adults of both species and the larva and pupa of X. grenadella are described and illustrated. The larval habits of the genus are reported for the first time as a general detritovore, feeding on woody refuse, the bark of Ficus trees (in Florida, USA), fungi, and the roots of orchids, and pineapple (in Puerto Rico). The injury that larvae of X. grenadella can inflict upon cultivated orchids in Florida is summarized. The introduction of X. grenadella is reported for the first time in the Old World, as a pest of greenhouse plants in Germany.

Anelpistina tuxtlensis n. sp., from the tropical rain forest of the Biosphere Reserve of Los Tuxtlas, Mexico, is described. Males have an assortment of characters similar to species from the Caribbean; the articulated submedian appendages on urosternum IV are similar to those found in A. arubana (Mendes 1986), while the genital area is similar to A. puertoricensis Espinasa and Baker Alpheis 2003 and A. acanthocrus Espinasa and Fisher 2006. Preliminary molecular data with the 16S rRNA also appears to support a closer relationship with Caribbean species over other Mexican species. Molecular and morphological data also show that Los Tuxtlas is inhabited by a second and as of yet undescribed species of Anelpistina. These species appear to be sympatric.

The intricate nest building, cleaning and provisioning habits of the solitary hunting wasps Ammophila fernaldi Murray and A. pictipennis (Walsh) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) are supposed to have developed in response to parasite pressure. This paper presents the first study to record the behavior of phoresy of Paraxenos lugubris Pierce (Strepsiptera: Stylopidae). Adapting to the provisioning of single-cell nests of the Ammophila sp., it is the tiny, free-living, first instar larvae of P. lugubris, that are phoretic. They are carried, not by a wasp stylopized by a female P. lugubris producing first instar larvae, but by an unstylopized foraging wasp, thereby discreetly gaining entry to a single-cell nest before it is sealed. Multiple first instar P. lugubris larvae are often taken by the host, A. fernaldi and A. pictipennis, to the single egg/ larvae in the cell, resulting in superparasitism. These observations further demonstrate that Strepsiptera have developed mechanisms for parasitizing a range of hosts, including solitary wasps that develop in sealed cells.

Anthocoris aquilivenis Lewis, n. sp. is described from the mountainous areas of western North America. It is compared with the Nearctic species Anthocoris tomentosus Péricart and Anthocoris antevolens White, and with Anthocoris sibiricus Reuter, a related Palearctic species. Illustrations are provided of the adult habitus, external morphological features, paramere, copulatory tube, and forewing venation for A. aquilivenis, and membrane microsculpture and genitalic outlines for A. aquilivenis, A. tomentosus, and A. sibiricus.

DNA sequence studies revealed two additional species of Neodiprion in eastern United States, and morphological studies support their recognition. One, which is sympatric with and morphologically similar to Neodiprion abbotii (Leach) in southeastern United States, is recognized as Neodiprion fabricii (Leach), revised status. The larvae feed on Pinus taeda L. and P. echinata Miller. The other, described as Neodiprion knereri Linnen and Smith, n. sp., on Pinus clausa (Chapm. ex Englem.) in Florida, is close to Neodiprion virginiana Rohwer.

Three invasive species of Coleoptera—the honeysuckle borer, Agrilus cyanescens (Ratzeburg); the lily leaf beetle, Lilioceris lilii (Scopoli); and the viburnum leaf beetle, Pyrrhalta viburni (Paykull)—have become increasingly common in Connecticut and other northeastern states during the past decade. To determine their current distribution in Connecticut, I sampled in all eight counties mainly between 2006 and 2010. The European buprestid, A. cyanescens, was found at 44 new sites scattered throughout each county of Connecticut. Based upon museum specimens not previously examined, A. cyanescens has been in Connecticut since at least 1957. Two adults were reared from an unidentified Lonicera sp., which apparently is the first host to be documented in North America. The Eurasian chrysomelid, Lilioceris lilii, occurred in all of the counties of Connecticut, being collected at 64 new sites. In addition to infesting Asiatic lilies, Lilium spp., in gardens, adults of this beetle also ate the foliage of two native lilies, Lilium canadense L. and Lilium superbum L. The Eurasian chrysomelid, P. viburni, infested wild Viburnum dentatum L. or V. opulus L. var. americanum Aiton at 49 sites in 7 of 8 Connecticut counties, a substantial range increase since its first detection in 2004. Based upon the observed distributional pattern, the viburnum leaf beetle recently entered the state from the north or northwest and spread south or southeast.