Five new species of the genus Anteon Jurine from China are described: A. yunnanense, new species, from Yunnan, Daweishan; A. tongi, new species, from Hunan, Wuyuedian; A. actuosum, new species, from Guangdong, Dinghushan; A. wengae, new species, from Guangdong, Nanling; A. yani, new species, from Shandong, Shanghe. Keys are provided for the determination of the species along with illustrations of female chelae.

Nordus praedator sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) is described based on three specimens collected in Jalisco, México. Specimens were collected on leaves that they use for perching behavior and in the mushroom Hydnopolyporus fimbriatus. Specimens of Nordus championi were recently collected with carrion traps baited with fish.

A new species of andrenid bee (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae), Andrena (Callandrena) jazleya Pohl and Larkin, n. sp., is described from southwestern Mexico. The species is closely related to A. brooksi Larkin and A. reflexa Cresson, but can be easily distinguished from these and all other known species of Callandrena by the distinctive, black coloration.

In 1999, three experimental 20% diazinon 20% coumaphos impregnated ear tags and a 40% diazinon ear tag reduced horn fly numbers by 70% at the University of Nebraska Research Ranch near Whitman, Nebraska for 16 weeks. Two other insecticide ear tags, 8% beta cyfluthrin 20% piperonyl butoxide (PBO) and 10% lambdacyfluthrin 13% PBO reduced horn fly numbers by 95% and 86% respectively at a University of Nebraska pasture site near Ithaca, Nebraska for eight weeks. In 2003 some of the same insecticidal ear tags were reevaluated. Ear tags containing 10% zeta-cypermethrin 20% PBO, 20% diazinon 20% coumaphos, 10% lambdacyfluthrin 13% PBO, 8% beta-cyfluthrin 20% PBO and 40% diazinon provided a reduction in horn fly numbers ranging from 81.89% to 88.3% at the University Research Ranch for 12 weeks.

Host establishment of larvae of the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, on a corn plant is approximately ten fold higher in artificial infestations in the greenhouse compared to artificial infestation in field experiments. We hypothesized that the paths that western corn rootworm larvae use to find their host from an individual point source (location where agar containing eggs is injected into the soil) in artificial infestations in the field may be limited and become obstructed by early hatching larvae. To evaluate our hypothesis, we tested two infestation levels (400 or 800 eggs/plant) each with five infestation patterns (1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 infestation points around the plant). An effect of infestation pattern was observed. Root damage on the 0 to 3 scale from an infestation of 400 viable western corn rootworm eggs increased significantly from 0.12 ± 0.03 to 0.74 ± 0.23 when the number of infestation points around the plant was increased from 1 to 16 at one location. Root damage from an infestation of 800 viable eggs increased from 0.18 ± 0.11 to 0.56 ± 0.15 as the number of point sources increased from 2 to 16 at the same location. In addition, larval recovery increased significantly from an average of 1.67 ± 0.49 to 6.22 ± 0.83 when the number of point sources increased from 1 to 8 for 400 viable eggs at one of the locations. However, there were no significant differences in adult emergence. The number of point sources around an individual corn plant apparently affects host establishment in a minor way.

Experiments were conducted to determine distance between sample points to obtain independent samples of corn rootworm eggs and larvae. Spatial patterns and spatial dependence of egg and larval distributions were investigated using geostatistics at two different spatial scales: field scale with sampling distance of 20–25 m and plot scale with 0.2-m sampling distance. Field-scale egg distribution showed no spatial dependence, indicating a random distribution. In the plot-scale study, egg distributions of two plots were random but one plot exhibited spatial dependence that explained 89% of the spatial variability. Larval distribution showed spatial dependence at both field and plot scales and 49.7–99.7% of spatial variability was explained by spatial dependence. This study reported that the distance to obtain independent samples of egg densities would be >25 m for field-scale egg sampling and >0.4 m for plot-scale egg sampling. Independent larval estimates would be produced by spacing samples >46 m apart for field-scale larval sampling, and >1.0 m apart for plot-scale larval sampling.

The study presents data about the biology of the solitary West Palaearctic ground-nesting bee Melitta leporina (Panzer, 1799). The seasonal activity of adults on the basis of the transect method is shown. The pattern of daily activity, environmental preferences and foraging distance observed on xeric meadow and field of alfalfa are described. Information about floral preferences and nest architecture are presented. An egg, provision and pollen load are described. A new information about life cycle is presented.

The effects of variation in host plant availability and population densities on reproductive allocation in grasshoppers have received relatively little attention. The effect of increased host plant availability and population density on survival and reproductive allocation were examined in a widely distributed grasshopper, Ageneotettix deorum (Scudder). The experimental treatments consisted of ambient-level and fertilized vegetation with two A. deorum density treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Both food plant availability and population density played important roles in the observed life history variation. Although the rate of egg pod production was not density-dependent, density-dependence was evident in the number of eggs per pod. Average survival did not respond to food plant availability, but reproduction was limited by host plant availability in the ambient-level treatment. Food limited A. deorum with ambient-level resources produced egg pods more slowly and with fewer eggs per pod. The rate of egg pod production averaged 64% higher with fertilized vegetation than with ambient vegetation. The availability of higher protein host plants may have been the primary limiting factor for egg production. The effects of food availability and grasshopper density acted in an additive manner on reproductive allocation. As a result, the per capita availability of nutrients was likely the limiting factor for reproduction in both resource and density treatments. Variation in host plant availability had a much larger effect on recruitment and population dynamics than would be predicted based on survivorship alone.

The recent increase in illegal logging of the eastern North American monarch butterfly population's overwintering site in central Mexico has emphasized the need for accurate long-term population monitoring tools, especially for this population. One way to obtain indices of annual population size is to record the numbers of monarchs passing by fixed points along the migration route each year, using standardized censusing methods. This methodology has been employed at several sites in eastern North America; however, long-term trends obtained from these sites have never been compared. From 1997 through 2004, the numbers of migrating monarchs were censused daily at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, VA, and 100 km directly north at Cape May, NJ, each fall using similar methodologies. We compared the daily census counts from these sites to determine if each site recorded similar daily and yearly numbers of monarchs, and if the year-to-year trends obtained from each site reflected the same patterns over the eight year period (1997–2004). From comparisons of 210 days during which both sites were operated simultaneously, we found that consistently more monarchs were counted at the Cape May than at the Chincoteague site. This may indicate a greater preference for Cape May as a stopover site or its proximity to the tip of the peninsula where monarchs accumulate in unfavorable weather. However, the year-to-year trends were the same at both sites, with each site showing fluctuating numbers of monarchs from year to year with the lowest numbers in 2004. These results indicate the strengths of migration monitoring as a population monitoring tool, and suggest that future monitoring sites be widely separated to minimize redundancy in data collection.

The Colletes fasciatus-group is endemic to the winter rainfall area of western South Africa and comprises about 35 species with 11 of them having reduced female scopae. These species very probably carry pollen for nest provision in their crop. Two stages of scopa reduction can be distinguished possibly representing consecutive steps towards a total loss of specialized hairs on the hind legs. Microscopical analysis of pollen collected by females of species with developed scopae and a review of published data revealed a strong preference for Aizoaceae that have small to very small pollen grains. A hypothetical scenario for the evolution of scopa reduction is discussed based on flower preferences and considering the harsh environmental conditions during the flowering season in winter and early spring.

Experiments and observations were conducted to investigate some of the physical and behavioral adaptations of larvae and pupae of the rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel, for living in flooded conditions, with the ultimate goal of improving methods for rearing this insect in the laboratory. Larvae have hydrophobic exocuticles and well-developed tracheal systems which are adapted for breathing in air. When larvae were placed in water, the hydrophobic properties of the exocuticle resulted in a very thin layer of air between the surface of larval body and water. Survival rates of larvae placed individually in water in test tubes open to air suggest that larvae can obtain oxygen from this air bubble by means of the tracheal system. Survival rates of larvae were lower in test tubes in which oxygen exchange was prevented by plugging tubes at the water line. Larvae could also secure an adequate supply of oxygen directly from air, as indicated by survival rates of larvae placed individually in test tubes without water but under conditions of high relative humidity.

A detailed description of the larval tracheal system is presented. Larvae possess modified, hook-like spiracles that allow them to penetrate rice roots. Larvae were observed to make for themselves small chambers near or attached to roots and to use these modified spiracles to pierce rice roots in order to gain access to air found in the dense aerenchyma of rice roots. Similarly, before the pupal molt, larvae make a hole in a root and build their cocoons at the base of the hole, thus connecting the cocoons with aerenchyma.

We cataloged the bee fauna to determine potential pollinators in upland and wet longleaf pine savannas in Louisiana. A total of 122 species of bees were collected from four savanna sites. A regional list of 165 species was produced by adding species collected from nearby savannas in Mississippi. Our Louisiana survey documented range extensions for 23 species, 64 new state records, and two possible new species. Upland savannas contained a higher proportion of range restricted bees. Three species collected at upland sites are typically associated with prairies or grasslands and are potential targets for conservation efforts. Biogeographically, the fauna is eastern or southeastern with 68% of the species ranges extending eastward. Species composition comparisons of the Louisiana savanna fauna with other grassland and sand scrub habitats indicated 45% overlap with Mississippi, 30% with southern Florida, 29% with Indiana/Illinois, and 22% with Minnesota. Based on our Louisiana study and one nearby in Mississippi, longleaf pine savannas on the western edge of the East Gulf Coastal Plain are likely to contain close to 200 species of bees.

Two longleaf pine savanna communities, upland woodlands and wet pine flatwoods, occur in Louisiana. Because these communities differ in soil profiles, hydrology, topography, and floral composition and diversity, the objective of this study was to determine how bee diversity and composition differed between them. We surveyed three upland woodlands and one flatwood site over a four year period. Our results indicated higher richness and abundance of bees in uplands compared to the wet flatwood. Upland sites consistently contained about 10 more species and 2.5 times as many individuals. Rarefaction curves indicated similar to higher rates of species accumulation of upland sites compared to the wet site. Similarity in species composition was higher between upland sites than between uplands and the wet site. Differences in diversity are discussed in relation to differences between savanna types, age and size of preserves, and fire management. Size of the preserve appeared to be less important than floral diversity and soil type. From a management perspective, this study suggested newly restored savannas obtain high bee diversity relatively quickly, and small preserves are capable of serving as significant reservoirs of bees.