Mauritiophasma n. gen. (Phasmatidae: Acanthomimini), which includes the sole species M. motalai n. sp., is described; Mauritiophasma is close to the genus Anophelepis Westwood 1859, which is transferred to the tribe Acanthomimini. Another genus, Monoiognosis n. gen. (Anareolatae, incertae sedis), is described; it includes 2 species: M. bipunctata n. sp. (type species) and M. spinosa n. species. Epicharmus guerinii (Phasmatidae: Xeroderinae) is synonymised with E. marchali. All these taxa are endemic to Mauritius at the generic level. They all feature eggs glued to a support by an operculum, a character new for Phasmatodea, believed to be the result of convergent evolution.

An up-dated list of species of the genera Agriacris and Staleochlora, whose karyotypes were previously published, is accompanied by fresh information on the chromosomes of A. jucunda and S. fruhstorferi. The connection between cingulum and dorsal valves in the phallic structure of both species is discussed.

A new phaneropterine species of Stylomolpa Karny 1926 is described, Stylomolpa montana. This species was found in the submontane zone (1000–1500m) of Sabah, Borneo.

The species of the genus Raptrix Terra are revised. Of the 3 known species, only R. perspicua (F.) is recognized as valid. A. westwoodi Saussure & Zehntner, previously treated as synonym of R. perspicua, is returned to species status. R. occidentalis and R. intermedia are new species. As regards their specific differentiation, a parapatric speciation mechanism is supposed.

We present a phylogeny of the Proctolabinae derived from their 12S and 16S mitochondrial ribosomal gene sequences, using 15 genera and 24 species. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using 4 different methods embodying different assumptions (maximum parsimony, neighbor-joining, maximum likelihood and Bayesian probability methods), all of which result in closely similar trees. The results largely corroborate the relationships and classification previously suggested by morphology. A phylogenetic tree including members of the Oedipodinae, Proctolabinae and Melanoplinae, fulfills the criteria of a molecular clock, which we calibrate using the divergence of the Oedipodinae from the other acridid subfamilies (Gaunt & Miles 2002). The major “star-burst” radiation of acridid subfamilies, previously documented by the present authors on the basis of a different analysis, and here represented by the divergence of the Proctolabinae and Melanoplinae, is estimated to have occurred 60 Mya, at the K/T boundary. The modern tribes and subtribes of the Proctolabinae were established in the subsequent 10 My, and most of the current genera were established between 25 and 35 Mya. We examine the phylogenetic distribution of food-plant specialisation, and of the correlated traits of flightlessness and of endo- and epiphytic oviposition, primarily within the subtribe Lithoscirtae. The original specialisation of this group was apparently on the Solanaceae, soon after the origin of that family around 38 Mya, with later radiation onto the Asteraceae and other unrelated families. The spectrum of food plants used is not based on relationship but rather on ecological proximity. Oviposition in or on the food-plant is primitive for this subtribe, and has been developed in different ways in the various clades. The power of flight has been lost and/or regained and wing form modified independently in several different lineages throughout the subfamily. The modern and historical biogeography of the subfamily is discussed in the light of its apparent antiquity and of the current understanding of Central American plate tectonics.

A new genus and species of ovoviviparous blaberid cockroach, Simandoa conserfariam is described that lives in bat guano in a cave in Guinea, West Africa. The male's subgenital plate, styles, and genitalia clearly place it in the Blaberidae: Oxyhaloinae: Nauphoetini. It is close to Henschoutedenia and Nauphoeta, but lacks stridulating structures on the pronotum and tegmina which are present in some species of the other 2 genera. The taxon belongs in the “Guanobies” group of cockroaches and lives in bat guano that accumulates not far from the entrance of the cave where light is present: Simandoa shows none of the characteristics of a troglobite (obligate cave-dweller) which, compared to surface dwellers, has reduced eyes and wings.

The Neotropical genus Xyleus is revised. All existing types were examined, and many specimens from several large collections in different museums borrowed for study. A general confusion regarding Xyleus' species and their geographical distribution was found in the existing literature. Of the 25 specific names published between 1817 and 1935, only 13 were found to be valid, either as species or subspecies. Five new species and 1 new subspecies are described in this revision. The most reliable characters for the separation of species were found in the phallic complex.

According to the materials studied, the genus has a discontinuous geographical distribution. A northern section includes Southeast Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. A southern section includes most of Brasil, Paraguay, Uruguay, parts of Argentina, Bolivia and Perú. Most species of the genus have been found north of parallel 4°N or south of parallel 5°S. While in the northern area only subspecies of Xyleus discoideus have been found, all known species of the genus are present in the southern one.

Specimens of all species are figured, together with important characters for their identification. Maps of the known distribution of all species are given.

A small-scale study investigating the directional dispersal patterns of Chorthippus parallelus in a grazed pasture was undertaken in 2002 and 2003. The study site was divided into 4 quadrants with a central release circle. Nymphs and adults were marked, released and resighted at varying intervals throughout the day, when the distance and direction moved (taken from the center) were recorded for each individual. Significant directional movements to the north of the release circle were evident for both nymphs and adults. These movements were probably in response to habitat factors and topography outside of the release area. Both nymphs and adults moved uphill from the heavily grazed ‘spatially hostile’ release circle, to patches of tall ungrazed grass beyond the release area. These patches of ungrazed grass could have afforded shelter, from predation and inclement weather, not provided by the short vegetation inside the release area.

New records of hairworms (Gordioidea: Nematomorpha) and mermithid nematodes (Mermithidae: Nematoda) are reported from North American Orthoptera collected over the past 25 y. Several thousand Jerusalem crickets (Stenopelmatidae: Stenopelmatus spp.), field crickets (Gryllidae: Gryllus sp), and several hundred decticine katydids (Tettigoniidae: Tettigoniinae) were captured in the field and maintained alive, serving as potential hosts. A total of 36 specimens were found infected (most multiple), which resulted in the recovery of 19 hairworm lots associated with some 11 species of Stenopelmatus; 6 hairworm lots from 4 species of Gryllus and 2 decticine katydid genera, and 11 mermithid nematode lots associated with 5 species of Stenopelmatus, Capnobotes fuliginosus and a Gryllus sp. The present study identifies hosts of hairworms and mermithids collected from sites throughout central and western United States and much of Mexico.

Correlation between morphological and karyological characters in the different genera of Landrevinae is discussed. Difficulties distinguishing the genera Duolandrevus and Repapa are considered. Two new species, male genitalia of 1 species and karyotypes of 6 species are described for the first time. A new synonymy for one species is established

Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum Driver & Milner (= Metarhizium flavoviride Gams & Rozsypal), isolate CG423, is being developed as a mycoinsecticide against grasshoppers in Brazil. Conidia were harvested and stored in a drying chamber during a study period of 260 d, in a room at ∼25°C. Water content (dry weight) of fresh and dried conidia was 70 and 4%, respectively. Conidia from fresh and dry preparations produced similar in vitro germination patterns and were both infective of the American grasshopper Schistocerca americana Drury. The drying process greatly enhanced the survival of CG423 conidia, as witnessed by nearly 100% germination rates after more than a 100-d desiccation period. Prolonged 135 and 176-d storage in the drying chamber at room temperature decreased viability to 72.5% and 28.5% respectively. In contrast, fresh conidia sealed in plastic bags and stored at ambient conditions for 52 d were inactive (<10% viable). The low germination rate (28.5%) of conidia exposed to 176 d in dry storage was altered by exposure of the dry conidia to high humidity (96% RH). Dry conidia exposed to a 4-h rehydration period had germination rates of ∼50%, whereas 24-h preincubation at high humidity resulted in ∼90% germination rates. However, the germination rates were reduced at 204 (81%), 323 (70%) and 260 (23%) days in storage. In addition, preincubation of the CG423 dry conidia in water produced similar positive effects on germination as compared to germination of fresh conidia. At 24h post-inoculation, dry conidia produced significantly lower germination rates (21%) than rehydrated conidia (germination rates > 91.7%, p < 0.05). However, after 48h on SDAY plates, the germination rate of dry conidia (88.3%) was comparable to the germination of conidia rehydrated in water, water Tween-20, or in high humidity.

The preoccupied genus name of Eurasian grasshopper Primnoa Fischer-Waldheim 1846 (Arthropoda:Orthoptera) (nec Lamouroux 1812 [Cnidaria:Alcyonacea]) was replaced by its oldest synonym, Prumna Motschulsky 1859. The current work reviews the authorship and availability of Primnoa and its type species. Additionally, it generally resolves the nomenclatural issues associated with these names, one of which includes providing Prumnini nom. nov. as a replacement name for the tribe Primnoini syn. nov. Subtribe Primnoae becomes a new synonym of Prumnini. Sharovia Otte 1997 is synonymized with Sharovella Gorochov 1985 and Archibrunnea Otte 1997 syn. nov. with Brunneus Hong 1983. Linhagla nom. nov. is provided as a replacement name for Parahagla Lin 1982 and Phyllophora pizaerosifolia nom. nov. replaces Ph. erosifolia Piza 1981, primary homonym.