A new species of the Macrobiotus hufelandi group is described from Scotland. Both light and scanning electron microscopy were used for collecting morphological and morphometric data whereas genotyping allowed sequences for three nuclear (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and ITS-2) and one mitochondrial (COI) DNA fragment to be obtained. By undertaking in vitro culturing, we were able to obtain a number of eggs and provide a detailed description. Macrobiotus scoticus sp. nov. exhibits a reduced oral cavity armature, with only the ridges of the third band of teeth visible under light microscopy, therefore the animals of the new species are most similar to individuals of M. almadai Fontoura et al., 2008; M. diversus Biserov, 1990; M. madegassus Maucci, 1993; M. martini Bartels et al., 2009; M. modestus Pilato and Lisi, 2009; and M. paulinae Stec et al., 2015. However, M. scoticus sp. nov. lays eggs with strongly modified processes, which makes this species unique not only among the species listed above but from all hufelandi group taxa. In contrast to mushroom-shaped egg processes found in the majority of the hufelandi complex species, processes in M. scoticus sp. nov. are in the shape of spatulas, with longitudinally flattened terminal portions. Superficially, the eggs of the new species resemble those of M. kristenseni Guidetti et al., 2013, which exhibits elongated, spike- or filament-like processes. Nonetheless, the eggs of M. kristenseni have a smooth inter-process surface whereas in the new species the surface is covered with a very dense reticulum. Moreover, M. kristenseni has a better developed oral cavity armature, with all three bands of teeth detectable under light microscopy.

Trochulus striolatus is a land snail showing great morphometric variation in its shell, which is the basis for recognition of its subspecies. However, this variability can result from an influence of environment. To verify the possible effect of bioclimatic and spatial variables on the shell size and shape, we studied many samples collected from four biotic zones (lowland, submontane, montane and subalpine). Many of its shell features appeared significantly negatively correlated with a precipitation parameter and altitude, whereas positively correlated with temperature parameters. The shells were smaller at higher altitudes and in colder environment with greater precipitation. The reduced growth period can be an adaptive response to the shorter growing season in mountainous regions compared to lowland areas, where the longer season permits a longer growth resulting in larger mean adult body size. This conforms to the converse Bergmann's cline. The synergetic interactions between seasonality, temperature and moisture best explain the size variation in T. striolatus resulting from the influence of local environmental and/or climate factors. Therefore, there is no sufficient justification for subspecies recognition and the subspecific epithets for T. striolatus should be discarded.

Four new species of earthworm species collected from various parts of Hainan Island were found. The species belong to Amynthas and Metaphire and are characterized by having two pairs of spermathecae in 7/8–8/9. They are described here as Amynthas flexuosus sp. nov., A. lucidus sp. nov., A. haikouensis sp. nov. in the aeruhinosusgroup of species of the genus Amynthas, and Metaphire fortuita sp. nov. in the insulana-group of species of the genus Metaphire. Their anatomical and morphological characteristics are compared to similar species from Hainan Island, China mainland and South-East Asia.

Plexippus paykulli (Audouin, 1826), P. petersi (Karsch, 1878), P. setipes Karsch, 1879 and Burmattus pococki (Thorell, 1895) are newly recorded for Thailand; all are diagnosed and figured. The current verified check-list of Thailand Salticidae is presented.

The first description of adult and deutonymph of Neotrombicula vulgaris, experimentally reared from larvae collected in Poland from Apodemus agrarius and Myodes glareolus, is complemented with DNA barcode sequence. Morphometric data on larvae, extending the knowledge of intraspecific variation, are also provided. Active post-larval forms of N. vulgaris differ from other species of Neotrombicula in the structure of palpal and idiosomal setae. Information on phenology and seasonality of parasitism of larvae is given.

The new species Agraphorura xuae sp. nov. is described from continental Ecuador, the first onychiurid species record in this region. The new species is most similar to A. gambiarius (Murphy, 1965) from West Africa, but they can be separated easily by the number and length of p-chaetae between two inner posterior pso on the head, the number of chaetae on Th. I tergum, the presence of the male ventral organ and the ratio of the empodial appendage/unguis. A key to the world known species is provided. The list of all known species from continental Ecuador is presented.

A new monotypic genus of flatid planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Flatidae) is described from Socotra island (Yemen): Haloflata gen. nov. for H. arthrocnemi sp. nov. (type species). Habitus, male and female external and internal genital structures of the new species are illustrated and compared with similar taxa. The new species was found in association with Arthrocnemum macrostachyum (Amaranthaceae) in coastal saltmarshes in western Socotra.

Tetramorium galaticum Menozzi, 1936, new status and Tetramorium hippocratis Agosti & Collingwood, 1987, members of Tetramorium semilaeve complex, are redescribed based on new materials from Greece and western Turkey. Detailed description of gyne and male is given for the first time. Two new species of this complex with all castes are described: Tetramorium kephalosi (Greece and Croatia) and Tetramorium bellerophoni (Turkey). Differential diagnoses from T. semilaeve, colour photos of all castes and male genitalia are given.

Sticholotidini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) from Western Ghats, a designated biodiversity hotspot in India, are poorly known. Fourteen species of Sticholotidini from southern Indian plantations, Western Ghats, are treated here. Most of these species are endemic to Western Ghats and are not commonly seen in collections and there is little information on their habitat / biology. Diagnostic information on these species is given here with illustrations of male genitalia wherever possible to facilitate their identification. Sticholotis humida sp. nov. is described and illustrated. Lectotypes are designated for Orcus (?) ferrugineus Gorham (1894), Clanis binotata Gorham (1894), Sticholotis cribellata Sicard (1910), Sticholotis obscurocincta Sicard (1911), Sticholotis obscurella Weise (1908), Sticholotis nilgiriensis Weise (1908), and Sticholotis tredecimmaculata Weise (1908). Synonychimorpha immaculata Poorani (2003) is reduced to a new junior synonym of S. chittagongi (Vazirani, 1983) (new synonym). A checklist of Sticholotidini known from the Western Ghats is given.

Mature larva of Mycetaea subterranea is re-described based on modern research techniques including SEM. Apart from the very inaccurate and little informative description of Agaricophilus reflexus larva by Mamaev (1977), the present paper contains detailed and richly illustrated description of the second known larva of the family Mycetaeidae. The phylogenetic placement of Mycetaeidae within Coccinelloidea is discussed, based on larval and adult characters.

A new scaphidiine species, Toxidium cavicola, found in a deep part of a cave in the Tsingy formation, Madagascar, is described. For this world-wide subfamily is only the second species discovered from a cave.

The species of the genus Scirtes Illiger, 1807 (Coleoptera: Scirtidae) from Argentina are revised. Seven species are recognized: S. adustus Boheman, 1858, S. caraguata sp. nov., S. dentatus sp. nov., S. diversenotatus Pic, 1930, S. gallus sp. nov., S. helicoidalis sp. nov., and S. rufobinotatus Pic, 1922. S. postimpressus Pic, 1922 is proposed as a junior synonym of Scirtes rufobinotatus. Illustrations of dorsal habitus, male and female genitalia, and other diagnostic features are provided along with a key to the species.

Blacodatus szutkowskii, sp. nov. from South Africa is described, illustrated and compared with its relative — Blacodatus vertagus (Mulsant et Rey, 1859). A new generic concept of the previously monotypic Blacodatus is proposed. The distribution map is presented.

The taxonomic concepts of endemic South African genera Parastizopus Gebien, 1938 and Ennychiatus Koch, 1963 are verified. The results of the study are based on the comparative morphological analysis and gave the following decisions: (1) new concept of the Parastizopus is based on the discontinuous and unambiguous diagnostic characters, (2) all species of the Ennychiatus belong to the genus Parastizopus; (3) the name Ennychiatus should be treated as a junior synonym of Parastizopus; (4) the following new combination are proposed: Parastizopus nocturnus (Koch, 1963), P. caraboides (Fairmaire, 1897), P. namaquanus (Koch, 1963), P. fitzsimonsi (Koch, 1963). The division of the Parastizopus into the following species groups is proposed: armaticeps (3 species), caraboides (4) and major (3). New species P. johannae sp. nov. from Southern Africa is diagnosed, described and illustrated. A checklist and the identification key is provided to all known species of Parastizopus.