Nearctic Stylogaster Macquart (Diptera: Conopidae) species concepts are revised. We provide redescriptions of S. biannulata (Say) and S. neglecta Williston, description of S. beresfordinew species, an illustrated key to species, range maps, and ecological data. Stylogaster beresfordi ranges from southern Mexico to southern New Mexico, United States of America. DNA barcode data are provided with neighbour-joining and Bayesian analyses and relationships of the three species are discussed. We hypothesise that S. neglecta and S. beresfordi are sister taxa, while S. biannulata is in a different clade.

The New World flower fly genus Rhinoprosopa Hull, 1942 (Diptera: Syrphidae) is revised and two new species are described: R. hulli Mengual, new species (Costa Rica) and R. zophina Mengual, new species (Costa Rica). Diagnoses, illustrations, synonymies, and distributional data are given for all known species. An identification key to all seven species is also provided.

The genus Pelonides Kuwert (Coleoptera: Cleridae) is revised to include six species as follows: P. floripennis Opitz, new species, P. granulatipennis (Schaeffer), P. humeralis (Horn), P. quadrinotata (Haldeman), P. quadripunctata (Say), and P. scabripennis (LeConte). Pelonides species are presumed predators of lignicolous and anthophilous prey species. It is hypothesised that the sister group of Pelonides is Parapelonides Barr, and that ancestral Pelonides diversified on ancient terrain known as the Mexican/Mayan block. Lectotypes were designated for P. granulatipennis (Schaeffer) and P. quadripunctata (Say). Pelonides similis Knull is synonymised with P. humeralis (Horn). Fifteen characters were evaluated phylogenetically and analysed with WINCLADA, in combination with NONA, which generated two fully resolved trees. This treatise also includes a key to Pelonides species, a summary of natural history, 24 line drawings, four electron micrographs, 24 habitus illustrations, and three distribution maps.

Relationships within the Pardosa groenlandica species complex (sensu Slowik and Sikes 2013) were analysed to test two competing hypotheses – the species complex consists of either four or seven species. We conducted a partitioned Bayesian analyses of the mitochondrial gene COI and the nuclear genes ITS1, 5.8S, and ITS2. These genes provided a dataset composed of 1874 nucleotides each from 144 specimens. Additional analyses included application of the DNA barcoding protocol and a phylogeographic study of a subset of specimens. Analyses found no support for either hypothesis and only one species was found monophyletic in a subset of analyses. Mitochondrial DNA yielded clades discordant with geography. Species in the P. groenlandica species complex show various amounts of genetic support, with a general lack of agreement between genetics and morphology for species boundaries.

Archaeochrysa sanikwanew species (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae: Nothochrysinae) is described from early Eocene (Ypresian) Okanagan Highlands shale at Driftwood Canyon, British Columbia, Canada. The evolutionary trends of three chrysopid wing venation characters (the shape of the intramedian cell, the position of the crossvein 2m-cu, and the development of the pseudocubitus) are analysed. The forewing venation of this species is very plesiomorphic compared with the vast majority species of Nothochrysinae, both fossil and extant.

Species of the Aleiodes compressor (Herrich-Schaeffer) species group (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Rogadinae) from the New World are revised. Two new species are described (Aleiodes mantiqueirensisnew species and Aleiodes marinoniinew species) and geographical range of the species group is extended into the Neotropical Region. Both new species are known only from the type locality in Brazil. Including the current descriptions, there are six species within the Aleiodes compressor species group, four of them from the New World. Some new diagnostic characters for the group are proposed such as the relative length of antenna and the shape of ovipositor sheaths. The males of this group are difficult to distinguish from males of the Aleiodes gastritor-circumscriptus species group because most diagnostic features are found only in females.

As of summer 2014, the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), has become established in 24 states in the United States of America and has killed tens of millions of ash trees since its introduction into Michigan in the 1990s. Considerable research has been conducted on many aspects of EAB life history, natural history, ecology, and management strategies in an attempt to contain this devastating pest. In this article, we review the life history, mating behaviours, and host plant selection by EAB in North America as well as host resistance to EAB attack.

The New World fauna of the genus Oxytorus Förster, 1869 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) comprises 11 species, two of them, O. bahiensisnew species and O. sinopaenew species, both from eastern Brazil, are described as new. New data about distribution and variation of several species are reported. Oxytorus peruvianus Alvarado, Bordera, and Rodríguez-Berrío, 2011 is reported for the first time from Brazil and Ecuador, and O. alfredi Gauld and Mallet, 2000 from Guatemala, Mexico, and Trinidad and Tobago. An illustrated key to the New World species of Oxytorus is provided.

Two new species of Epipocus Germar (Coleoptera: Endomychidae) are described: Epipocus olmecusnew species from Veracruz, Mexico, and E. costatusnew species from Puntarenas, Costa Rica. The species groups of Epipocus proposed by Strohecker are discussed and a modified key to the E. rufitarsis group accommodating these two new species is provided.

A new genus and species of mites of the family Caraboacaridae (Acari: Heterostigmata), Intercaraboacarus clivinus Katlav and Hajiqanbar new genus, new species, associated with Clivina ypsilon Dejean, 1829 (Coleoptera: Carabidae), is described from Iran. It is the third genus of the family Caraboacaridae in the world. The new genus represents a combination of shared character states with the two previously described genera. An illustrated key to world genera of the family is provided. Differentiation of the new genus from other genera and distribution and host range of all known genera and species of the family are discussed.

Genus of Itara Walker, 1869 (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) includes 10 subgenera and 54 species worldwide. These species are mainly distributed in the Asia-tropical region (e.g., Malay Archipelago, India, Vietnam, and Thailand). In China, one species (Itara minor Chopard, 1925) has long been identified from tropical regions. In this study, three subgenera and eight species of Itara have been identified. Three new species are described (Itara (Itara) basidentatanew species, Itara (Itara) dicrananew species, and Itara (Gryllitara) denudatanew species, and four new distribution records are reported. Descriptions and illustrations for eight species are provided.

Emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), is an Asian species that was introduced into North America in the mid-1990s. The beetle has the potential to devastate populations of Fraxinus Linnaeus (Oleaceae) species. Several species of Hymenoptera parasitoids have made the transition from North American Agrilus Curtis hosts to A. planipennis, and some (e.g., Atanycolus Förster (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) species) have caused substantial mortality. Invertebrate predators of A. planipennis have been poorly investigated. Predation by woodpeckers (Aves: Picidae) has had the greatest impact on A. planipennis populations. Native entomopathogens have also been observed in populations of A. planipennis and are being explored as potential biological control agents. Agrilus planipennis is a freeze-intolerant species and as such perishes when its tissues freeze. However, the beetle can achieve a mean supercooling point of −30 °C by the production of cryoprotectants, especially glycerol. This low supercooling point in combination with temperatures higher than ambient in its overwintering microhabitat means that it can survive in most of its invaded range. As its distribution expands northward its cold hardiness may be challenged. North American species of Fraxinus possess some resistance to A. planipennis via defensive mechanisms, but these are quickly overcome by expanding larval populations. Intraspecific competition (via cannibalism and starvation) impacts larval survival.

The subgenus Setema de Freina and Witt of the genus Manulea Wallengren (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini) includes several Boreal and Arctic lichen-moth species: the European Manulea (Setema) cereola (Hübner), the type species of the subgenus; the Siberian M. (S.) atratula (Eversmann), M. (S.) debilis (Staudinger), and M. (S.) vakulenkoi (Tshistjakov); M. (S.) hyalinofuscatum (Tshistjakov) from Chukotka; M. (S.) nigrocollare (Tshistjakov) from the Kolyma basin; and the North American Eilema bicolor (Grote) is also transferred into this subgenus as Manulea (Setema) bicolor (Grote), new combination. A key to species is given.

The warehouse beetle, Trogoderma variabile Ballion (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), is a stored-product pest with scant information on its cold tolerance. Ninety-two per cent of larvae reared in isolation at 30 °C went into diapause in the seventh instar, the remaining 8% emerged as adults in 50 days. Diapausing larvae died after 142 days in the 10th instar. The cold tolerance at 0 °C from highest to lowest was; old larvae>pupae>adult=young larvae>eggs. The LT50 (lethal time for 50% of the population) for grouped (non-diapause) non-acclimated old larvae at 0 °C, −5 °C, −10 °C, −16 °C, and −19 °C were; 20, 11, 5, 1, and 1 day, the LT95 were; 38, 15, 10, 5, and 1 days, respectively. The LT50 for isolated (diapausing), cold-acclimated old larvae at the same temperatures were; 275, 125, 74, 26, and 18 days, and the LT95 were; 500, 160, 100, 45, 20 days, respectively. The supercooling point (SCP) of different stages of non-acclimated insects ranged from −25.3 °C (eggs) to −16.1 °C (young larvae). The most cold hardy stage, isolated and acclimated old larvae, had a SCP of −24.9 °C. The potential of using low temperatures to control T. variabile is discussed.

The mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), outbreak in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, currently extends over 18.3 million ha of pine forest. The principal host of the insect is lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta var. latifolia Englemann (Pineaceae) although it is a generalist herbivore on pines. Mountain pine beetles do not typically colonise spruce. However, during the current outbreak, several instances of mountain pine beetle attack on interior hybrid spruce, Picea glauca (Moench) Voss×Picea engelmannii Parry ex. Engelmann (Pinaceae) have been noted in areas where severe lodgepole pine mortality has occurred. Occasionally, beetle reproduction within spruce has been successful. Reproductive behaviours of mountain pine beetles reared from pine and spruce, such as female host acceptance and male joining behaviour, were studied on bolts of pine and spruce in laboratory bioassays. Females more readily accepted spruce host material relative to pine. Females that developed in spruce had higher rates of host acceptance of both pine and spruce host material than females that had developed in pine. We interpret these latter results with caution, however, as inference is partially restricted by sourcing viable insects from one spruce in this study. Implications of these findings to the concepts of host adaptation and population dynamics of this eruptive herbivore are discussed.

The holotype of Praepristus nepalensis Kirschenhofer, 1999 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Platynini), the type species of the genus, is revised and it actually shows all basic characters of Platynini, not Lebiini: Pericalina as considered before. The genus is redescribed, based on fresh material, and the new transfer to the tribe Platynini is briefly discussed. Ten new species are described: P. cavicepsnew species, P. depressusnew species, P. foveicepsnew species, P. grandisnew species, P. kabakovinew species, P. similisnew species, P. sulcifernew species, P. testaceusnew species, and P. tonkinensisnew species all from Vietnam, and P. borneensisnew species from Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia. Both Colpodes planus Landin, 1955 and Notagonum rugifoveatus Louwerens, 1955 are newly transferred to Praepristus Kirschenhofer, 1999. A key to all 13 currently known species of the genus is given.

Ahnea keejeongi Park and Carlton (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), a new genus and new species of New Zealand endemic beetle belonging to the supertribe Faronitae is described. Six previously described species are included to this genus and four species are synonymised as follow: Sagola dissonans Broun, 1921 and S. planicula Broun, 1921 under Ahnea ventralis (Broun, 1912); S. carinata Broun, 1912 and S. lineiceps Broun, 1921 under Ahnea lineata (Broun, 1893). A key to species, habitus photographs, line drawings of diagnostic characters, and distribution maps are provided.

Here we report the first North American detection of the gall wasp Aulacidea pilosellae Kieffer (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae), native to Central Europe and a promising candidate biological control agent for invasive hawkweeds (Pilosella Vaillant, Asteraceae) in North America. This occurrence was discovered through the intersection of (i) publically available DNA barcode data and (ii) DNA sequencing of a biocontrol agent before its release. COI DNA sequences of A. pilosellae collected in Central Europe were compared with publically available DNA sequence records. Despite the presence of other Aulacidea Ashmead in the database, the most similar sequence to the European A. pilosellae was an as yet unidentified specimen collected in the Ottawa Valley of eastern Ontario, Canada. Subsequent sequencing of a second gene region (28S-D2) of the Ottawa Valley specimen yielded an identical DNA sequence to the European A. pilosellae, confirming the presence of this species in Ontario. This note highlights the potential synergy that can result from making DNA barcode data publically available before formal taxonomic identification, and a new benefit of incorporating DNA sequencing of standardised markers into biological control programmes.

Epilachna dodecastigma (Wiedemann) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is an important herbivorous pest of bitter gourd, Momordica charantia Linnaeus (Cucurbitaceae) plant in India and Bangladesh. Volatiles were collected from undamaged bitter gourd plants, and from plants 24 and 120 hours following the initiation of continuous adult female feeding damage, and subsequently identified and quantified by gas chromatography mass spectrometry and gas chromatography flame ionisation detector analyses. Of the 24 volatiles identified in the study, 22 were present in all three treatments (undamaged plants, 24 hours after feeding, and 120 hours after feeding), and all plants significantly increased emissions of these compounds following insect attack. In all plants, the compound 1-tridecanol was the most abundant, followed by phytol. Only two compounds were unique to insect damaged plants: methyl palmitate was characteristic of insect damaged plants, while nerolidol was only detected from plants 120 hours following insect attack, however neither of these insect-damage specific volatiles, when tested individually, elicited attraction in Y-shaped glass tube olfactometer bioassays. Epilachna dodecastigma showed significant preference for the whole volatile blends from insect damaged plants compared with whole volatile blends from undamaged plants. Further, the insect elicited attraction to three individual synthetic compounds: geraniol, 1-tridecanol, and phytol, which had significantly higher emissions from insect damaged leaves compared with those from undamaged plants.