Three new Mexican species of Panorpidae, Panorpa accola, Panorpa michoacana, Panorpa teziutlana, and one bittacid, Eremobittacus sodalium, are described, illustrated and compared to previously named species. Distributional notes are added for some other species from Mexico. An alphabetical list is included of described Mexican Mecoptera, the states in which they have been recorded and relevant literature references.

A new species of webspinner, Eosembia apterosa Poolprasert and Edgerly, n. sp., from Chiang Mai Province in Thailand, is described and illustrated. The new species is distinguished from previously described Eosembia by the occurrence of winglessness in the males. Beyond just winglessness, other morphological characters of the unidentified specimens when compared to E. auripecta Ross and E. aequicercata Ross suggest that they represent a new species. We present the description of the new species, along with a distribution map and key to the currently known species of SE Asian Eosembia.

Nest entrance complexes of the meliponine Pariotrigona klossi Schwarz were studied on a limestone rock face in S Thailand. Unique in several aspects, a complex consisted of several coral-like clumps, all interconnected by roofed conduits. Inside these conduits, which were firmly attached to the substrate, the bees crawled on bare rock. The clumps were composed of dozens of entrance tubelets of up to 10 cm long, 2.5–6 mm wide, ornamented with radially arranged, 1–7 mm long, often branched, strings of crystal-clear beads of resin. Connection to the nest was through a fissure in the rock via a hard resin tube connected to the roofed conduits. Generally only one worker bee occupied an entrance (opening gap 2–3 mm). Such architecture gives protection against ant and bee raiders, and at the same time allows simultaneous multiple landings for bees of populous nests. Pariotrigona klossi was innocuous even when a tubelet was destroyed, but breaking into the roofed conduits near the rock fissure caused a small group of workers to attack the intruder by pinching bites and unpleasant odor. At least 13 species of stingless bees were found to be calcicolous 0.5–20 m above the ground in S, W and N Thailand, limestone hollows being a new nesting location additional to the 10 types already known. Compared to arboricolous nesting, calcicolous habits allow larger and more permanent dwellings safer from falling debris, inclement weather, fire, and bears. Most species were facultative calcicoles already known as arboricoles. Whether in limestone or trees, the nest entrance architecture characteristic for each of the facultative calcicole species was essentially the same. Yet P. klossi and four Lepidotrigona taxa appear to be either obligate calcicoles or, if also arboricoles, to construct different entrances on limestone than on trees. The unusually complex nest entrance elaboration in P. klossi and the extreme length – up to 158 cm – of the alpenhorn-like, pendulous entrance tube of four taxa of Lepidotrigona appear ill-fitted for trees.

The chrysidoid wasp family Embolemidae (Chrysidoidea: Dryiniformes) is recorded in Early Cretaceous (Albian) amber from Peñacerrada (Spain). Embolemus periallus Ortega-Blanco, Delclòs, and Engel, new species, is the first definitive embolemid in Cretaceous amber and the first definitive record of the family from the Mesozoic. The new taxon is described, illustrated, and compared with its modern counterparts. The geological history of the family is reviewed and the putative placement of the Early Cretaceous genus Baissobius briefly discussed.

Recent evidence suggests that declines in bumblebee diversity have occurred on several continents. Assessments of regional faunas are critically needed in the United States to ascertain potential conservation needs. Over the course of seven years I conducted bumblebee surveys on the majority of Arkansas's native grassland remnants. The presence of seven of the eight bumblebee species previously recorded from the state was reconfirmed. Bombus variabilis was the only species not observed. Bombus bimaculatus, B. griseocollis, and B. pensylvanicus were the most frequently encountered bumblebee species. Bombus fervidus was rediscovered in the state after 90 years. Potential localized extirpations for B. auricomus, B. fraternus, and B. impatiens merit additional examination. The data generated represents a site-specific baseline for future assessments of species persistence in the state's remaining native grasslands.

The braconid wasp subfamily Protorhyssalinae is recognized from Early Cretaceous (Albian) amber of Peñacerrada, Spain. Protorhyssalopsis perrichoti Ortega-Blanco, Delclòs, and Engel, new genus and species, is described and figured from a single female and differs from the other two genera ascribed to this doubtfully natural subfamily. The new genus differs in details of wing venation, and mesosomal and mouthpart morphology from Protorhyssalus Basibuyuk et al. (in Turonian New Jersey amber) and Protorhyssalodes Perrichot et al. (in Albian-Cenomanian French amber). The uncertain subfamilial placement for the recently described genus Aenigmabracon Perrichot et al. is also briefly discussed.

Bolitogyrus huanghaoi . n. sp. is described from China.The male characters of B. kitawakii Smetana and Zheng and B. electus (Smetana and Zheng) are also illustrated. A key to species of Bolitogyrus from Mainland China is provided.

Megalopta (Noctoraptor) notiocleptis Engel, new species (Halictinae: Augochlorini), is described and figured from a female captured in central Bolivia, representing the first record of this parasitic lineage for the country. The species is distinguished from other cleptoparasitic Megalopta and its putative host documented from the same locality as M. (Megalopta) nitidicollis Friese.