Subterranean termite species, their habitat preferences and nest habits at Xuan Son National Park, a lowland and lower mountain evergreen and limestone forest in northern Vietnam, were investigated in 2002 and 2003. A total of 234 collections were obtained from 588 sampling sites, on 12 transects, among four different habitat types.

Fifteen species in eight genera and two families were recorded. Termitidae was the dominant family with six genera and 12 species. The genus Odontotermes with five, contained the largest number of species. Five species were new records for northern Vietnam: Odontotermes maesodensis Ahmad, 1965, Nasutitermes ovatus Fan, 1983, Pericaptitermes latignathus (Holmgren, 1913), Pericaptitermes nitobei Shiraki, 1909 and Bulbitermes laticephalus Ahmad, 1965. The inventory included eight fungus-growing species: Macrotermes barneyi Light, 1924, Ma. annandalei (Silvestri, 1914), O. yunnanensis Tsai et Chen, 1963, O. hainanensis Light, 1924, O. formosanus Sharaki, 1909, O. maesodensis Ahmad, 1965, O. graveli (Silvestri, 1914) and Microtermes pakistanicus Ahmad, 1965. Five species: M. barneyi, O. yunnanensis, O. hainanensis, O. formosanus and M. pakistanicus occurred in all habitat types. The scrubland/grassland habitat contained 14 species, forest habitats 12 species, cultivated lands eight species and residential areas contained only six species. In forest habitats 56.2% of sample plots yielded termites, in scrubland/grasslands 54.5%, 32% of plots on cultivated land produced termites and in residential habitats only 18% had termites. Six species identified are considered special pests because their activities weaken earthen structures: M. pakistanicus, M. barneyi, M. annandalei, O. yunnanensis, O. hainanensis and O. formosanus. Nesting patterns of surveyed species are noted with special attention to species that inhabit earthen structures.

Study of the male of Photopsis galapagensis Williams confirms that this species should be placed in Sphaeropthalma Blake and is allied with the tropical species of this genus. This species is best placed in the S. anthophorae species-group sensu Schuster (1958). Important details concerning male morphology are discussed. The female is also described and illustrated for the first time. Fully winged males of Morsyma ashmeadii Fox, which is a species previously known from apterous individuals, are discussed. Caenotilla Pitts and Manley is a junior synonym of Morsyma and C. choreocarina Pitts and Manley is a junior synonym of Morsyma ashmeadii Fox.

Information on the life history of the snail-killing fly, Dictya montana Steyskal 1954 is presented. The mean duration of the immature stages at 26°C was 21.56 ± 2.60 days and larvae were voracious predators with a mean predation capacity of 16.60 ± 1.76 snails. The survival period of unfed neonate larvae appeared to be temperature dependent and ranged from 2 to 29 days at 26°C and 4°C respectively. However, storage of freshly laid eggs at −20°C for 7 days did not yield viable larvae. For the first time, the phenology of D. montana is detailed and its biocontrol potential against snail-borne diseases is discussed.

Archedinus howdeni n.sp. from humid forests in the Chimalapas mountains, Oaxaca, Mexico, is described, illustrated and compared with A. relictus Morón and Krikken from the cloud forests of El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, Chiapas, Mexico. A key is included to the species of Incaini (Trichiinae) found in the Central American Nucleus; as well as an analysis of the phylogenetic relationships among incaine genera.

Se describe e ilustra Archedinus howdeni n.sp., colectada en los bosques húmedos de las montañas Chimalapas, Oaxaca, sureste de México. Se destacan las diferencias con A. relictus Morón y Krikken que habita en los bosques nebulares de las montañas de El Triunfo, Chiapas, México. Se incluye una clave para identificar las especies de Incaini (Trichiinae) presentes en el Núcleo Centroamericano; y se presenta una primera prospección de relaciones filogenéticas entre los géneros de Incaini.

The biology of Darna pallivitta (Moore 1877), an Asian species of nettle caterpillar recently introduced to the island of Hawaii, is described from this island population. The species is highly polyphagous and has stinging caterpillars commonly associated with Limacodidae. Information on mating, oviposition, potential fecundity, duration and number of instars, cocooning, pupation, and total development time are included. The female at eclosion was found to have 573.5 ± 184.1 eggs, of which 201.5 ± 53.5 were mature. Similar to other spiny species of Limacodidae, D. pallivitta was found to not feed until second instar. The duration of immature stages were as follows: egg (7.0 d), larval (53.0 ± 6.9 d), and cocoon (19.1 ± 1.0 d). First and second instars are described for the first time for a Darna species. In a family known for heteromorphic larvae, this is the first known example of a limacodid species with elongate first instar tubercles, which later develop into spiny, urticating scoli rather than becoming smooth bodied or retaining tubercles that become hairy. Caterpillars from 6th instar or later have a delayed phenotypic expression of SD2 verrucae closely associated with spiracles on A2 to A7. Larval stages varied from 8–11 instars with a total larval duration of 45–72 d. Eleven instars equal the maximum reported for Limacodidae. Pupation took place on the fifth day after cocooning, which is a brief period compared to other members of the family. The total time from egg hatch to adult eclosion was 80.0 ± 7.1 d. Adult life span was found to be 11.0 ± 1.3 d in females and 9.7 ± 1.1 d in males.

The development and adult emergence patterns of the alkali bee, Nomia melanderi Cockerell 1906, from diapausing prepupae for both laboratory and field reared individuals are compared. Males from both rearing conditions emerged approximately four days before females. Laboratory reared males began to pupate after 800 cumulative degrees centigrade (cdc) and 50 percent had pupated when 1200 cdc was reached. Female pupation began about 900 cdc and 50 percent had pupated when 1300 cdc was reached. Both male and females continued to pupate up to 1800 cdc. The field pupation rate was linear and did not show the sigmoid curve of the laboratory pupation rate. However, 50% pupation for both field and laboratory reared alkali bees was approximately the same at 1300 cdc.

Phaedon brassicae is a serious pest of brassicaceous vegetables in Japan and China, but the effects of thermal changes on development, survival and reproduction is not well demonstrated. In this study, effects of constant temperatures and thermoperiods simulated alternating high summer temperatures on the development, survival and reproduction were examined in this beetle at 12L:12D. At constant temperatures, egg hatch and survival of larvae and pupae were highest at 28, 24, and 24°C respectively. Within the range of 12–30°C, the developmental periods of immature stages decreased significantly with increasing temperature, but a delay in development was observed at 30°C. The developmental zeros were estimated at 7.1, 6.9 and 7.1°C and thermal constants of 87.7, 178.6 and 68.0 degree-days were estimated for the development of the eggs, larvae and pupae, respectively. Adult longevity decreased with increasing temperature, but there were no significant differences among temperatures (16–28°C). Fecundity at 24°C (768.68 ± 385.44 eggs per female) was significantly greater than at other temperatures. The optimal temperature is approximately 24°C. Moreover, high alternating temperatures had little effect on egg hatch, but higher thermophase (6 h) temperatures retarded the survival of larvae and pupae. No individual survived to eclosion at thermoperiods with thermophase temperature of 38°C. High temperatures (above 34°C) lasting several hours had detrimental effects on survival, development and reproduction in P. brassicae.

A central focus in applied entomology is the role that habitat diversity plays in the creation and maintenance of arthropod diversity. Researchers are increasingly exploring the possibility that degraded landscapes such as mixed-used agricultural areas and rainforest fragments might be used to supplement conservation strategies aimed at increasing arthropod biodiversity. Here we present the results of a comparative biodiversity field study in the Puriscal region on the Pacific slope of Costa Rica in a rural community characterized by a mixture of secondary forest and farmland. The study compares beetle and spider diversity among farmland, nearby tropical forest fragments, and weedy “edge” habitats. Diversity of families of Coleoptera and Araneae pitfall catches were compared in each of these three habitats, and quantitative similarity indices across habitats were calculated for the collected specimens. Diversity among the three habitats was similar for beetles, but spiders were more diverse in forest fragments than in edge habitats. Furthermore, composition of beetle families was markedly different across all three habitats; spider families were similar only between forest fragment and edge habitats. We discuss the implications of these findings, and suggest further studies needed to address mechanisms underlying these patterns.

A new species, Thalycra andrewsi, from Baja California Sur is described, illustrated and diagnosed. This new species increases the number of New World Thalycra from 15 to 16, and the global count from 18 to 19. Commentary on the taxonomy of Thalycra is provided, including a checklist of all known species.

Una neuva especie, T. andrewsi, de Baja CA Sur es descrito, ilustrado, y diagnosticado. Esta especie aumenta el ńumero de Thalycra del Nuevo Mundo de 15 a 16, y aumenta la cuenta global de 18 a 19. Commentario sobre la taxonomía de Thalycra es proveído, incluyendo una lista de todas las especies reconocidas.