Ground-nesting bees use a variety of substrates in which to establish cells and complete their reproductive cycles. Here we document the highly aberrant occurrence of a solitary bee species, Anthophora squammulosa Dours, 1870 (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Anthophorini), nesting within meters of an active volcanic crater in Nicaragua, Central America. The nest location is exposed to continuous, strongly acidic gas emissions (>2.7 ppm of SO₂), and sporadic vent clearing episodes that blanket the surrounding area with ash and tephra. An assessment of floral resources available within the expected homing distance of the species was cross-referenced with pollen carried by females returning to their nests. At this site, A. squammulosa appears to forage almost exclusively on a single plant, Melanthera nivea (L.) Small, 1903 (Asteraceae), that is adapted to volcanic acidic rain, despite being widely accepted as a generalist bee in the remainder of its range. Notwithstanding the extreme nature of the site, and the co-occurrence of specialist natural enemies and predators, the possibility exists that the site is selected for its beneficial attributes, such as the loose, well-drained substrate and the absence of vegetation. The converse is that the site is sub-optimal with the population constrained by habitat patchiness and limited dispersal options.

This study evaluated the attraction of insects previously shown to be attracted to methyl eugenol to a monofluorinated analog of methyl eugenol. Orchesia Latreille, 1807 (Coleoptera: Melandryidae), an Empis Linneaus, 1758 (Diptera: Empididae) and six Syrphidae (Diptera) (Allograpta obliqua (Say,1823), Blera scitula Williston, 1881, Hadromyia pulchra Williston, 1882, Ferdinandea Rondani, 1884, Melanosoma mellinum (Linnaeus, 1758) and Platycheirus LePeleteier & Serville, 1828) previously shown to be attracted to methyl eugenol were found to be attracted to the monofluorinated methyl eugenol analog. Three additional Diptera: Syrphidae. Dasysyrphus Enderlien ,1938, Pseudoscaeva diversifasciatus Knab, 1914 and Blera humeralis Williston, 1882) were deemed to be attracted to the monofluorinated methyl eugenol. A number of insects attracted to methyl eugenol were not attracted to monofluorinated methyl eugenol including Diptera in Lauxaniidae, Scatopsidae, Mycetophilidae, and Drosphilidae, Lepidoptera in Noctuidae,Tortricidae and Pyralidae, a Hemiptera in Miridae, and Coleoptera in Chrysomelidae, Cantharidae, Cerambycidae, Elataeridae and Mordellidae.

We present a design for a 3D printed Malaise trap head using polylactic acid filament. The head is tested under field conditions, the polylactic acid material tested with common killing and preservation chemicals and with intense UV light. The head works successfully in the field, and the material is suitable for use with propylene glycol, dichlorvos, or EtOH solutions, but breaks down when ammonium carbonate, sodium cyanide, or ethyl acetate are used. We did not see any impact when the material was exposed to UV. Based on our success, we encourage entomologists to explore the potential for making custom 3D components for sampling insects and other field and laboratory applications. All the trap head design files are available online, free for non-commercial use.

A monitoring program for a recently introduced vinegar fly, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, 1931, was conducted in south-central Washington State, U.S.A. from March 2011 to November 2013. Along with D. suzukii, a complex of nine additional Drosophila Fallén, 1815 species were captured in baited traps and identified to species. The Drosophila were captured in Nalgene^® and Haviland traps baited with apple cider vinegar or a sugar yeast mixture that were distributed among seven different horticultural crops or unmanaged habitats. All flies captured were identified to species and quantified for each sampling period. The species identified and quantified included D. busckii Coquillett, 1901, D. funebris Fabricius, 1787, D. hydei Sturtevant,1921, D. immigrans Sturtevant, 1921, D. melanogaster Meigen, 1830, D. simulans Sturtevant, 1919, D. obscura Fallén, 1823, D. subobscura Collin, 1936, D. subquinaria Spencer, 1942 and D. suzukii. The predominant species in 2011 were the obscura group and D. hydei. In 2012, the predominant species were the melanogaster and obscura groups. The predominant species in 2013 were the melanogaster group and D. suzukii. Throughout the study, each species exhibited unique patterns in activity that varied from year to year. The results of this study reveal a greater diversity of Drosophila in the inland Pacific Northwest, U.S.A. Holarctic shrub-steppe environment than previously documented, highlighting the need for more in-depth research on any competition between D. suzukii and local Drosophila species.