The macroinvertebrate communities of hyporheic and benthic habitats were investigated in relation to stream physicochemistry in glacial, clearwater, and brownwater stream types (n  =  1) during the summer (June–August) of 2004 near Juneau, Alaska. Hyporheic macroinvertebrates were sampled using a series of PVC wells driven into parafluvial bars in the three stream types. Benthic invertebrates were collected using Hess samples from the stream channel adjacent to parafluvial well locations to compare surface macroinvertebrate communities to that of the hyporheic communities. Temperature, total phosphorus, dissolved organic carbon, and total nitrogen concentrations were significantly higher in the brownwater stream compared to the other stream types. Hyporheic macroinvertebrate density was 88% higher in the brownwater stream, despite significantly lower dissolved oxygen concentrations. Benthic macroinvertebrate density was 95% greater in the brownwater stream type than the benthos of the two other stream types. Benthic and hyporheic samples were collector-gatherer driven and the hyporheic zone was functionally more diverse than the benthic habitat with a similar taxa composition across all habitats and stream types. The study of aquatic ecosystems is especially important in Southeast Alaska, where the temperate rainforests are still relatively un-disturbed, and most watersheds still have healthy salmon runs. Our study provides useful data for future management and research in this unique ecoregion, which is predicted to experience substantial climatic changes in temperature and precipitation patterns in the future.

Although sagebrush, Artemisia spp., does not require an insect pollinator, there are several native species of bumble bees, Bombus spp. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), that are present in sagebrush steppe ecosystems where they act as pollinators for various forbs and shrubs. These native pollinators contribute to plant productivity and reproduction. We captured 12 species of bumble bees (437 individuals) at two sites during this study. The three most commonly captured species of Bombus at the first site (Red Mountain in the Targhee-Caribou National Forest) were B. rufocinctus Cresson, B. fervidus and B. melanopygus Nylander. Bombus fervidus dominated the trap catch at the second site (Lave Lake Land and Livestock) followed by B. rufocinctus and B. californicus consanguineus Smith. When numerous species of bumble bees co-occur on a given site, the community must have some mechanism for partitioning the available resources for the coexistence to occur. Along with temporal separation that was demonstrated by monthly differences in the capture of several of the individual species of bumble bees at both study sites, differences in capture of individual species of bumble bees was influenced by trap color. The differences observed among the species of Bombus we captured at the two sites may serve to limit competitive interactions among some of the species. Further, more bumble bees were captured in traps placed in the plots with the lowest percentage of sagebrush in the canopy. The results suggest that sagebrush steppe habitats can harbor a diverse community of native bumble bees and that multiple Bombus species can coexist on these sites. To maintain these diverse bumble bee communities, some portion of the sites should be managed to have little to no sagebrush in the canopy.

Anteon diaoluoshanense sp. nov. is described from a male collected on Mt. Diaoluoshan, Hainan Province, China. The new species is similar to Anteon henanense Xu, He & Olmi 2001. Keys to the Oriental species of Anteon are modified to include the new species.

The histological structure of the ovary of queens of the Yemeni honeybee race, Apis mellifera jemenitica, was studied in the third and fifth larval instars, 1-, 2- and 3-day old pupae and newly emerged imago queen bees. Queen bee larvae were fed with an intensive royal food throughout the larval stage to avoid compounding regression to worker status. Several differences were found from one developmental stage to another, as well as in the different ages of each stage. The queen bee's ovaries were observed to go through several discernable stages during metamorphosis. Large cells, from which the germ cells originate, are surrounded by tiny flat cells that form the future general shape of the ovarioles (the peritoneal cover). The queen's ovaries continue to grow and differentiate after the fifth (final) larval stage and during the three pupal stages, where the ovarioles include two areas; the germ cells and the peripheral thread. However, at emergence the germ cells are not yet mature.

Trap nests were used to assay species richness, abundance and distribution of cavity-nesting insects in California's Sierra Nevada foothills bordering the Sacramento Valley. Particular focus was placed on the agriculturally significant native bee Osmia lignaria Say, 1836 because of its potential use as a pollinator of local orchard crops. Osmia lignaria and four other species were obtained from half of the eight study sites. Unidentified nests were constructed at the remaining sites. The strength of correlation between three habitat variables and species abundance was determined. Floral resource availability yielded the strongest correlation, followed by habitat type, then proximity to water. These findings document the presence of cavity-nesting native bees and their associates, highlighting their potential in pollinating important agricultural crops.

In the present paper, a new genus Fractata gen. nov., and a new species, F. sinuata sp. nov. from Yunnan Province in southwest China of the tribe Erythroneurini of Typhlocybinae are described and illustrated.