Amegilla fimbriata (Smith, 1897) (Hymenoptera; Apidae; Anthophorini) is redescribed with detailed study of the male genitalia. Ambiguity concerning the subgeneric placement of A. fimbriata in the subgenus Glossamegilla is discussed. Lectotype of A. fimbriata is designated.

The northern scorpion, Paruroctonus boreus (Girard 1854) is recorded from big sage climax, sand dune, cheatgrass dominated, and partially disturbed big sage habitats on the Hanford Nuclear Site, located in southcentral Washington State. Based on a pitfall trapping survey, the species was most commonly encountered in partially disturbed big sage habitat and rarely found in cheatgrass dominated plant communities. A total of 127 specimens were taken with the earliest collection made 20–28 March and the latest 9–24 October. Habitat occurrence on the Hanford Site is compared with comparable studies at other locations. The possible negative effect of cheatgrass invasion on scorpion occurrence is discussed.

Two new species of the reticulata group of the widespread genus Oecetis McLachlan 1877 are described from Pohnpei. Oecetis mackenziei, sp. nov., and O. squamifera, sp. nov., are the first species described from Micronesia after the poorly known Triaenodes esakii Tsuda 1941, known from Koror and Babelthuap, Palau. Figures are presented of the male and female genitalia of O. mackenziei, and the male only of O. squamifera: wing photographs of males of both species are included.

The terrestrial tardigrade fauna of Vancouver Island has been surveyed extensively, but very little has been published about tardigrades from mainland British Columbia, Canada. Mixed moss and lichen samples collected from Whistler Mountain, mainland British Columbia contained ten species of terrestrial tardigrade: Echiniscus horningi, E. mauccii, Milnesium cf. tardigradum, Ramazzottius sp., Diphascon (Diphascon) alpinum, D. (D.) nodulosum, Macrobiotus cf. harmsworthi, Macrobiotus hufelandi, Macrobiotus montanus, and Minibiotus jonesorum. Six of these species have previously been reported from Vancouver Island, British Columbia or from the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Macrobiotus montanus has not hitherto been found in British Columbia; Minibiotus jonesorum is new to the fauna of Canada. Detailed morphometric data are provided for E. horningi. Seven species—E. mauccii, E. quadrispinosus, E. wendti, Milnesium cf. tardigradum, D. (D.) recamieri, R. baumanni, and Macrobiotus islandicus—were found in cryptogams collected in Oregon, USA. Echiniscus mauccii, E. wendti, D. (D.) recamieri, and Ramazzottius baumanni are new records for Oregon.

A study of the nesting behavior of Miscophus (Nitelopterus) laticeps was undertaken at Montana de Oro State Park, San Luis Obispo County, California in 2010, 2011, and 2012 to clarify variation in previous reports on this species. Specific areas of study included (1) manner of prey transport, (2) presence or absence of temporary entrance closure, (3) manner of nest entry, (4) families of prey spiders, and (5) wasp's egg affixation site. New prey records, including two new families, were discovered as part of this study. The behavioral components of M. laticeps are discussed in relation to other North American congeners.

Initial field releases of the saltcedar leaf beetle, Diorhabda carinulata Desbrochers, 1870 (Chrysomelidae), against saltcedars, Tamarix Linneaus, 1753 (Tamaricaceae) in North America were unsuccessful at sites where the target taxon was T. parviflora de Condolle, 1828 as opposed to the more widespread T. ramosissima Ledebour, 1829 and related forms. A series of field and greenhouse studies was conducted to determine the basis for these failures. Generally, T. parviflora was a suitable host for larval and adult development. Larval growth was not significantly affected by host species although developmental rate was slightly slower when fed T. parviflora vs. T. ramossisima; nitrogen enrichment had greater influence on growth than did host identity. Insect feeding impact to T. ramossisima outplanted to the field was initially three times greater than to matched T. parviflora plants, apparently as a consequence of adult oviposition preference. Subsequent larval migration from defoliated to green plants resulted in roughly equivalent defoliation of both hosts. Where the two Tamarix species co-occurred in northern Nevada, the ‘preference’ for T. ramossisima was apparent because it was consistently more heavily colonized, and utilization of T. parviflora declined as insect densities diminished. These results, and the lack of alternative explanations for establishment failures at T. parviflora sites (predation, developmental constraints, climate conditions), lead to the conclusion that such failures are based on host specificity as a consequence of adult behavioral avoidance of T. parviflora. They also suggest that risks to non-target plants both within the genus Tamarix (e.g., T. aphylla (Linneaus) Karsten, 1882) and in a related family (Frankeniaceae: Frankenia spp.) are low and should not delay program implementation.

A first Palaearctic representative of the genus Nearcticorpus Roháček and Marshall 1982 is described from China (Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region), viz. Nearcticorpus palaearctictum sp. nov. (male only). Based on its description the diagnosis of the genus Nearcticorpus is supplemented. The geographic distribution of the genus is updated and its relations with Puncticorpus Duda, 1918 are discussed.

The parasitoid complex of the western conifer seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis, was studied in British Columbia and California on Pinus monticola and P. contorta var. latifolia. Three egg-parasitoid species were identified: Gryon pennsylvanicum (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), Ooencyrtus johnsoni (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and Anastatus pearsalli (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae). Leptoglossus occidentalis represents a new host record for O. johnsoni, and California is a new distribution record for G. pennsylvanicum. Gryon pennsylvanicum was the dominant species during the entire oviposition period of the bug, reaching peak parasitization levels in July (25%). Ooencyrtus johnsoni and A. pearsalli emerged only from eggs collected on Pinus monticola. The parasitization level by G. pennsylvanicum recorded on the two different Pinaceae hosts did not show any statistically significant difference. No tachinid eggs or exit holes by tachinid larvae were observed in any adult L. occidentalis collected in either British Columbia or California. The data collected encouraged the introduction of G. pennsylvanicum in Italy where L. occidentalis has become a serious pest. Laboratory host range assessment with this Platygastridae, in preparation for its field release in Italy, has already started.

Nomenclatural changes and clarifications are provided for names in the leafhopper subfamily Deltocephalinae. The replacement names Cicadula vilbastei nom. nov., Eutettix harlani nom. nov., Macrosteles raoi nom. nov., Maiestas chalami nom. nov., Maiestas viraktamathi nom. nov., Opsius emeljanovi nom. nov., Paradorydium naudei nom. nov., Penthimia alba nom. nov., Penthimia evansi nom. nov., and Penthimia walkeri nom. nov. are given for species-group homonyms. Four new synonyms are recognized for previous replacement names that are no longer valid. The status of Acinopterus angulatus Lawson nomen protectum is discussed. Paramacrosteles Dai, Li & Chen status reinstated is reinstated as valid on taxonomic grounds. Priority is clarified for two species of Deltocephalinae, five new combinations in Balclutha Kirkaldy are given, and two original spellings are fixed.