Two tribes of Mecopodinae (Mecopodini and Sexavaini) are represented in Australia. Both are confined to the tropics. The Mecopodini have been covered recently (see Rentz et al., 2006) and that group comprises a single genus with four species that live in grassy situations, often adjacent to rainforests. The Sexavaini is represented by a single species of Segestidea I. Bolívar, a genus with several species to the north of Australia. Some Segestidea species are well known to cause damage to coconuts. The single species, S. queenslandica, the Queensland Palm Katydid, is apparently facultatively parthenogenetic and is described with notes on its biology and distribution.

Planthoppers from Malaise traps (22 traps operated continuously over 3 years at 11 sites) were investigated as a component of an ongoing all-taxon biotic inventory of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Malaise samples contained 2,195 specimens representing 55 species from 7 families. Elevation patterns and seasonality of planthoppers from the Malaise traps are also presented. Based on Malaise trap data, species accumulation curves and 9 estimators of species richness anticipated 57–81 species, a higher number than predicted in our previous study (Bartlett & Bowman 2004), but lower than the cumulative species list, currently including 97 species in 10 families based on 6,860 specimens. None of the data sets based on single sample methods produced estimates of species richness that were greater than the observed diversity from the compiled species list. Species richness estimates between 95–124 were obtained by combining the Malaise trap sample data with Bartlett and Bowman's (2004) sweep sample data and additional data from 2006, although two estimators still remained below the observed richness of 97 species for the Park. Implications of these findings are discussed.

The new species Platycleis (Montana) helleri Ciplak & Taylan sp.n. (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae, Tettigoniinae) is described on the basis of morphology and male calling song. The phylogenetic relationships of the new species are evaluated using both song and morphological characters, for which illustrations are provided. The species Platycleis (Montana) medvedevi (Miram) is assumed to be the closest relative of Platycleis (Montana) helleri sp.n. Finally a short remark on distribution of the the subgenus is given.

The type material of Aganaspis species is studied. Two species groups are described: the A. contracta species group (including A. contracta Lin) and the A. daci apecies group (including A. daci Weld, A. ocellata Lin and A. major Lin); A. pelleranoi (Brèthes) and A. nordlanderi Wharton are transfered to another genus. The name Ganaspis pelleranoi is re-established and the new combination Trybliographa nordlanderi is formed.

Enochrus (Methydrus) barituensis new species and Enochrus (Methydrus) robustus new species are described from the Neotropical Region. They are distinguished from all other known Neotropical Enochrus (Methydrus) by the highly tectiform, anteriorly keel-shaped prosternum. E. barituensis can be distinguished from E. robustus by its smaller size, by the prosternal and mesosternal crest and by the aedeagus morphology. Illustrations of the diagnostical characters are provided. The total number of Argentine species of Enochrus is here increased to 18 (one in the subgenus Hydatothrephis, eight in Hugoscottia and nine in Methydrus).

A recent (March 2006) field survey of plant-pollinator interactions in North Patagonia, Argentina, revealed the presence of Bombus terrestris as flower visitors to several plant species in a natural environment. This is the first record of this invasive bumblebee in Argentina. The available evidence suggests that B. terrestris entered Argentina from Chile, where it was introduced in 1998, through low-altitude passes across the Andes.

Data obtained from observations in the laboratory on the morphology and biology of immatures of Dasyhelea necrophila Spinelli & Rodriguez are provided. Eggs and larvae were collected from containers with rain water and organic matter in Gonnet, La Plata, Argentina. The C-shaped eggs were able to resist desiccations of approximately 48 hours. Hydrated eggs developed in 7–10 days and the emerging larvae (instar I) remained immobile during 30 minutes. The first molt took place inside the eggs exposed to drought periods. These eggs started to break when rehydrated and after 24 hours larvae II were born. Larva I showed positive phototropism and due to the fact that the processes of the last segment are still internal, it hardly moved. The pupa did not show any changes when placed under artifical light and remained immobile for short periods at the bottom of the glass tube. The larva in their different instars and the pupa increased mobility with the increase of temperature.

The first two fossil species of Idiocera Dale (Diptera, Limoniidae) are described from Baltic amber (Eocene). Their affinities to recent Idiocera and Gonomyia are discussed.

Larval morphology of the New World dytiscid genus Anodocheilus Babington is studied. For this purpose, the three larval instars of A. maculatus Babington are described and illustrated for the first time, with particular emphasis on the morphometry and chaetotaxy. First-instar larva of Anodocheilus can be distinguished from those of Liodessus Guignot and Amarodytes Régimbart (the only other bidessines known as first instars) in its more elongate siphon. All Bidessini genera known as first-instar larvae are characterized by the absence of pore ABc. This pore is consistently present in the remaining hydroporines. Third-instar larva of Anodocheilus has an elongate siphon and a short first urogomphomere. These features link the genus to Uvarus Guignot and Bidessus Sharp. The remaining known Bidessini genera have a short siphon and an elongate first urogomphomere. The presence of two contiguous pores on a very small bulge in the stipes of Anodocheilus larvae reinforces the hypothesis that hydroporines lost the galea secondarily.

Rainfall has generally been overlooked as a regulator of insect population size, especially for mirids (Hemiptera). During a 13-year field study in northwestern New Jersey, total May-June rainfall ranged from 6.5 to 10.7 inches (165–272mm). The highest rainfall reduced first generation nymphs of the tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot) (Miridae), in alfalfa by 50%. This reduction was likely mechanical (raindrops knocking the mirids off the plants) rather than biotic, because infections by nematodes and a fungus disease were not significantly increased. The rainfall-reduced mirid populations also had less mortality by the introduced parasite Peristenus digoneutis Loan (Braconidae), probably a result of the lower host density (density dependence). Conversely, in low-rainfall years there were more tarnished plant bugs, and parasitism rates were doubled, so the two mortality factors were complimentary. Rainfall may also be responsible for differences in lygus numbers between regions. Lygus bugs were five times more abundant in Idaho alfalfa than in New Jersey alfalfa, despite considerably higher parasitism rates in Idaho. Perhaps the lower lygus numbers in New Jersey were caused by the nearly four times higher rainfall there.