The Nearctic genus Neossos Malloch is revised. The genus contains three species: Neossos marylandicus Malloch (type locality: Bell, MD), Neossos californicus Melander (type locality: Corona del Mar, CA), and Neossos atlanticus n. sp. (type locality: Île Bonaventure, Quebec, Canada). All species are described and illustrated, and a key to species is provided. The male postabdomen of the genus is described in detail for the first time. All known specimens of Neossos have been collected from bird nests, and the larvae and adults are apparently closely associated with the nest material. Morphological differences between the three species of Neossos correspond to differences in avian hosts at the ordinal level, architecture of host nests, and geographic distribution. N. marylandicus is associated with cavity-nesting passerine birds in eastern North America, N. californicus with raptors in western North America, and N. atlanticus with colonial, cliff-nesting seabirds in eastern North America.

The first species of Tanytarsus Kieffer (Diptera: Chironomidae: Tanytarsini) from a phytotelm (plant-held water) is described as a larva, pupa, and adults from specimens reared from leaf axils of Guzmania (Bromeliaceae), a bromeliad from Puerto Rico. Unreared larval records from Tillandsia bromeliads from Florida seem to belong to the new species. The diversity of Chironomidae from phytotelmata is reviewed, and the existence of a further species of Monopelopia Kieffer (Tanypodinae) is reported.

The gemmata species group of Helota MacLeay is revised. Seven species are recognized, including two described herein, H. schuhi sp. nov. from China (Hubei Province) and H. ohbayashii sp. nov. from Laos and Thailand. H. distincta Ritsema and H. ritsemana Heller are placed as junior synonyms of H. fulviventris Kolbe; H. caudata Ritsema is placed as a junior synoym of H. gorhami Olliff. Lectotypes are designated for H. kolbei Ritsema, H. ventralis Ritsema, H. gemmata Gorham, H. fulviventris Kolbe, H. ritsemana Heller, H. distincta Ritsema, and H. gorhami Olliff. A key for the gemmata species group is provided. Figures of protibia, penis, parameres, internal sac, eighth abdominal tergite are presented for all species.

Delphacodes scolochloa Cronin & Wilson (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea) is a newly discovered delphacid planthopper that feeds and oviposits exclusively on the stems of sprangletop, Scolochloa festucacea (Willd.) Link (Poaceae: Pooidae), in the prairie pothole region of northeastern North Dakota. D. scolochloa is bivoltine. It is also wing dimorphic, but populations are composed predominantly of flightless brachypters. Macropters incur a substantial cost in terms of reduced longevity and fecundity relative to brachypters. The parasitoid complex attacking D. scolochloa consists of two egg parasitoids, Anagrus nigriventris Girault and Anagrus columbi Perkins (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), and one undescribed dryinid. The proportion of eggs parasitized averages 21%, and egg parasitization is density independent.

The red sunflower seed weevil, Smicronyx fulvus LeConte, and gray sunflower seed weevil, Smicronyx sordidus LeConte (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), are among the most important seed pests of cultivated sunflowers, Helianthus annuus L., in the northern Great Plains. A portion of 18S ribosomal DNA (18S rDNA) sequence from specimens of 31 populations of the morphologically similar species that were collected across a wide geographic region of the United States showed a consistent separation of the two species. The restriction endonuclease HaeII digests the piece of 18S rDNA in only one of the two species, and this restriction fragment-length polymorphism can be used for species diagnosis. Phylogenetic analysis for species of four tribes of the weevil subfamily Erirhininae showed that the sunflower seed weevil tribe, Smicronychini, is monophyletic.

The first instar of Laccornellus lugubris (Aubé) is described. A parsimony analysis of selected taxa of the subfamily Hydroporinae based on 48 informative larval characters was conducted using the program PAUP*. The 100 most parsimonious trees support a placement of Laccornellus Roughley & Wolfe outside the tribe Hydroporini as part of a clade made up of Hydrovatus Motschulsky Canthyporus Zimmermann, which is supported by the absence of the primary seta UR8 and of the primary seta LA2, and the spine-like condition of the primary seta AB10. Larvae of Laccornellus evolved one unique character state within the Hydroporinae, which is the presence of the primary seta AB15 on ventral surface of last abdominal segment.

Two spectacular fossil catiniids were recently discovered in eastern Inner Mongolia, and western Liaoning in northeastern China, respectively. Here, we describe the two nearly complete beetles as two new genera, including two new species assigned to the family Catiniidae, Cervicatinius complanus gen. et sp. nov. and Forticatinius elegans gen. et sp. nov. Both specimens have interesting modal structures that could provide information about the origin of modern Myxophaga. Moreover, based on the similarities to modern member of Myxophaga, the new genera may be the intergradations between catiniids and primitive myxophagan beetles.

In two previous articles, we reported that the male genitalia of six species of Parabrochymena and 14 species of Brochymena were distinct, particularly the shape and length of the vesica, thus supporting the establishment of Parabrochymena. Here, we present genitalic and nongenitalic information on four of the remaining five species of these two genera. Because of the results of these analyses, and in combination with similar analyses of species described earlier, we have transferred three of the four species [i.e., Parabrochymena enigmatica (Ruckes), Parabrochymena inbio Larivière, and Parabrochymena poeyi (Guérin-Méneville)] to Brochymena. Also, we have provided descriptions of Brochymena and Parabrochymena and the New World tribe (Halyini), which includes only these genera.

The genus Syrphophagus Ashmead is defined by means of a brief diagnosis and an identification key to the females of nine species known from Transcaucasia and Turkey. One new species, Syrphophagus eliavae sp. n., is described. Two species [S. arundinicola Hoffer 1965 and S. ariantes (Walker, 1837)] are recorded for the first time from Georgia (former USSR). The known hosts and distribution of all species are summarized.

This study combines morphological and molecular data to address several questions of species validity within the dragonfly genus Sympetrum. We compared morphological characters (genitalia and other putatively diagnostic characters) and DNA sequences from mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions between these disputed taxa and their close relatives. Specimens of Sympetrum nigrescens Lucas shared COI haplotypes with Sympetrum striolatum (Charpentier), and no morphological characters consistently diagnosed S. nigrescens, which therefore becomes a junior synonym of S. striolatum. Similarly, Sympetrum occidentale Bartenev shared identical COI and ITS sequences with Sympetrum semicinctum (Say), and the supposed diagnostic morphological characters overlapped with the intraspecific variation within S. semicinctum. Sympetrum occidentale becomes a junior synonym of S. semicinctum. In a third case, the genetic distance between Sympetrum signiferum Cannings & Garrison and Sympetrum vicinum (Hagen) was lower than that found between most undisputed species. However, the morphological characters that distinguish S. signiferum from S. vicinum were distinct and consistent, and they supported the retention of S. signiferum as a valid species. In the fourth case, neither morphological nor genetic data were able to distinguish Sympetrum janeae Carle consistently from Sympetrum internum Montgomery, or Sympetrum rubicundulum (Say); in addition, genetic distances between individuals of S. internum and S. rubicundulum were small or nonexistent. Further studies are necessary to test the species status of S. janeae and its close relatives.

In our earlier efforts to demonstrate the spread of a brown rot fungus, Gloeophyllum trabeum (Pers.) Murrill by Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, we found not only that C. formosanus does not spread G. trabeum but also that G. trabeum did not survive in the presence of C. formosanus. Further investigation of this antagonistic interaction between this termite and fungus led to a hypothesis that green-spored fungi may be carried by termites and that they play a role in suppressing the growth of G. trabeum. Fungal cultures were isolated from integument and guts of laboratory-maintained colonies of C. formosanus and groups of C. formosanus freshly collected from the field. Only the green-spored fungi were selected from the many fungi isolated. Green-spored fungi isolated from the integument were identified as Aspergillus flavus Link, Trichoderma harzianum Rifai, Trichoderma virens Miller et al., Trichoderma asperellum Samuels, Lieckfeldt & Nirenberg, and Trichoderma ghanense Y. Doi, Y. Abe & J. Sugiyama. A different set of fungi were isolated from the gut, which included A. flavus, Hypocrea virens Chavarri, Samuels and Steward, T. asperellum cultures along with Penicillium janthinellum Biourge and Cladosporium cladosporioides (Fres.) de Vries. A. flavus was associated with every laboratory maintained colony but was associated only with one replication of one of the field collected groups. Our results suggest that A. flavus may be contaminating the colonies that were maintained in the laboratory and the fungus may become proliferous as the colonies become weak. Dual culture tests showed that all the fungi isolated from the integument, and gut were parasites and/or antagonists and that they effectively controlled the growth of G. trabeum. We think termites may be using parasitic fungi to control a brown rot fungus.

We studied how substrate availability and dispersal ability influence the distribution pattern of a saproxylic beetle, Spasalus crenatus (MacLeay) (Coleoptera: Passalidae), in a subtropical forest. Members of this species consume deadwood and contribute to material cycling in forests. We tested two hypotheses to explain abundance and distribution patterns of S. crenatus in Puerto Rico: 1) substrate availability of fallen trunks limits the establishment of colonies (resource hypothesis) and 2) dispersal ability of the beetles limits their distribution (dispersal hypothesis). To test these hypotheses, we performed one field and one experimental study. In the field study, we examined the species composition of fallen trunks, bark density, and presence of bess beetle colonies in 16 transects (60 by 10 m) in the Luquillo Experimental Forest. The field results suggest that beetles have limited mobility and that they have preference for colonizing some species and avoiding other species. In the experimental study, we examined mobility and substrate association of S. crenatus. We placed three trunk species at various distances to observe colonization by experimental individuals. Beetles colonized trunks near the release point, with preference for harder woods. Both hypotheses are supported; availability of resources and dispersal ability contribute to the distribution pattern of this beetle in Puerto Rico. We discuss the results in light of evolutionary pressures underlying island ecology. In addition, understanding population dynamics of S. crenatus on an island will enable comparisons with mainland populations.

Allonemobius shalontaki (Braswell) (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Nemobiinae), a newly recognized species, was described on the basis of novel electrophoretic alleles and a unique male calling song. However, little is known about the species and the factors that isolate it from co-occurring species of Allonemobius (Hebard). We use electrophoretic markers to document sympatry of A. shalontaki with its congener Allonemobius socius (Scudder) and to follow the life cycle of the two species at two sites. The results indicate that there are phenological differences between the species. To confirm the phenological differences quantified in the field, we study patterns of egg development and hatching in the laboratory. Together with laboratory hybridization studies, these result demonstrate that A. shalontaki and A. socius are strongly, but not completely, reproductively isolated.

Habitat fragmentation increases habitat edge, which often enhances predation pressure. This phenomenon, termed the “edge effect,” has been documented for many organisms. However, its underlying mechanisms are not sufficiently understood, particularly for insect species. Thus, we aimed to interpret the behavioral mechanism of edge effects in two cicada species: Graptopsaltria nigrofuscata (Motschulsky) and Cryptotympana facialis (Walker) (Hemiptera: Cicadidae). In recent decades, the G. nigrofuscata has been decreasing in urban environments, whereas C. facialis has not. We compared the predation pressure by birds in four urban and three suburban habitats and we observed predation-avoidance behaviors. Results showed that the G. nigrofuscata incurred extremely high predation pressure. However, in C. facialis, predation pressure was constant among habitats. Behavioral observations revealed that predation avoidance of G. nigrofuscata was highly cover dependent, because threatened individuals hid in nearby trees. When tree cover is highly fragmented, the G. nigrofuscata probably has difficulty hiding. However, C. facialis fled cover independently. From these results, we concluded that the main causes of the decline of G. nigrofuscata in urban habitats were its cover dependence and the increasing discontinuity of tree coverage.

In this study, we investigated patterns of egg production and inclusion of bacterial endosymbionts in the whitefly Bemisia aff. gigantea Martin, a species native to lowland tropical rain forests of North Queensland, Australia. Development of the female reproductive system of B. aff. gigantea becomes evident in fourth instar/pharate adults, with extensive accumulation of mature (chorionated) eggs occurring 1–2 d before adult eclosion. Evidence from light and electron microscopy indicates that bacteriocytes (specialized cells containing bacterial endosymbionts) appear scattered through the abdominal region in close association with the developing eggs. In pharate adults, bacteriocytes seem to enter developing eggs basally through the pedicel, and after oviposition they move distally from the pedicel as the embryo matures. In addition, developing ova without bacteriocytes were evident in 3-d-old females, indicating that oogenesis and bacteriocyte inclusion is an ongoing process.

Studies were conducted to test the suitability of absorbent cotton as an oviposition substrate for phytophagous stink bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). In confined boxes, >80% of total egg masses of Euschistus heros (F.), Dichelops melacanthus (Dallas), and Thyanta perditor (F.) were laid on cotton; for Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood) and Chinavia impicticornis (Stål), >60%. However, Nezara viridula (L.) and Edessa meditabunda (F.) did not oviposit on cotton balls, but instead on the box walls, on filter paper, or on food. Newly hatched nymphs successfully (>95%) left the eggshells despite the presence of cotton fibers around the egg masses.

We tested the utility of molecular markers for distinguishing between two closely related species, Gonatocerus morrilli (Howard) and Gonatocerus walkerjonesi S. Triapitsyn (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), to evaluate whether postrelease G. morrilli specimens could be discriminated in the field. Initially, postrelease specimens from California collected in 2002 and 2003 were analyzed. Amplification size of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region 2 demonstrated that all of the specimens were of the G. walkerjonesi ITS2 genotype. Inter-simple sequence repeat-polymerase chain reaction DNA fingerprinting of specimens from the original G. morrilli“release” colony demonstrated that the DNA banding pattern was superimposable to that of G. walkerjonesi, confirming that the G. morrilli colony was contaminated. A new G. morrilli colony was initiated in spring 2005, and we continued to survey random postrelease specimens from the 2004–2006 collections. As expected, from 2004 and most of 2005, only the G. walkerjonesi ITS2 genotype was detected. In fall 2005 and in the spring and fall 2006, we detected the G. morrilli ITS2 genotype at sites where the new colony was previously released. Analyses with two newly developed “one-step” species-specific ITS2 diagnostic markers were in accordance with the results of the markers described above, demonstrating the usefulness of the former studies of natural enemy establishment in biological control programs.

The oviposition process of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), is described as a succession of four events forming one egg-laying cycle. Each time an egg is laid, the vulva opens and the sting is fully extended. When the vulva closes, the egg is forced to the base of the sting, whereupon the sting is usually retracted across the egg. This phenomenon has been consistently observed for queens from monogynous and polygynous S. invicta colonies. Zero to four eggs can be laid for each opening of the vulva. Multiple egg deposition is more frequent for monogyne queens, and it generally follows an oviposition cycle in which no egg is laid. The egg-laying cycles were evenly distributed during the observation periods, regardless of the total number of eggs laid, thereby suggesting that oviposition is a continuous process in S. invicta.

Behaviors displayed by worker termites, which make up 80–90% of any eastern subterranean termite population, provide the foundation for understanding the details of termite social organization. Individually marked termite workers were placed in an enclosed, darkened arena and videotaped for three 24-h periods. Behaviors observed in detail include ecdysial assistance, gallery excavation, oscillatory movements, worker feeding and adult mating. Primary reproductive pairs were observed to mate, on average, once every 3 d. Ecdysis lasted 43 min and involved multiple allogrooming attendants. Excavating termites manipulated the substrate with their mouthparts and showed fidelity to the site of excavation but not the site of deposition. Four different types of oscillatory movements were characterized with the type IV always ending in defecation. Worker feeding behaviors are described that involve swallowing materials obtained by five different routes and evoke use of the superorganism concept. The relevance of these observations for a better understanding of a variety of topics, including biology, management, and evolution of these economic pests, is included.