Notes are given on the five species of Synergus Hartig, 1840 recorded from Central and South America, including a key for their identification. A new species, S. colombianussp. nov., is described from Colombia. The new species is an inquiline of an unidentified cynipid gall on Quercus humboldtii Bonpl. (Fagaceae). Synergus colombianus is the first Synergus species recorded from Colombia and the most southerly record of this genus in the Neotropical region. The new species is closely related to S. cultratus Ritchie et Shorthouse, 1987, S. filicornis Cameron, 1883, and S. nicaraguensis Díaz et Gallardo, 1998, but differs from these species in characters that are discussed in the text.

The oribatid mite genus Zachvatkinibates, found in littoral, forest canopy, and forest litter habitats, includes some species showing distinct sexual dimorphism in the octotaxic system of dermal glands, and others lacking this dimorphism. Three new species in this genus are described on the basis of adults, each of which shows species-specific sexual dimorphism: Z. nortonisp. nov. and Z. schatzisp. nov. from beach debris in British Columbia, Canada, and Z. shaldybinaesp. nov. from the littoral in eastern and northeastern Canada. We discuss the association of sexual dimorphism with the littoral habitat of species in this genus and, more generally, the expression of sexually dimorphic porose areas in Ceratozetoidea. We revise the diagnosis for the genus Zachvatkinibates and present a revised key for adults of Zachvatkinibates species of North America north of Mexico.

Rove beetle species and their pitfall trap abundance were studied in red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.; Pinaceae) stands in the Acadia Research Forest, New Brunswick, Canada, in 1999. The study yielded over 5000 specimens representing 134 species in 11 subfamilies of Staphylinidae. Of these, 58 species represent new distribution records for New Brunswick (NPR), including 15 new distribution records for Canada (NCR), 6 new species, and 4 synonyms, as follows: Omaliinae, 3 species; Proteininae, Proteinus pseudothomasi Klimaszewski sp. nov. (NCR, NPR) and P. acadiensis Klimaszewski sp. nov. (NCR, NPR); Tachyporinae, 3 species; Trichophyinae, 1 species; Aleocharinae, 33 species, including Atheta capsularis Klimaszewski sp. nov., A. brunswickensis Klimaszewski sp. nov., A. pseudocrenuliventris Klimaszewski sp. nov., Oxypoda lacustris Casey (NPR) [= O. bradorensis Lohse syn. nov., O. egestosa Casey syn. nov., O. lassula Casey syn. nov., and O. optiva Casey syn. nov.], and Pella gesneri Klimaszewski sp. nov.; Oxytelinae, 3 species; Paederinae, 3 species; and Staphylininae, 10 species. The new species or known species representing new records for Canada are presented here with a short diagnosis, habitus images, and genital illustrations to help with identification. The habitus images and most genital illustrations are presented here for the first time for these species.

Previous identifications in North America of Trichomalus perfectus (Walker, 1835) and Mesopolobus morys (Walker, 1848) (Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae), the principal chalcid parasitoids of the cabbage seedpod weevil (Ceutorhynchus obstrictus Marsham, 1802) in Europe, are shown to be misidentifications of Trichomalus lucidus (Walker, 1835) and Mesopolobus (Xenocrepis) moryoidessp. nov., respectively. Necremnus duplicatus Gahan, 1941 (Chalcidoidea: Eulophidae) is synonymized formally under Necremnus tidius (Walker, 1839) syn. nov., confirming a previous, tentative synonymy. Both sexes of N. tidius, M. moryoides, and T. lucidus are illustrated and compared with those of similar species using macrophotography and scanning electron microphotography. Hypotheses are offered to explain why the principal chalcid parasitoids of the cabbage seedpod weevil differ between North America and Europe and how the three treated species came to be in North America.

Type material of poorly known taxa currently placed under the genera Leptagrion Selys and Telagrion Selys is reviewed, illustrated, and correctly associated with currently known specimens in collections. The following changes are made: Leptagrion beebeanum Calvert and Leptagrion fernandezianum Rácenis are placed and keyed in a new genus, Bromeliagrion De Marmels gen. nov.; Bromeliagrion rehni Garrison sp. nov. is described from Ecuador. The following synonymies are proposed: Leptagrion auriceps St. Quentin is a junior synonym of Leptagrion macrurum (Burmeister); Leptagrion autazensis Sjöstedt is a junior synonym of Aeolagrion flammeum (Selys); Leptagrion? rufum Selys is a junior synonym of Anisagrion inornatum (Selys); and Leptobasis tenax St. Quentin is a junior synonym of Telagrion longum Selys.

Two European species of the genus Eteobalea Hodges are being tested as classical biological control agents for toadflax (Linaria spp.) in Canada. Permits for the release of these species apply only to an Italian population of E. serratella Treitschke and a Serbian population of E. intermediella Riedl. When these species are imported as larvae or pupae from an area where they are sympatric, such as around Rome, they must later be separated in the laboratory. This step is essential to establish a pure laboratory colony of the correct species, both to increase the rate of breeding success and to comply with conditions of the importation permit. Although the male and female genitalia and the egg chorion have good diagnostic characters, these characters are not useful for identifying immature stages or newly emerged adults before mating and oviposition. This problem has hampered the establishment of rearing colonies of these two species in Canada. We describe the development and application of four polymerase chain reaction – restriction fragment length polymorphism assays that have been used to distinguish between these two species. If and when either of these species becomes established in the field, the tests presented here should also prove useful for monitoring populations.

A new genus and species of the mite family Tarsonemidae, subfamily Tarsoneminae, is described and illustrated. Its systematic position among genera of Tarsoneminae and its host association with bark beetles of the genus Pseudopityophthorus Swaine, 1918 in North America are briefly discussed.

The fujiyamai species group is formed for two East Asian species of the genus Plagiophorus Motschulsky, P. fujiyamai (Kubota) from Japan, South Korea, and China (Beijing) and P. subcorticarissp. nov. from Taiwan. The fujiyamai group is unique in that the antennal club is not excavated in the male and antennomere III has two distinct sutures. A key to the species of the fujiyamai group is given.

Cryptoryctes tricornutussp. nov. from Erldunda (25.13°S, 133.11°E), Northern Territory, Australia, is described and figured. It is compared with a close species, Cryptoryctes trifidus (Blackburn, 1895).

The Chinese fauna of the mirid subfamily Isometopinae is examined. Fifteen species of Isometopinae are recorded from China, belonging to the genera Isometopus Fieber, Letaba Hesse, Myiomma Puton, and Sophianus Distant. The known species are reviewed in detail, including their citations, distributions, and host plants. Information about type material and the description of a new species, Myiomma qinlingensissp. nov., are given. Keys to the Chinese genera and species are given.

The four species from China of the genus Paralaevicephalus Ishihara, 1953 are reviewed; among them, two species, P. longistylussp. nov. and P. gracilipenissp. nov., are described. Paralaevicephalus prima (Rao, 1989) is reported for the first time from China. The genus Khasiana Rao, 1989 (Deltocephalinae: Paralimnini) is synonymized with Paralaevicephalus Ishihara, 1953 syn. nov. A key is given to distinguish the species, and illustrations of genitalia are provided.

Three new European species of the large genus Aphis L., 1758 (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are described: Aphis jacetanasp. nov., which lives on Pimpinella saxifraga L. (Apiaceae) in the Pyrenees, Aphis orocantabricasp. nov., which lives on Gentiana lutea L. (Gentianaceae) in the Cantabrian Mountains, and Aphis zamoranasp. nov., which lives on Frangula alnus Miller (Rhamnaceae) on the northern Iberian plateau. We provide identification keys for Aphis species living in Europe on host plants of the families Apiaceae, Gentianaceae, and Rhamnaceae.

A taxonomic study of the Oriental genus Amurta Dworakowska, 1977 is given. Five species are considered, one of which is reported for the first time in China, and two species, Amurta bimaculatasp. nov. and A. upunctatasp. nov., are described. All species are listed and a key for their separation is given.

The first-instar (triungulin), second-instar, and third-instar larvae of the South American monotypic genus Epispasta Selander, 1960 are described and figured. The triungulin of E. abbreviata (Klug, 1825) is highly adapted for phoresy on bees and resembles the triungulins of several other phoretic genera in the subfamily Meloinae. The second- and third-instar larvae of Epispasta are unique in that they retain the campodeiform phenotype of the first instar. These instars in other meloid genera are scarabaeiform. A discussion is provided on the similarity of the triungulin of Epispasta to that of other phoretic meloines. We argue that this similarity is a result of morphological convergence correlated with phoretic behavior and is not evidence of a relationship. The position of Epispasta in Meloinae remains questionable, as none of its larval or adult features ally it to any other genus.

The European pompilid Agenioideus cinctellus (Spinola, 1808) is recorded for the first time from the New World based on material from Ontario. Another recent Nearctic immigrant, Auplopus carbonarius (Scopoli, 1763), is recorded for the first time from Canada, which extends its known range into southern Ontario. The incidence of new introductions and the possible impact on the community of cavity-nesting aculeate wasps is discussed.

The amygdalinus species group is formed for one new East Asian species of the genus Plagiophorus Motschulsky, P. amygdalinussp. nov. from Taiwan. The amygdalinus group is unique in that sternite IX is not externally visible in the male.

We present new information on the parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) of aphids infesting cotton, tobacco, citrus, and cereal agroecosystems in southeastern Europe. Nineteen species are keyed and illustrated with scanning electron micrographs and line drawings. The aphidiines presented in this work have been identified from 18 aphid taxa. Furthermore, 96 original parasitoid–aphid–plant associations are presented. Cotton, tobacco, and citrus agroecosystems are connected through aphids and their parasitoids, whereas cereal agroecosystems represent a separate group of associations.

A detailed description and illustrations of the larva of Telebasis digiticollis Calvert, 1902 are provided. A comparison with other larvae of the genus is made. Telebasis digiticollis is distinguished by 1 premental seta, 6–7 setae on the labial palp, a well-developed and convex ligula, 7–8 spiniform setae on the lateral margins of the prementum, and forceps-like male gonapophyses. The larva of T. digiticollis is more like that of T. boomsmae Garrison, 1994 than like other larvae of the genus. Larvae were found living in a lagoon densely covered by aquatic phanerogams such as Eichhornia sp. (Pontederiaceae) and Typha sp. (Typhaceae).

The woolly apple aphid, Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann, 1802) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is a cosmopolitan, indirect pest of cultivated apple, Malus domestica (Borkh.) (Rosaceae), (Baker 1915) that can colonize both the roots and arboreal portions of trees and adversely affect the growth, vigor, and productivity of the host (Weber and Brown 1988; Brown and Schmitt 1990; Brown et al. 1991, 1995). Historically, the solitary endoparasitoid Aphelinus mali (Haldeman, 1851) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) has been considered the most important biological control agent for E. lanigerum in many, but not all, apple-growing regions (Yothers 1953; Nicholas 2000). The role of arthropod predators in regulating woolly apple aphid populations, particularly early in the growing season, has long been recognized (Dumbleton and Jeffreys 1938; Bodenheimer 1947; Nicholas 2000; Mols and Boers 2001) but has not been adequately addressed (Asante 1997).

The Palearctic species Amara communis (Panzer) and Bembidion femoratum Sturm were both first reported from North America in 1992. Since that time a sizeable number of additional specimens of both species have been found, which substantially expands their known range on the continent. These records are summarized herein. The possible modes of introduction of both species are discussed within the context of other introduced insects, particularly those first found in Atlantic Canada. In the case of A. communis, the many coastal localities where it occurs would seem to indicate that it was introduced in association with transatlantic marine traffic, possibly the shipment of dry ballast. In the case of B. femoratum, the mode of introduction is less clear. Possible associations with nursery stock, dry ballast, and the movement of aircraft are all discussed.