The genera Akonesis Opitz, Crusbatus Opitz, and Diutius Opitz, which comprise a monophyletic group within Peloniinae (Coleoptera: Cleridae), are discussed. The species of Akonesis are reviewed. There are five recognised species of Akonesis: A. pictipennis (Gorham), A. privoatus Opitz new species, A. ridens (Gorham), A. strictus Opitz new species, and A. vittatus (Spinola). According to the morphological analysis performed herein, the species treated in this work are thought to be predatory. Colour patterns of the elytra and field observations suggest that members of Akonesis and Diutius are involved in Batesian mimicry with Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera), and in particular with Galerucinae. Included in this treatise are: a brief discussion of the natural history and evolution of Akonesis species, one Bootstrap consensus tree, a key to Akonesis species, a phylogenetic tree generated by WINCLADA in conjunction with NONA, 15 line drawings, 10 electron micrographs, one distribution map, four photographs of male terminalia, and five colour habitus photographs.

The Canadian Entomologist and its associated publications (Supplements of The Canadian Entomologist and Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada) have served as important outlets for taxonomic contributions on arthropods since 1868. A survey of beetle (Coleoptera) publications therein has revealed that 2276 species-group, 136 genus-group, and seven family-group taxa were first described in 492 scientific articles. New beetles were described in 67 families by 165 authors. We document trends of beetle descriptions over time, by taxonomic group and by the origin of the new taxa. We also provide biographical notices of the entomologists who described the new taxa. We believe that The Canadian Entomologist will continue to be coveted as a suitable outlet for taxonomic works in the future.

Nine species of the gall-associated doryctine genus Allorhogas Gahan (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) are described from Brazil (A. clidemiae Martínez and Zaldívar-Riverón new species, A. granivorus Zaldívar-Riverón and Martínez new species, A. mineiro Zaldívar-Riverón and Martínez new species, and A. vulgaris Zaldívar-Riverón and Martínez new species) and Costa Rica (A. brevithorax Zaldívar-Riverón and Martínez new species, A. pallidus Martínez and Zaldívar-Riverón new species, A. psychotria Zaldívar-Riverón and Martínez new species, A. punctatus Martínez and Zaldívar-Riverón new species, and A. tico Martínez and Zaldívar-Riverón new species). We provide host plant records for the described species, including information that reveals that at least three of them feed on seeds. Allorhogas granivorus had previously been confirmed to represent a natural enemy of the invasive weed Miconia calvescens de Candolle (Melastomataceae). Updated keys to the species of Allorhogas from Brazil and Costa Rica are provided.

Copris incertus Say, 1835 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Coprini) has been described as a New World coprophagous scarab distributed from Mexico to Ecuador with large discontinuities in its range between the Yucatán province and Costa Rica. The C. incertus species complex of the Copris minutus (Drury, 1773) species group consists of C. incertus, Copris laeviceps Harold, 1869, and Copris lugubris Boheman, 1858. Based on external morphology and male genitalia, we discovered that multiple species have been classified as C. incertus. Of these species, five are new: Copris amazonicusnew species, Copris brevicornisnew species, Copris davidinew species, Copris moroninew species, and Copris susanaenew species. Herein, we revise the organisation of the C. incertus species complex and propose a new species complex, the C. laeviceps species complex, which includes: C. davidi, Copris igualensis Warner, 1990, and C. laeviceps, formerly included in the C. incertus species complex. We provide an identification key along with species distribution maps, images of habitus, and diagnostic characters.

A new species of halophilous water strider, Aquarius haliplous Yasunaga, Asanabe, and Nagashima new species (Hemiptera: Gerridae: Gerrinae), is diagnosed and described. This species is endemic to Omura Bay, Nagasaki, southwestern Japan, and has a unique adaptation to this mixohaline habitat. Based on unique morphology and ecology both in the adult and immature forms, this new Aquarius Schellenberg species can be separated unequivocally from a similar species inhabiting freshwater, A. paludum (Fabricius). A key is provided to facilitate identification of the Japanese species and subspecies of Aquarius.

Two new species of egg parasitoids, Oobius saimaensis Yao and Mottern new species and Oobius fleischeri Yao and Duan new species (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), are described from eggs of Agrilus fleischeri Obenberger, 1925 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). Agrilus fleischeri is a phloem-feeding woodborer of poplar (Populus Linnaeus; Salicaceae) in northeastern China. These two species can be distinguished morphologically as O. fleischeri has five tarsomeres and O. saimaensis has four tarsomeres. Although O. saimaensis is morphologically similar to its sympatric congener O. agrili Zhang and Hang, 2005, an important natural enemy of the invasive emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, 1888, molecular phylogenetics and morphological data indicate that they are distinct species. Phylogenetic relationships among the new species and other closely related species are also inferred by using DNA sequence data from several ribosomal and mitochondrial genes. In addition, we expand the known distribution of Oobius primorskyensis Yao and Duan, 2016 to include South Korea.

In Canada, viticulture has been practiced since the arrival of European settlers. After a period of low activity due to the prohibition in North America, viticulture enjoyed a renaissance in the 1970s such that it became a rapidly growing industry in Canada. It is currently practiced mainly in five provinces, i.e., British Columbia, Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. In Eastern Canada, several species of wild vines (Vitis Linnaeus; Vitaceae) grew naturally before cultivation of domesticated cultivars and these had their entomofauna. In contrast, no wild vines grew in British Columbia. As a consequence, the insect fauna varies according to the provinces and the regions and the agroclimatic conditions. Here we review the literature relevant to viticultural entomology in Canada and discuss the main grape insects. It is noteworthy that certain insect pests of grapes were the subject of the first issues of The Canadian Entomologist. Selected milestones are provided to document the evolution of research in grape entomology in the context of dynamic evolving viticultural and oenological industries. In recent years, the arrival of several invasive species challenged the sustainability of integrated pest management programmes.

There is no consensus on the overwintering strategy used by the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). As a result, the topic of diamondback moth overwintering in temperate climates remains controversial. However, there has been general agreement that the diamondback moth does not overwinter in diapause. This review compiles data on low temperature survival to determine cold tolerance mechanisms and the cold tolerance strategy of the diamondback moth. According to cold tolerance data and observations from key overwintering studies in eastern North America, the diamondback moth likely overwinters in a quiescent state in no specific overwintering stage and is chill susceptible. Observations from key overwintering studies suggest a northern overwintering limit for diamondback moth of ~43°N in eastern North America. Climate change may alter winter conditions in temperate climates, making temperate regions susceptible to potential diamondback moth overwintering and recurring outbreaks.

The Phaloriini (Orthoptera: Phalangopsidae: Phaloriinae) species are tropical crickets distributed in Southeast Asia, northern Australia, western Oceania, Seychelles, Gabon, and Tanzania, whose body appears lute-like and brown with dark patches and whose legs are ornamented with ring-like patches. This tribe includes 12 genera and three of them, Gorochovius Xie, Zheng, and Li, 2004, Trellius Gorochov, 1988, and Vescelia Stål, 1877, are found in China. Gorochovius trinervus Xie et al. 2004, Phaloria liangi Xie and Zheng, 2003, and Vescelia pieli (Chopard, 1939) were the only species of Phaloriini recorded in China in previous studies. Here, P. liangi is transferred into the genus Vescelia based on genitalia features, three new distribution records regarding genus and subgenera are reported, and two new species, Trellius (Trellius) guangdongensis Ma and Jing, new species and Trellius (Neotrellius) yunnanensis Ma and Jing, new species are described. Five Chinese Phaloriini species are described and illustrated here, and a key to female Phaloriini worldwide genera and subgenera is provided.

In this paper, Angarotipula Savchenko, 1961 (Diptera: Tipulidae) is redescribed and differentiated from other genera in Tipulidae and subgenera of Tipula Linnaeus, 1758, where this taxon was previously placed. Angarotipula tumidicornis (Lundström, 1907) is synonymised with Angarotipula parrioides (Alexander, 1919) (new synonym), the latter is a junior synonym. A lectotype is designated for A. tumidicornis. The female and first instar of Angarotipula illustris (Doane, 1901) and the pupa of A. tumidicornis are described and illustrated for the first time. Keys to adults, larvae, and pupae of the two North American species are presented. A close relationship between Angarotipula and Prionocera Loew, 1844 is suggested based on shared character states.

Examination of 122 specimens of Xanthogramma Schiner, 1861 (Diptera: Syrphidae) from varied localities in Europe (+Turkey) resulted in the description of two new species (X. aeginae Ricarte, Nedeljković, and Vujić new species and X. pilosum Nedeljković, Ricarte, and Vujić new species), as well as new data on six other species. Most of the examined material originated from the Balkan Peninsula and Greek islands. New species concepts were supported by morphological and molecular evidence. Relationships among the eight studied species were analysed and discussed based on the data of nuclear (ITS2) and mitochondrial (COI) genes sequences. An identification key to the European species of Xanthogramma is provided. Lectotypes are designated for Doros decoratum Zetterstedt, 1843, Lasiophthicus novus Rondani, 1857, Syrphus laetus Fabricius, 1794, Syrphus ornatus Meigen, 1822, and Xanthogramma nobilitatum Frey, 1946.

Eggs of the balsam twig aphid Mindarus abietinus Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae) overwinter for several months in obligate diapause, which terminates in early springtime when embryogenesis of the stem mother supposedly resumes. Important shape and size changes were observed on eggs collected at regular intervals during late winter and early spring. These observations led to the visual classification of eggs into three shape categories: flat eggs (C1), semi-flat eggs (C2), and round and turgid eggs (C3). Egg mass significantly increased with time during late winter and early spring, which coincided with the noticeable changes in morphological composition (i.e., from C2 to C3). Our observations suggest that free water surrounding eggs on fir (Abies balsamea (Linnaeus) Miller; Pinaceae) shoots is essential for M. abietinus normal embryonic development during snowmelt. Also, reduced egg water content during winter could modify its supercooling point, and the renewed availability of water in springtime may signal diapause termination and/or initiate embryogenesis of the stem mother.

The species of the Neotropical genus Hapsinotus Townes, 1970 (Hymenoptera: Banchinae) are revised. A total of 31 new species are described: H. amallullanew species, H. amaquellanew species, H. amarakaerinew species, H. amasuanew species, H. amazonensisnew species, H. bicolornew species, H. brevisnew species, H. chiquitanew species, H. etenew species, H. guntherinew species, H. huaoraninew species, H. kentorinew species, H. killanew species, H. lamasinew species, H. mariannaenew species, H. mashconew species, H. michenerinew species, H. petirrojonew species, H. pittierinew species, H. plaumanninew species, H. prolixusnew species, H. pukanew species, H. secoyanew species, H. shushufindinew species, H. sofiaenew species, H. surinennew species, H. tainonew species, H. tupinew species, H. vilcainew species, H. yananew species, and H. yumbonew species. Hapsinotus is recorded for the first time in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, French Guiana, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. The range of distribution is expanded for H. atripleurum Townes, 1970 to Brazil and Ecuador, H. morenus Ugalde-Gómez and Gauld, 2002 to Panama, H. nigrogena Ugalde-Gómez and Gauld, 2002 to Ecuador, H. notaulator Ugalde-Gómez and Gauld, 2002 to Panama, H. parvatus Ugalde-Gómez and Gauld, 2002 to Mexico, and H. transversus Ugalde-Gómez and Gauld, 2002 to Brazil and Peru. A key to the species of the genus is provided.

A total of 16 lectotypes of Papilionidae (Lepidoptera), identified by A.V.-A. Kreuzberg but not published, are formally designated in the genera Parnassius Latreille, 1804 (14 taxa) and Papilio Linnaeus, 1758 (two taxa). Lectotypes are designated for the following taxa: Parnassius delphius albulus Honrath, 1889, Parnassius apollonius alpinus Staudinger, 1887, Parnassius bremeri conjunctus Staudinger, 1901, Parnassius discobolus Staudinger, 1881, Parnassius bremeri graeseri Honrath, 1885, Parnassius delphius intermedius Bang-Haas, 1915, Parnassius tianschanicus minor Staudinger, 1881, Parnassius delphius mephisto Hering, 1931, Parnassius nordmanni minimus Honrath, 1885, Parnassius apollo mongolicus Staudinger, 1900, Parnassius delphius namanganus Staudinger, 1886, Parnassius nomion nominulus Staudinger, 1895, Parnassius charltonius princeps Honrath, 1888, Parnassius romanovi Grum-Grshimailo, 1888, Papilio machaon chitralensis Bang-Haas, 1934, and Papilio alexanor maccabaeus Staudinger, 1892.

Melaphis rhois Fitch (Hemiptera: Aphididae) has been considered the only North American representative of the aphid subtribe Melaphidina. Molecular and morphometric analysis indicates that there are at least three sympatric cryptic melaphidine species in North America. Melaphis asafitchinew species is described and M. rhois is redefined and a neotype designated. The name Melaphis minuta Baker cannot be assigned to either of these species. Details of the life cycles of Melaphis Walsh species, including the existence of ovoviviparity in sexual females, is discussed.

The filamentous spermatozoa of scale insects (Hemiptera) are highly modified compared with those of typical insects. Here, we investigate the morphology of the testes, sperm bundles, spermatozoa, and spermatogenesis of the wingless Kerria chinensis (Mahdihassan) (Hemiptera: Kerriidae), a shellac-producing scale insect. Each testis contains two antiparallel groups of several hundred syncytial sperm bundles. In each spermatocyte cyst, 16 primary spermatocytes divide via inverted meiosis, resulting in 16 quadrinucleated spermatids, each having two euchromatic and two heterochromatic nuclei. During spermiogenesis, each spermatid produces two spermatozoa protruding out of the spermatid close to the two euchromatic nuclei and their tails then grow in opposite directions. In each cyst, the 32 spermatozoa form two sperm bundles lying in an antiparallel direction oriented to different ends of the testis. Each spermatozoon has three distinct regions, an apex, a filamentous region and a tail. The spermatozoa have long thread-like nuclear cores that occupy about one-fourth of the sperm body length, located primarily in the posterior half. At the anterior end of the spermatozoon is a translucent, swollen vesicle and a distal, densely-stained structure; a putative acrosome of a type not previously reported in the spermatozoa of scale insects.

The life cycle of the avian parasitic flies Philornis Meinert (Diptera: Muscidae) is poorly known, limiting the understanding of the ecology of these flies, including interactions with their hosts. We provide data on length and survival of pupal and adult stages and the duration of the pre-oviposition period of Philornis torquans Nielsen. Specimens were collected at larval and pupal stages from infested broods. The pupal stage lasted on average 10.5 days and adults lived up to 100 days in the laboratory. At least 90.2% of larvae pupated and 85.7% of the latter emerged as adults. For individuals collected as larvae, pupal mortality was 3.5 times higher than for those collected as pupae. Females laid from 1–8 clutches in their lifetime and deposited, on average, 41 eggs per female (range: 1–148). Females collected as pupae were larger and had shorter pre-oviposition periods and lifespans than females collected as larvae, but there were no differences in the total eggs laid by these females. This is the first information on reproductive parameters of a subcutaneous species of Philornis, and forms the basis for studies on conditions required for reproduction of this species in captivity.

Fluctuating bee (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) populations jeopardise pollination services. Nesting habitat for solitary bees is potentially limited in many agroecosystems, but the provision of artificial nests could augment bee communities and the pollination services they provide. We investigated whether cavity-nesting bees (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) in lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton (Ericaceae)) fields would use artificial trap nests. Different nest designs were compared, as was nesting occupancy between fruit-bearing and vegetative fields. Milk carton nests had significantly more uptake by and emergence of Osmia Panzer and Megachile Latreille than wooden nests. Only 3% of wooden nests had at least one occupied nesting tube versus 73% of milk carton nests, with a total of 34% nesting tubes occupied. Bee emergence was significantly higher in nesting tubes from fruit-bearing fields than vegetative fields. Osmia and Megachile emergence was low from milk carton nests, with bees emerging from less than 10% of occupied nesting tubes, in large part due to parasitism. Overturned clay lids were tested as potential nesting sites for Osmia inermis Zetterstedt, but only 3% of lids had nesting evidence. Our results suggest that certain artificial nests have potential for encouraging communities of cavity-nesting bees, but further study on nest design and handling protocols is needed.

Dipteran larvae from a number of families feed in aggregations. Rotation of blow fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) larvae within an aggregation has been reported anecdotally many times. However, there is a lack of quantitative data on such larval movement, which is necessary to better understand the advantage of this gregarious behaviour. A recent development in tagging methods provided an opportunity to address this gap in knowledge. In 15 aggregations of 500 Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) larvae, the location of four-tagged individuals was recorded at 10-minute intervals. All larvae were seen to rotate, alternating between the periphery and within. There was much variation in the relative proportions that larvae were seen in these two locations among aggregations (χ2=78.4, df=58, P=0.038), perhaps as a result of differences in mass shape and, therefore, surface area: volume ratio. There were also differences between larvae within aggregations (χ2=25.6, df=14, P=0.029), which may give rise to differences in development rate, perhaps as a result of intraspecific competition. Further work would be required to verify this competition, and to establish whether the limited resource is temperature, food, oxygen, or some other requirement.