Effectiveness of natural enemies greatly depends on their functional responses, one of the key components in the selection of biological control predators. The aim of this study was to describe the functional response of third-instar Chrysoperla carnea Stephens (Neuroptera: Chrysopiade) on fourth-instar Myzus persicae Sulzer (Hemiptera: Aphididae). We determined the type of functional response by logistic regression analysis, which suggested that C. carnea exhibited a type III functional response. The handling time estimated was of 0.0066 (±0.0026) and, attack coefficient “a” is made a function of prey density(a = bN_o). Chrysoperla carnea larvae ate an increasingly larger number of M. persicae nymphs as the prey density increased. We obtained an initial accelerated response, because C. carnea became more efficient at finding M. persicae. Roger's model did forecast correctly the expected number of eaten preys, but, the value of Th overestimated the maximum number “T/Th” of preys eaten by one C. carnea predatory larva.

A survey of insects reared from seeds and fruits in a rainforest in Thailand yielded 337 specimens of Tortricidae representing 16 species. Based on this material, we present host records for the following: Hilarographa muluana Razowski complex (Chlidanotini), Archips machlopis (Meyrick) (Archipini), Cryptaspasma brachyptycha (Meyrick) (Microcorsini), Collogenes squamosa (Diakonoff) (Microcorsini), Gatesclarkeana idia Diakonoff (Olethreutini), Helictophanes prospera (Meyrick) (Olethreutini), Lobesia aelopa (Meyrick) (Olethreutini), Hoplitendemis sp. A (Olethreutini), Cryptophlebia rhynchias (Meyrick) (Grapholitini), Cryptophlebia ombrodelta (Lower), Cryptophlebia sp. (undetermined) (Grapholitini), Thaumatotibia sp. (undetermined) (Grapholitini), Andrioplecta shoreae Komai (Grapholitini), Andrioplecta subpulverula (Obraztsov) (Grapholitini), Andrioplecta (?) species (undetermined) (Grapholitini), and Cydia (?) species (undetermined) (Grapholitini). Tortricids were reared from 30 plant species representing 12 plant families, with Sapindaceae and Annonaceae supporting the greatest number of species, seven and six, respectively. Consistent with other surveys of seed- and fruit-feeding tortricids, the tribe Grapholitini represented 50% of the total tortricid species and 73% of the total tortricid specimens in the Thailand survey.

A cloud forest skipper butterfly, known from Costa Rica and Panama, was described in 1888 and has been in three polytypic genera. Diverse characters, especially male genitalia and phylogeny based on the Z sex chromosome, but also adult and larval facies and larval foodplants, argue for placement of this species in a monotypic genus. The result: Neomorphuncus Burns, new genus and Neomorphuncus eugramma (Mabille), new combination.

Two new species of Halictophagidae, Halictophagus crassiartus n. sp. and Coriophagus hansoni n. sp. are described from material collected in Malise traps in Costa Rica. Coriophagus hansoni n. sp. is the first in that genus from Central America and the second Coriophagus species from the New World. Halictophagus crasiartus n. sp. is the second species described from Costa Rica in this genus and the third in Central America. The characters used to separate Coriophagus and Halictophagus are discussed in light of the new species descriptions.

The discovery of Rhinusa asellus (Gravenhorst), a Palearctic weevil which breeds in stems of Verbascum spp. (Scrophulariaceae), in North America is documented for the first time. This species is currently known from five northeastern states (Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont). It was first identified in a funnel trap sample from Albany Co., New York collected in May 2017. A specimen was then discovered in unidentified bycatch material from Worcester County, Massachusetts collected in July 2013. In addition to a morphological identification, DNA barcoding of the mtCOI gene confirmed the conspecificity of the North American specimens with specimens from Germany. There are now five species of Rhinusa known to occur in North America: R. antirrhini (Paykull), R. asellus (Gravenhorst), R. linariae (Panzer), R. neta (Germar), and R. tetra (Fabricius). We give a summary of distribution and biology, and provide an updated key to all species of Rhinusa known to occur in North America.

Seasonal abundance, daily activity, and behavior of adults of the robber fly Lasiopogon slossonae Cole and Wilcox were assessed with a capture-mark-recapture procedure for a population along 1 km of riverside in the Adirondack Mountains near Lake Placid, New York. Over the 2015 season, a total of 240 individuals were uniquely marked at this site; 73 were re-sighted at least one more time. The overall emergence window for this population in 2015 spanned 47 days with a maximum individual lifespan observed of 23 days; adult seasonal phenology periods for three other years are also summarized from presence/absence observations. In 2015, the adult sex ratio was slightly male-skewed (58%), but there was no significant difference between the sexes in home range size or perch distance from water. Flies packed more tightly into microhabitat patches as the overall abundance increased, and individuals showed some fidelity to relatively small home ranges (the median area of activity for marked individuals was 20 m²). However, longer dispersal also occurred rarely—the farthest movement we observed was 726 m over nine days. Individuals were active from morning to evening (usually 10:00 to 18:00) with a daily activity period that appeared to depend on both light intensity and temperature. Prey consisted mostly of Empididae, but also included Simuliidae, Anthomyiidae, and Cicadellidae. Both males and females were observed mating with multiple partners on different days.

The new stilt bug genus Bajacanthus, n. gen., and new species B. immaculatus, n. sp. are described from the Vizcaino Peninsula in Baja California Sur, Mexico. The berytid was discovered on the recently described endemic plant, Bajacalia moranii B. L. Turner (Asteraceae). A diagnosis, description, digital images of the adult male and female, the male genitalia capsule, and parameres are provided to facilitate recognition. A discussion of relationships is given and a revised key to the genera of the tribe Hoplinini (Gampsocorinae) is provided.

Chrysomya Robineau-Desvoidy is one of the most forensically important blow fly genera. The disadvantages of morphological taxonomy have resulted in numerous synonyms and caused problems in the species identification of this genus. In recent years, DNA barcoding (partial sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) gene) has become a useful and popular tool for overcoming these difficulties. However, relevant studies generally focus on forensically-related species in specific regions. The insufficient sampling within specific genera in these studies limits their application in uninvestigated areas and precludes further insights into the actual availability of DNA barcoding for species identification. For this, the majority of currently available barcoding sequences of Chrysomya species are involved in a molecular analysis using different species delimitation methods. The results indicate that only up to 20 of 26 Chrysomya species can be distinctly separated from the others. With the integration of other information and a secondary genetic marker, the remaining ambiguous Chrysomya species are expected to be correctly separated.

The reproductive biology of Euoniticellus intermedius (Reiche) was studied using insects collected in Quiahuixtlan, Veracruz, Mexico, that were kept under controlled environmental conditions (temperature: 26.9 °C ± 0.09; relative humidity: 69.75% ± 1.7; photoperiod: 14D-10N). The reproductive systems of both sexes—similar to those described for other species of Scarabaeinae—are described. Females lay two eggs each day. Their fecundity is 111 ± 15 eggs. The lifespan of this species is 30 to 60 days. Development from egg to imago ranges from 25 to 28 days. The three larval instars are described.

The sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner), is an emergent sorghum pest in the United States. This study was designed to identify which natural enemy species are present in aphid populations in sorghum in Texas, and to track the seasonal population trends of the aphid and its natural enemies on sorghum hybrids that differ in susceptibility to the aphid. From 2015 through 2016, sugarcane aphid and its natural enemies were sampled weekly in plots of aphid-susceptible and partially aphid-resistant sorghum hybrids at two field sites in Nueces County and Burleson County, Texas. In 2015, aphids and natural enemies had greater peak abundance on the susceptible hybrid than on the resistant hybrid. Peak abundance of most natural enemies tended to lag behind that of aphids by one to two weeks. Natural enemy taxa observed at both field sites included two primary parasitoid wasp species (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae: Aphelinus nigritus Howard stat. rev.; Braconidae: Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson)), one species of hyperparasitoid (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), ten lady beetle species (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and three morphospecies of dusky lady beetle (Coccinellidae: Scymninae), three hoverfly species (Diptera: Syrphidae), five green lacewing species (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), brown lacewings (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae: Hemerobius), and minute pirate bugs (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae: Orius insidiosus (Say)). Aphelinus and Coccinellidae were the numerically dominant natural enemy groups in all sorghum hybrids, followed by Chrysopidae and Syrphidae. Aphids mummified by Aphelinus were hyperparasitized by Syrphophagus aphidivorus at a rate of approximately 90%. Natural enemy densities were similarly proportionate to aphid densities on both aphid-susceptible and aphid-resistant plants. Overall, the continuity of natural enemy species composition and population trends supports that these natural enemies responded positively to sugarcane aphid on sorghum.

A new species of armored scale insect, Thysanaspis dennorum Normark and Okusu, is described from mangroves (Avicennia germinans L.) in Florida. A previous Bayesian analysis of 4 loci found that individuals from the type series of this species were closely related to the Japanese species Thysanaspis litseae Takagi, and morphologically the new species fits in the genus Thysanaspis Ferris. This is biogeographically surprising; all other members of the tribe Leucaspidini are native to the Old World and all other members of the genus Thysanaspis are native to East Asia.

Anthocomus equestris (Fabricius, 1781) (Coleoptera: Melyridae) is a species of non-native soft-winged flower beetle that can be commonly found in homes in eastern North America. Herein, I use information from museum specimens and citizen science websites to track the historic range expansion of A. equestris from New Jersey through eastern North America and the Midwest, where it has not been previously recorded in the literature. Additionally, I discuss the apparent shift of adult beetles from indoors to outdoors.

Zadiprion jeffreyiSmith, n. sp., is described. The species was discovered defoliating Pinus jeffreyi in Baja California, Mexico. It is close to Z. rohweri (Middleton) from southwestern United States and Mexico, which is a pinyon pine feeding species. The description and illustrations show differences between the species and genetic differences are noted.

Three species of the sawfly genus Heteroperreyia Schrottky are now known to feed on Schinus spp. (Anacardiaceae): H. jorgenseni (Jörgensen), H. hubrichi Malaise, and H. kava Smith, n. sp. All occur from southeastern Brazil to northeastern Argentina. The species separation is supported by the description, illustrations, and genetic differences included here.

The genus CallibryastisMeyrick, 1912 is recorded for the first time from China, with the description of Callibryastis latiprocessus, sp. nov. Images of the adult, venation, and genitalia are provided.

Piesma costatum (Uhler) is a rarely collected piesmatid whose adults have been known only from the brachypterous morph; its host plants also have remained unknown. During fieldwork in the Nebraska Sandhills (2016–2018), nymphs and adults were found near Valentine in Cherry County on desert goosefoot (Chenopodium pratericola Rydb.; Chenopodiaceae). Males outnumbered females (26♂: 17♀) in late June 2017, with nearly equal numbers (23♂: 24♀) observed in mid-September. The presence of fifth instars in June and September indicate that the piesmatid is bivoltine. The first macropters (1 male, 1 female) were discovered, but they represented less than 2% of adults (n 5 115). Brachypterous adults are flightless, with their hind wings rudimentary and auricular. The bug's low vagility and patchy distribution of its host plant help explain the rareness of P. costatum in collections. Nebraska's vast Sandhills are considered a stable habitat that might favor the evolution of flightlessness, which might minimize the loss of dispersing adults and be energetically advantageous in the nearly constant winds of the Sandhills.