Rambutan is an important cash crop in the Mexican State of Chiapas. In the last few years this crop has been expanded to other agricultural areas of Mexico, and mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) represent a potential phytosanitary risk for this crop. The present study was performed with the objectives to identify the mealybug species associated with rambutan, and determine their altitudinal distribution in the Soconusco region of Chiapas. A total of six orchards were sampled for mealybugs, two at each altitudinal level: the low zone, i.e., 60–70 meters above sea level (masl); middle zone, 240–315 masl; and high zone, 475–590 masl. In each orchard, we randomly selected 28 trees that were sampled for fruits infested with mealybugs three times between May and August of 2015. Results showed that the abundance of immature stages and adults was higher in orchards located at the low zone. A total of 1236 adult female mealybugs were identified, namely, Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell) (57%), Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) (24.9%), Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (15.7%) and Nipaecoccus nipae (Maskell) (2.4%). The latter three species have not been previously recorded in association with rambutan trees in Mexico. All species were infesting rambutan fruits in orchards located at the medium zone, being F. virgata the dominant species. The mealybug M. hirsutus was not detected in high altitude orchard, and N. nipae was not present in low altitude orchards. In contrast, F. virgata and D. brevipes were detected in all three altitudes, being more abundant in the low zone. Mealybug species and its altitudinal distribution reported here are a preliminary assessment of these insects in rambutan orchards, and it is expected to be used as a background for further studies.

To study the intraspecies taxonomy of the Western honeybee (Apis mellifera), geometric morphometrics analyses can now replace the standard morphometry method, yet its availability for microtaxonomy of the Asian honeybee (Apis cerana F.) has not been reported. In order to assess effectiveness of geometric morphometrics analyses using the forewing in the microtaxonomy of the Asian honeybee, 180 individual worker bees were sampled from three sample sites, Jilin, Hainan, and Shaanxi, representing different habitats for A. cerana within China. Bees were analyzed by discrimination analysis using three methods: (1) standard morphometry method with 33 traditional characters, (2) simplified standard morphometry method with only 11 wing vein angles, and (3) geometric morphometrics analyses with 18 wing vein junctions. The results revealed that geometric morphometrics analyses could reflect the variability information of the forewing vein structures of A. cerana. Morphological differentiation at the three sample sites was identified. Cross-validation indicated the percentage of individuals falling into each sample site, were 98.3%, 95.0%, and 88.3% for Jilin, Hainan, and Shaanxi, respectively. Geometric morphometrics analyses produced classification results similar to those produced using the standard morphometry method, and it was superior for presenting the wing vein variability information compared to the simplified standard morphometry method. Therefore, we conclude that geometric morphometrics analyses could be efficient and effective in the microtaxonomy of A. cerana. Furthermore, geometric morphometrics is a potential method for resolving A. cerana subspecies classification issues.

Helopeltis theivora Waterhouse, is an important pest of tea (Camellia L.) in South India. Pachypeltis maesarum Kirkaldy has also been recently recorded infesting tea. Field observations revealed that Ludwigia peruviana (L.) Hara, a swamp weed, served as an alternate host for these pests. Biology of H. theivora and P. maesarum was studied on this weed. The incubation period of H. theivora was longer than P. maesarum. The total nymphal period was shorter for P. maesarum when compared with that of H. theivora. Finite rate of increase in numbers (λ) of H. theivora and P. maesarum females was 1.1086 and 1.0691, respectively. A parasitoid on nymphs and adults of H. theivora, Leiophron sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was recorded on L. peruviana for the first time. Knowledge on the phenology of these mirids may help to take better management decisions, so that proper assessments can be made before applying pesticides.

Between September of 2013 and September of 2016 an intermittent survey of the cicada diversity and distribution in Oklahoma was conducted. The results of this survey are presented here as a current updated annotated checklist. Seven species in four genera are newly recorded as resident in Oklahoma: Diceroprocta texana (Davis, 1916), Megatibicen figuratus (Walker, 1858), Neotibicen davisi harnedi (Davis, 1918), Neotibicen linnei (Smith & Grossbeck, 1907), Neotibicen robinsonianus (Davis, 1922), Okanagana viridis Davis, 1918, and Pacarina shoemakeri Sanborn and Heath, 2012. This brings the total number of species inhabiting the state to 41. Discussed are seven additional species possibly occurring in the state and Oklahoma's cicada diversity.

The effects of high voltage electromagnetic fields (EMF) on populations of aphpids, leaf miners and snails associated with rapeseed under subtropical conditions were studied. A field study was conducted during the spring season of 2015, at Wuhan, China (30.59°N, 114.30°E; 23.3 m asl). Plots with four different emission rates (0 kV, 5.2 kV, 26 kV and 39 kV) were established, each containing an EMF emission device located 2.6 m above the soil, Lipaphis erysimi aphid and Liriomyza brassicae leaf miner population densities were recorded at 10 d intervals throughout the cropping season. Aphids, leaf miners and snails infested all plots, but significantly higher population densities of all pests were observed in control plots. The plots with the highest emission rate (39 kV) had lower population densities of pests throughout the entire experiment. High voltage EMF may have the ability to suppress pests of rapeseed. However, much remains to be learned about the suitability and reliability of EMF for insect suppression.

Fossil piestine staphylinids are extremely rare, with only two definite species known to date. A new rove beetle genus and species, Eopiestus groehni Cai & Lü gen. & sp. nov., is described and figured based on an exceptionally well-preserved adult in Eocene Baltic amber from Yantarny in the Kaliningrad region of Russia. The species is the first fossil piestine discovered as an amber inclusion.

Grass-feeding termites, Gnathamitermes sp., can be considered beneficial in pastureland, where they aerate topsoil, recycle nutrients from grasses and forbs, and excavate and redistribute soil. The primary objective of this report is to illustrate and determine the average physical dimensions of Gnathamitermes tubiformans soldiers by measuring key body parts, including left mandible length, as well as discuss observed foraging behavior. G. tubiformans soldiers have unique mandibles that can be used for accurate identification. Workers are morphologically similar compared with some other arid-land termite species, thus soldier characteristics are used for identification. The secondary objective is to describe observations of G. tubiformans foraging behavior. This report also provides detailed line drawings and a watercolor illustration for aid in identification. Termites were collected near Temple, Cotton County, Oklahoma, and measured with high precision microscopy. To ensure accurate identification, fourteen different soldier body measurements were determined. The ability to identify termites that are potentially beneficial or detrimental to forage grass biomass production may aid efforts to enhance livestock production on pastures.

According to their trophic-niche breadth, bees can be classified as polylectic if they collect pollen from a wide variety of plant species or oligolectic if they obtain pollen from only a few species which usually belong to the same genus or even family. In this study, we measured the trophic-niche of Megachile maculata as well as its breadth in southeastern Brazil. Samples of pollen from nests were used to identify the plants visited by this bee. We found 11 different pollen grain types. Asteraceae occurred at high frequency (97.36%); 84.09% belonged to Baccharis and 12.31% to the genus Vernonia. Trophic-niche breadth of M. maculata varied little over the study period. The highest trophic-niche breadth was found at the end of the dry season and the lowest in November, at the beginning of the rainy season. We concluded that M. maculata is an oligolectic species and Baccharis and Vernonia are important pollen sources.