The genus Caruya Linnavuori & DeLong, 1978 is redescribed, and two new species, C. tingalesa and C. trilobata, from the Peruvian and Brazilian Amazon respectively, are described and illustrated. A key to males of the genus is provided.

The impressive organismal diversity in the southern Appalachian Mountains can be attributed to processes of in-situ diversification but also to the mountains' nature as a refugium allowing lineage persistence since pre-Pleistocene times. But it is still unclear how much diversity can be explained by each process, especially among lesser-known groups like arthropods. Stenus, an extremely successful genus of rove beetles, has >3100 described species around the World, with approximately 50 of them present in southeastern North America. We study the relationships, diversity, distributions, and biogeographic patterns of the Appalachian Stenus fauna, analyzing new COI data for 149 specimens, most of them representing flightless, high elevation endemics, together with previously published sequences. We performed species delimitation analysis (ASAP) and generated phylogenetic hypotheses using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian inference, including a time-calibrated phylogeny with substitution rates estimated with reference to the fossil record. Stenus specimens from Appalachia do not form a monophyletic group – all flightless species fall into two principal clades, neither closely related to winged species in the region. One, the ‘appalachianus lineage’, consists of species lacking abdominal paratergites, with an age of origin estimated in the Pliocene. Another, the ‘appalachimontium lineage’, comprises numerous species with distinct abdominal paratergites and an estimated age around the Mio-Pliocene boundary. Based on morphology we recognized 16 high Appalachian Stenus species in our sample, while ASAP results suggested 14. COI data suggest the existence of morphologically cryptic species not yet described. Most species-level lineages date to 1.5-3 Ma; however, some clear speciation events date to only ∼1Ma. Observed intraspecific diversity originated mostly within the past million years. High Appalachian species represent multiple, overlapping radiations. Speciation events were not, however, entirely synchronic. Major lineages are separated by the Asheville Depression, and most groups show a marked geographic structure.

The populations of mealybug, Ferrisia virgata Cockerell (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), have begun to increase in the Mexicali Valley, causing economic losses in cotton cultivation. The use of pesticides is the main method for its control, so natural enemies, including Coccinella septempunctata, have not been used to control this pest. Therefore, it is important to study the effectiveness of these organisms in suppressing specific pest species. This study focuses on evaluating the predation capacity and functional response of Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in targeting Ferrisia virgata females. Consumption capacity was evaluated in adult males and females of C. septempunctata against females of F. virgata under laboratory conditions. The type of functional response was determined for C. septempunctata females by logistic regression analysis and the parameters were estimated by the Rogers model using a non-linear regression. Females of C. septempunctata were more voracious, consuming 2.67 times more prey compared with males. The logistic regression analysis results revealed that the functional response of C. septempunctata to female mealybugs was type II. The estimated attack coefficient and handling time values were 0.0136 h^–1 and 2.667 h, respectively. Results indicate that C. septempunctata consumes F. virgata females, and presents a type II functional response, which suggests that it can be evaluated in systems integrated pest management based on augmentative biological control.

Yellow starthistle, Centaurea solstitialis L. (Asterales: Asteraceae), has invaded over 8 million ha of the United States and has been the target of biological control since the 1950s. In North America seven insect species were intentionally released as biocontrol agents, and one was accidentally introduced into the western United States. Two introduced fruit fly species (Diptera: Tephritidae), the yellow starthistle peacock fly, Chaetorellia australis Hering, and the false peacock fly, Chaetorellia succinea (Costa), attack Ce. solstitialis seedheads as immatures. Separation of the immature stages of these two flies in infested seedheads is difficult without rearing the adults. The puparial exuviae of these flies are retained in the seedhead for months following adult fly emergence, so they may be useful in forensic species diagnosis if differentiating characters exist. In this study, the vacant puparial exuviae of C. australis and C. succinea were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy to assess morphological differences between these species. It was found that the clusters of branched posterior spiracular hairs retained on the puparial exuvia can be used diagnostically to separate the two species: C. succinea has 5.91 ± 1.05 and C. australis has 2.67 ± 0.87 spiracular hair branches between the posterior spiracles. These differences provide a diagnostic tool that expands monitoring capabilities for the two important biological control agents.

Toxomerus thompsoni new species is described from the Dominican Republic, and a diagnosis and figures of the habitus and male terminalia are provided. The status of the holotype of T. luna (Hull) is discussed.

Leafmining in early instars is newly reported for three species of tortricid moths in the eastern USA. Argyrotaenia amatana (Dyar) was reared from leaftying larvae found in association with recently vacated mines on Chiococca alba (L.) Hitchc. (Rubiaceae) in Florida. Aterpia approximana (Heinrich) was reared from a larva mining in Samolus parviflorus Raf. (Primulaceae) in North Carolina, a new host and distribution record, and larvae were found in New England in similar mines on Lysimachia ciliata L., a known host for this moth. Olethreutes osmundana (Fernald) was reared from larvae mining in Osmunda spectabilis Willd. (Osmundaceae) in North Carolina. For each species we summarize previous host, distribution, and phenological records. We also briefly describe the larvae and provide the first published photographs of them.

We report new rearing records for five species of Drosophilidae (Diptera) in North America. Chymomyza amoena (Loew), previously reared from tree nuts, was reared from a gall of Amphibolips cookii Gillette (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) collected from Quercus rubra L. (Fagaceae). Borodinia dentata (Raf.) P.J. Alexander and Windham and Cardamine diphylla (Michx.) Alph. Wood (Brassicaceae) are new hosts for the leafminers Scaptomyza flava (Fallén) and S. montana Wheeler, respectively. The saprophagous species S. pallida (Zetterstedt) was reared from leaf mines, galls, and leaf rolls caused by other fly and moth larvae. Stegana vittata (Coquillett) is newly reported as a stem borer of Amphicarpaea bracteata (L.) Fernald (Fabaceae).

The phyline mirid genus Larinocerus Froeschner (Heteroptera: Miridae) is reviewed and the new species L. microguttatus n. sp. is described based on specimens taken on Salvia sp. (Lamiaceae) that were intercepted at two U.S. ports of entry from Mexico. Larinocerus balius Froeschner and L. personatus Knight are diagnosed, L. microguttatus n. sp. is described, habitus images and male genitalia of all three species are provided, and a key is given to facilitate recognition.

The first confirmed records of Vespa velutina (color form nigrithorax) in North America are provided along with a timeline of detections in the port city of Savannah GA, USA, an important Atlantic sea and rail port. This color form is the ‘invasive’ form that has spread throughout much of Europe since its accidental introduction into southern France in 2004. It has also spread into South Korea and Japan. A brief overview of its introduction and establishment in Europe and Asia is provided. Its biology as relevant to its detection in the USA, and its threat to both agriculture and native ecosystems are summarized. We give a brief description and color images of workers to aid in its identification and analyze sequence data for the mitochondrial COI gene to assess if the Savannah population originated either from invasive European, Korean, or Japanese populations, or from part of its native range. An initial genetic analysis supports the conclusion that the invasive population originates from a population in East Asia and not Europe. Further sequencing of the nuclear genome will be required to attribute the invasive population in North America to a specific location in East Asia. The sequenced mitochondrial COI gene matches accessions from individuals located in South Korea, Japan, and Zhejiang Province of China.

New state records are presented to expand the known distribution of 10 species of Coleoptera in the United States: Priocera castaea (Newman, 1838) (Cleroidea: Cleridae), Rhadalus testaceus LeConte, 1852 (Cleroidea: Rhadalidae), Sosylus extensus (Casey, 1897) (Coccinelloidea: Bothrideridae), Nosodendron unicolor (Say, 1824) (Nosodendroidea: Nosodendridae), Bitoma crenata (Fabricius, 1775) (Tenebrionoidea: Zopheridae), Namunaria guttulata (LeConte, 1863) (Tenebrionoidea: Zopheridae), Emmesa connectens (Newman, 1838) (Tenebrionoidea: Melandryidae), Phloiotrya fusca (LeConte, 1878) (Tenebrionoidea: Melandryidae), Hoperius planatus Fall, 1927 (Adephaga: Dytiscidae) and Haliplus havaniensis Wehncke, 1880 (Adephaga: Haliplidae) by a total of 29 states; additionally, the confounding status of Phloiotrya fusca is reviewed. Updated distributions are provided for each species treated.

The treehopper Micrutalis malleifera Fowler is a mainly Neotropical species whose first U.S. record was Florida in 1947. Only North Carolina has since been added to its U.S. distribution. In 2023, I found nymphs and adults on Walter's groundcherry (Physalis walteri Nutt.; Solanaceae) in back or secondary dunes on Sapelo Island, Georgia, which is a new state record. A new country record, based on museum specimens, is Costa Rica. Micrutalis malleifera is the first membracid documented to vector a phytopathogen; it transmits the pseudo-curly top virus of tomato in south Florida. I summarize life history data obtained from previous studies of the treehopper under experimental conditions and review its associated plants, noting species that should be considered incidental occurrences and those that express virus symptoms but might not support the membracid's nymphal development in the field. I stress the need for field studies to verify that the treehopper's host range is restricted to Solanaceae, whether it develops on field-grown tomato, and to establish whether M. malleifera is common on barrier islands. Those living in the West Indies and on or near barrier islands in the U.S. Southeast are encouraged to make observations on its natural history; they could provide information of potential biogeographic, ecological, and taxonomic importance.

İstanbul Islands are generally thought to consist of four large islands, but there are also five smaller islands. With this study, the Staphylinidae fauna of the İstanbul Islands (nine islands in total) was determined for the first time. In 2023, field studies were conducted on nine islands (Büyükada, Heybeliada, Burgazada, Kınalıada, Sedefada, Sivriada, Yassıada, Kaşık Island and Tavşan Island) and Staphylinidae species were collected. Twenty-three species in five subfamilies were identified, and four of these species (Aleochara (Emplenota) albopila (Mulsant and Rey, 1851), Atheta amplicollis (Mulsant and Rey, 1873), Halobrecta flavipes Thomson, 1861, Oligota muensteri latior Kapp, 2019) are new records for Turkey. In addition, ten species were recorded for the first time from the Marmara Region. Nine species are new records for İstanbul.