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A new species of Ampulicomorpha Ashmead, A. minima sp. nov., is described from Madagascar, Toliara Province. The female holotype is compared with the known females of all other Afrotropical species of the same genus. A new key to them is presented, together with the first complete multifocal illustration of the females of all Afrotropical species of Ampulicomorpha.

The life cycle of Andricus truncicolus (Giraud, 1869), a species previously known only from its asexual generation, is closed. Laboratory rearing and field sampling have revealed the sexual generation of this species, which develops in a hypertrophic degeneration of the terminal or lateral shoot buds appearing as a muddled agglomerate of leaves on Quercus, section Cerris oaks. We describe for the first time the newly discovered sexual generation of A. truncicolus and provide illustrations and diagnosis for adults and galls of both generations, further observations on biology and information on the species distribution.

Falciconus hispanicus sp. n. and Monoctonus montenegrinus sp. n. are described as new members of the subtribe Monoctonina from Spain and from high mountain habitats of Montenegro, respectively. The main diagnostic characters of the newly described species and their host plant-host aphid associations are discussed.

The parasitoid wasp genus Trichacis Förster is revised for Europe. Examination of historical and modern collections combined with DNA barcoding revealed the presence of only a single species in Europe, Trichacis tristis (Nees, 1834), redescribed here. Fourteen new synonymies are proposed for T. tristis: T. abdominalis Thomson, 1859 syn.nov.; T. bidentiscutum Szabó, 1981 syn.nov.; T. didas (Walker, 1835) syn.nov.; T. fusciala Szabó, 1981 syn.nov.; T. hajduica Szabó, 1981 syn.nov.; T. illusor Kieffer, 1916 syn.nov.; T. nosferatus Buhl, 1997 syn.nov.; T. pisis (Walker, 1835) syn.nov.; T. persicus Asadi & Buhl, 2021 syn.nov.; T. pulchricornis Szelényi, 1953 syn.nov.; T. quadriclava Szabó, 1981 syn.nov.; T. remulus (Walker, 1835) syn.nov.; T. vitreus Buhl, 1997 syn.nov.; T. weiperti Buhl, 2019 syn.nov.. Four species are transferred to Amblyaspis Förster: A. afurcata (Szabó, 1977) comb. nov., A. hungarica (Szabó, 1977), comb. nov., A. pannonica (Szabó, 1977) comb. nov., and A. tatika (Szabó, 1977) comb. nov. Intraspecific variation, biological associations, and taxonomic history are discussed. DNA barcodes are provided and analyzed in the context of worldwide Trichacis and its sister genus Isocybus Förster.

The knowledge of the solitary Vespidae of Uzbekistan is very poor and a preliminary list of species is provided. The list contains 105 species of 34 genera: seven species of three genera in the subfamily Masarinae, 96 species of 29 genera in Eumeninae s. str., one species in Raphiglossinae and one in Zethinae. Among them, eight genera and 27 species are reported from Uzbekistan for the first time; their label data and general distribution are reported. New synonymies are proposed: Leptochilus (Lionotulus Blüthgen, 1938) = L. (Neoleptochilus Blüthgen, 1961), syn. nov. = L. (Sarochilus Gusenleitner, 1970), syn. nov.; Leptochilus (Lionotulus) crassiceps (Kostylev, 1940) = L. (L.) flavicornis Giordani Soika, 1970, syn. nov.; Euodynerus (Pareuodynerus) cylindriventris (Kostylev, 1935) = E. (P.) distinctus (Kostylev, 1935), syn. nov.; Eustenancistrocerus (Eustenancistrocerus) askhabadensis (Radoszkowski, 1886) = E. (E.) jerichoensis (von Schulthess, 1928), syn. nov. = E. (E.) askhabadensis danticoides (Giordani Soika, 1943), syn. nov. = E. (E.) jerichoensis iconius Blüthgen, 1957, syn. nov. The synonymy of Eumenes (Eumenes) sareptanus André, 1884 with E. (E.) crimensis Blüthgen, 1938 is rejected. A nest of Stenodynerus chitgarensis Giordani Soika, 1970 is briefly described for the first time; it consisted of a constructed mud cell, with a turret-like entrance, attached to a subvertical surface of a stone. Bionomical observations on some other species are reported including prey records for three species, flower-visiting records for nine species, a sleeping aggregation of two species, and a Strepsiptera parasite of one species.

Two new and very similar species of the genus Xynobius Foerster, 1863 are described and illustrated, X. subparallelus Han & van Achterberg, sp. nov. from Japan (Honshu) and X. setosiscutum van Achterberg, sp. nov. from Norway. Three species are newly reported from Norway: Xynobius aciculatus (Thomson, 1895), X. comatus (Wesmael, 1835), and X. polyzonius (Wesmael, 1835). X. polyzonius (Wesmael, 1835) and X. sapporanus (Fischer, 1963) are new combinations. Identification keys to the Xynobius species known from Norway and Japan are added.

The ant genus Aphaenogaster Mayr, 1853 is especially diverse in the West-Palearctic region, where its taxonomy is still problematic for several groups. Among other issues, there is a redundancy of valid taxa compared to the number of species whose validity is currently sustained by any evidence. Names that do not represent taxa with clearly defined identities complicate specimen identification and add confusion to biodiversity databases and checklists. Based on a review of the available literature information on several taxa, and the study of both type and non-type material, the following taxonomic changes are proposed: i) A. mauritanica Dalla Torre, 1893 should be considered a senior synonym of A. gibbosa homonyma Emery, 1921 syn. nov. and of A. foreli Cagniant, 1996 syn. nov. (the Maghrebian populations of the pallida group hitherto considered to represent A. foreli should be attributed to A. dulcineae Emery, 1924); ii) A. pallida (Nylander, 1849) should be considered a senior synonym of A. leveillei Emery, 1881 syn. nov. and of A. leveillei laurenti Santschi, 1939 syn. nov.; iii) A. sangiorgii (Emery, 1901) should be considered a senior synonym of A. finzii Müller, 1921 syn. nov. and A. radchenkoi Kiran & Tezcan, 2008 syn. nov.; iv) A. sardoa Mayr, 1853 should be considered a senior synonym of A. sardoa ujhelyii Szabó, 1910 syn. nov. and A. sardoa anoemica Santschi, 1910 syn. nov.; v) A. subterraneosplendida André, 1883 should be considered a senior synonym of A. sicula Emery, 1908 syn. nov.; vi) A. subterraneoides Emery, 1881 should be considered a senior synonym of A. subterraneoides armeniaca Arnol’di, 1968 syn. nov. These changes will reduce the gap between nomenclature and actual understanding of species diversity, while synonymized names may be resurrected if supporting evidence is discovered.

A synopsis of the Palaearctic species of the ant genus Cardiocondyla Emery 1869 is provided. The four species groups which are of Palaearctic origin or which are restricted in their distribution to this faunal zone, the C. elegans, C. ulianini, C. batesii and C. stambuloffii group—consisting of 25 recognized species—are taxonomically revised. Further nine species belonging to species groups of Ethiopic and Oriental origin which may penetrate into and build up true outdoor populations in the southern Palaearctic are only treated in the determination key. The main working rationale of this revision is Numeric Morphology-Based Alpha-Taxonomy (NUMOBAT) with formation of species hypotheses largely based on exploratory data analyses and checking these hypotheses by discriminant analysis. NUMOBAT data of the species considered comprise 727 worker samples with 1555 individuals and 23,300 primary data. Including high-resolution photos of surface microstructures, all species are depicted by z-stack imaging in four standard visual positions. Numeric data on 19 phenotypical characters are presented in comparative tables and supplementary verbal descriptions are given. In contrast to species groups with Ethiopian, Oriental and Australasian origin, no member of the four Palaearctic species groups has developed a tramp species potential to spread globally. Four cryptic species are described as new: Cardiocondyla dalmaticoides n. sp., C. caspiense n. sp., C. verdensis n. sp. and C. rolandi n. sp. Confirmed were the synonymies of Cardiocondyla elegans santschii Forel 1905, C. provincialis Bernard 1956 and Xenometra gallica Bernard 1957 with C. elegans Emery 1869, that of C. elegans eleonorae Forel 1911 with C. bulgarica Forel 1892, that of C. elegans torretassoi Finzi 1936 with C. nigra Forel 1905, and that of C. bogdanovi Ruzsky 1905, C. montandoni Santschi 1912 and C. stambuloffii taurica Karavajev 1927 with C. stambuloffii Forel 1892. Cardiocondyla bicoronata Seifert 2003 was newly synonymized with C. nigra Forel 1905.

Within the well-studied Palearctic entomofauna, it is often assumed that the discovery of new species is limited to resolving cryptic species complexes within dark taxa. Herein, we describe a highly distinctive species of Aphanogmus Thomson, 1858 (Hymenoptera: Ceraphronidae) from Germany and provide a COI barcoding sequence for the new species. We present a 3D reconstruction of the holotype based on micro-CT to serve as a cybertype. The females of Aphanogmus kretschmanni Moser sp. nov. are diagnosed by two rows of prominent spines on the ventral edge of the 7th metasomal sternite, a character set that has not previously been found in Hymenoptera. We analyse the functional morphology of the ovipositor mechanism and discuss hypotheses regarding the functional implications of the unique modification of the 7th metasomal sternite. Possible host associations are reviewed and the taxonomic placement of the new species is discussed.

Andrena is the second most speciose genus of bees, but much taxonomic work is still required to describe taxa from its centre of diversity—the Old World Mediterranean basin including Turkey to Central Asia—as well as to resolve nomenclatural issues. An additional 16 new species discovered in museum collections are described here: Andrena (Taeniandrena) laevicorpus spec. nov. and Andrena (Ulandrena) graciliata spec. nov. from Cyprus; Andrena (Taeniandrena) taedium spec. nov. from Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, and Iran; Andrena (incertae sedis) maharashtra spec. nov. from India; Andrena (Leimelissa) claves spec. nov. from Kazakhstan; Andrena (Hoplandrena) cephalgia spec. nov. from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan; Andrena (Habromelissa) angustula spec. nov. from Mongolia; Andrena (Tarsandrena) palliata spec. nov. from Mongolia & China; and Andrena (Graecandrena) peculiaris spec. nov., Andrena (incertae sedis) colatorium spec. nov., Andrena (incertae sedis) discordia spec. nov., Andrena (incertae sedis) orichalcum spec. nov., Andrena (Melandrena) nox spec. nov., Andrena (Margandrena) cilicia spec. nov., Andrena (Notandrena) ayna spec. nov., and Andrena (Notandrena) taurus spec. nov. from Turkey. A lectotype is designated for Andrena (Avandrena) heterodoxa Pérez, 1903 sp. resurr. which is recognised as the senior synonym of A. (Avandrena) siciliana Warncke, 1980 syn. nov. Andrena (Andrena) bulgariensis Warncke, 1965 is synonymised syn. nov. with A. (Andrena) inconstans Morawitz, 1877. Andrena (Hoplandrena) schoenitzeri Gusenleitner, 1998 is synonymised syn. nov. with A. (Hoplandrena) rosae Panzer, 1801. Andrena (Truncandrena) medeninensis usura Warncke, 1967 is synonymised syn. nov. with A. (Truncandrena) pareklisiae Mavromoustakis, 1957. The female of A. (Chlorandrena) tricuspidata Scheuchl, 2010 and the males of A. (Poecilandrena) adjacens Morawitz, 1875, A. (Aciandrena) palmyriae Wood, 2021, and A. (Tarsandrena) sarydzhasi Osytshnjuk, 2005 are described for the first time. Lectotypes are designated for Andrena (Melandrena) metallica Radoszkowski, 1876 (=Andrena metallescens Cockerell, 1906) and Andrena (Leimelissa) mimetes Cockerell, 1929. Eighteen additional Andrena species are reported from Turkey for the first time, emphasising its status as the likely centre of diversity for this hyper-speciose genus.

The spider wasp genus Ceropales Latreille, 1796 from India was studied, resulting in the discovery of two new species in the nominotypical subgenus: Ceropales (Ceropales) anaghae Anju, Girish Kumar & Thejass, sp. nov. and C. (C.) keralaensis Anju, Binoy & Thejass, sp. nov. Description of the new species with illustrations, comparisons with congeners and a key to Indian species of the subgenus are also provided.

Two new species are described in the genus Pseudapis: P. kuhlmanni Pauly & Monks, and P. lisetae Pauly & Monks, both from Oman. Their distributional and flower-visiting data are presented, and they are diagnosed and differentiated from other species in the genus.

An annotated list of seven species of rarely collected and little-known bees of the genus Colletes from Siberia is given, including five species whose ranges within the region are enlarged. Colletes ravuloides Kuhlmann & Proshchalykin, sp. nov. is described from Tyva Republic (Russia). An updated checklist of the 27 species of Colletes so far known from Siberia is provided.

In social vespine wasps, the nest characteristics and associates vary intra- and interspecifically. I studied the nest characteristics and nest associates of three Dolichovespula wasp species in boreal Finland. The average number of combs and cells per nest was similar among D. media, D. saxonica and D. norwegica, and similar to Dolichovespula in the temperate zone. Most D. media and D. saxonica colonies produced both gynes and males, whereas D. norwegica produced mainly either one. The average colony lifespan of D. saxonica was a bit over two months, i.e. shorter than documented for Dolichovespula in the temperate zone. The proportion of nests parasitised by the ichneumonid wasp Sphecophaga vesparum was 36% in D. saxonica and 50% in D. media; S. vesparum has not been recorded from D. media before. The proportion of parasitized cells was 0.6–11% for D. saxonica and 0.2–22% for D. media. The proportion yellow, overwintering cocoons of S. vesparum was highly variable among the nests. The proportion of nests parasitised by the moth Aphomia sociella was 36% in D. saxonica and 13% in D. media. Sphecophaga and Aphomia were not recorded from D. norwegica colonies, which supports studies in the temperate zone. The study adds up to the previous research on the nest structure and nest associates of vespines, and together they indicate that there is geographical variation within Europe and globally in the host use of Sphecophaga.

In this paper, three new species, namely Parancistrocerus fragilitergus sp. n. from Guangxi (China), P. elatitergus sp. n. from Sichuan (China), and P. extentitergus sp. n. from Chongqing and Guizhou (China) are described and illustrated in detail. In addition, P. irritatus Giordani Soika, 1972, P. jaferpaloti Girish Kumar & Carpenter, 2016, and P. sulcatus Giordani Soika, 1994 are newly recorded from China. An updated key to the Chinese species of the genus Parancistrocerus is provided.

As a result of surveys conducted in Aydın Province (Turkey), 19 parasitoids belonging to the family Encyrtidae were found on pseudococcids. Four species are newly recorded from Turkey: Anusia tornike Japoshvili, Coccidoxenoides perminutus Girault, Homalotylus quaylei (Timberlake), and Prochiloneurus aegyptiacus (Mercet). One new species, Leptomastix baspinari Japoshvili sp. n., is described and illustrated. This species was recorded parasitizing six different mealybugs on ten different plant species, including weeds, ornamentals, and crops. Based on its host range, this parasitoid may be a very promising biocontrol agent against many mealybug species.

Khan, Mohd Talib, Anis, Shoeba Binte, Zaidi, Nida, Irfan, Mohd, Manhas, Safeer Ahmed (2023): Description of a new species of Probrachista (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Trichogrammatidae) from Ladakh, India. Zootaxa 5249 (5): 585-588, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5249.5.5, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5249.5.5

The Polyrhachis (Myrmatopa) flavicornis species group in Thailand is reviewed. Four species are recognized, of which one species closely related to Polyrhachis constructor Smith, 1857 is described and illustrated as new to science based on the worker caste under the name Polyrhachis longipilosa sp. nov. The queens of P. flavicornis Smith, 1857 and P. constructor, and the males of P. flavicornis and P. varicolor Viehmeyer, 1916 are described. The new species is distributed in western Thailand in the area north of the Isthmus of Kra, while P. constructor is distributed in Malaysia (West Malaysia and Sabah), Indonesia, Singapore, southern and western Thailand. Polyrhachis piliventris Smith, 1857 and Polyrhachis elii Emery, 1900 are synonymized with P. constructor. A key to the Thai species of the Polyrhachis flavicornis species group is given. The type series of P. longipilosa was collected from the canopy of a dry evergreen forest.

The digger wasps of the genera Philanthinus de Beaumont and Philanthus Fabricius (Crabronidae: Philanthinae) of Egypt are reviewed. One species in Philanthinus and 10 in Philanthus are recorded. Philanthus ammochrysus is newly recorded for the country, and a new species, Philanthus pulawskii Malash, Edmardash and Gadallah is described. The following species and subspecies are doubtful records: Philanthus sulphureus F. Smith, P. venustus (Rossi), and P. triangulum obliteratum Pic. A key to the Egyptian species of Philanthus is provided. Illustrations to all important characters of species under study are also provided.

The genus Peucobius Townes previously comprised two species occurring in the Nearctic region: P. fulvus Townes and P. piceus Townes. In the current study we revise this genus, transfer it to the subfamily Sisyrostolinae (comb. nov.), and describe two new species – P. bennetti Khalaim & Ruíz-Cancino, sp. nov. from Central Mexico and P. shimizui Khalaim, sp. nov. from Japan. The genus Lygurus Kasparyan occurring in Russian Far East and Taiwan is morphologically similar to Peucobius; characters for distinguishing these two genera are provided for the first time with the use of colour photographs. Identification keys to four world species of Peucobius, and to species of Lygurus and Peucobius occurring in the East Palaearctic region, are provided. We suggest that species of Peucobius are associated with xyelid sawflies (Xyelidae) whose larvae feed in staminate pine cones.

Five species of the genus Testudobracon Quicke, 1986 in Vietnam were recognized, and four new species, viz. Testudobracon alius Long, sp. nov., Testudobracon descensus Long, sp. nov., Testudobracon imitator Long, sp. nov., and Testudobracon phiaoacus Long & PQMai, sp. nov. are described and fully illustrated. Additionally, the genus Testudobracon and one species, Testudobracon flavus Tang, Chen & He, 1997, are newly recorded for the Vietnam’s braconid fauna. A checklist of the already known of Testudobracon species is provided, a key to Vietnamese species of the genus Testudobracon in Vietnam, their in-country distribution, and differentiation of the known similar species are also given.

Some wasp species use spiders as food resources, overcoming several anti-predator barriers that are exerted by spiders. Tromatobia ichneumonid wasps are spider egg predators that usually attack Araneidae species, although there are few records of predation on Clubionidae, Philodromidae, Linyphiidae, Tetragnathidae, and Theridiidae spiders. Here, we describe the interaction between Tromatobia sp. and Chrysso compressa, a subsocial theridiid spider that exhibits extended maternal care, in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil. We observed that the larva of Tromatobia sp. develop inside the egg sacs of C. compressa, preying on the entire egg mass and building cocoons that change the color and morphology of the egg sacs. Despite these structural modifications, we registered an adult female of C. compressa guarding and caring for the cocoons (attacked egg sac) of the predators as if they were offspring (non-attacked egg sac). To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first record of Tromatobia preying on Chrysso eggs.

Insect population decline has been reported worldwide, including those of pollinators important for ecosystem services. Therefore, conservation actions which rely on available rigorous species distribution data are necessary to protect biodiversity. Niche modeling is an appropriate approach to distribution maps, but when it comes to bumble bees, few studies have been performed in South America. We modeled ecological niches of nine Colombian Bombus species with MAXENT 3.4 software using bioclimatic variables available from WorldClim. This resulted in maps for each species that show the potential distribution area at the present time. Modeled species maps accurately represent potential niches according to the description of bioclimatic conditions in the species’ habitat. We grouped the species into three clusters based on our results, as well as on distributional information from literature on the topic: High Mountain, Mid- Mountain and inter-Andean, and the Amazon and Eastern Plains Basin. Niche modeling depicted bumble bee species’ distribution in Colombia, the results of which can serve as a useful tool for conservation policies in the country.

Sathon Mason, 1981 is reported for the first time from China through providing a diagnosis, description, and images of Sathon falcatus (Nees, 1834). The mitochondrial genome of S. falcatus was sequenced, annotated and analysed.

Lasius maltaeus Seifert, 2020 was recently described as a Maltese endemic ant based on quantitative morphology, after decades of uncertainties over the identity of the local population, which has a phenotype resembling L. emarginatus (Olivier, 1791). At the same time, Sicilian L. emarginatus populations were discovered to diverge in their mitochondrial DNA to a degree that suggested heterospecificity. Considering the biogeographic similarity of Malta and Sicily, with land bridges connecting them repeatedly until the last glacial maximum, we questioned the assumption that L. maltaeus was endemic to Malta. We integrated quantitative morphology and mtDNA in the study of the Maltese and southern Italian populations phenotypically close to L. emarginatus. We discovered that the range of L. maltaeus extends over most of Sicily, while the true L. emarginatus replace it in the north-eastern sector of the island, the nearby Aeolian Islands, and the Italian peninsula. The distributions of L. emarginatus and L. maltaeus in Sicily follow biogeographic patterns recalling the island’s complex paleogeographic history. Further investigations should verify the existence of truly Maltese endemic ants, since the status of other allegedly endemic species is not strongly supported.

Laotris luzulae Godfray, sp. nov. is described in the small genus Laotris Nixon, 1943, (Braconidae, Alysiinae, Dacnusini) from five specimens reared from Cerodontha silvatica (Groschke, 1957) (Diptera, Agromyzidae) mining Luzula sylvatica (Huds.) Gaudin (Juncaceae) in Devon and Gloucestershire in the southwest of Great Britain. Six further specimens from Somerset caught as adults in the 1950s are also noted. It differs morphologically from the three described species of Laotris and shows a 4.2% and 6.6% genetic distance at the CO1 barcode locus from an undescribed North American species and from the European L. striatula (Haliday, 1839), respectively.

Diglyphus Walker, 1844 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is an economically important genus including species acting as biocontrol agents against agromyzid leafminer pests. A new species of Diglyphus, Diglyphus difasciatus Liu, Hansson & Wan, sp. nov., was discovered during the identification of agromyzid leafminers and their associated parasitoid wasps collected from 2016 to 2022 in China, based on morphological characteristics and molecular analyses of COI, ITS2 and 28S genes. Diglyphus difasciatus is similar to D. bimaculatus Zhu, LaSalle & Huang, distinguished by two interconnected infuscate vertical bands on the fore wing and the color of the scape. Molecular data support D. difasciatus and D. bimaculatus as two different species. The mean genetic distances between D. difasciatus and D. bimaculatus were 11.33%, 8.62%, and 0.18%, based on the COI, ITS2, and 28S genes, respectively.

The Lasioglossum (Dialictus) gemmatum species complex, also known as the L. tegulare species group and the L. parvum species complex, is a very common, widespread, diverse, and recognisable lineage of sweat bees, containing 22 previously described species and several known undescribed species. The species were recently revised for the eastern Nearctic region and the Greater Antilles, but remain poorly known in the western Nearctic along with most other L. (Dialictus). These characteristics make it a prime candidate for revision in ongoing taxonomic work on the western Nearctic L. (Dialictus). Here we present the results of this revision, including 10 new species descriptions, one new synonymy, a preliminary phylogeny, and keys to known Nearctic species. Species of the eastern Nearctic and a few primarily Neotropical species which can occur in the Nearctic are also included. We report that the L. (D.) gemmatum species complex is likely a monophyletic group arising from the L. (D.) comulum group, but that the enlarged tegula has arisen independently in at least two other L. (Dialictus) lineages, and it contains multiple cases of allopatric speciation. The following species are described as new: Lasioglossum (Dialictus) angelicum sp. nov., L. (D.) deludens sp. nov., L. (D.) diabolicum sp. nov., L. (D.) eremum sp. nov., L. (D.) gloriosum sp. nov., L. (D.) indagator sp. nov., L. (D.) holzenthali sp. nov., L. (D.) magnitegula sp. nov., L. (D.) profundum sp. nov., and L. (D.) rufodeludens sp. nov. Previously undescribed males of L. (D.) perparvum (Ellis, 1914) and L. (D.) pseudotegulare (Cockerell, 1896) and the female of L. (D.) gaudiale (Sandhouse, 1924) are diagnosed and figured for the first time. Lasioglossum (Dialictus) hunteri (Crawford, 1932) is a new subjective junior synonym of L. (D.) ellisiae (Sandhouse, 1924). Pre-2022 specimen records of L. (D.) hunteri and L. (D.) tegulariforme (Crawford, 1907) are attributable to a heterogeneous mix of species, and records of L. (D.) perparvum are likely attributable to L. (D.) deludens.

The woodwasp genus Tremex Jurine, 1807, is revised for Japan and eight species are recognized, T. apicalis Matsumura, 1912, T. bicinctus Shinohara, n. sp., T. contractus Maa, 1949, T. fuscicornis (Fabricius, 1787), T. katayamai Shinohara & Kurihara, n. sp., T. longicollis Konow, 1896, T. nakanei Takeuchi, 1955, and T. okinawensis Togashi, 1997. Tremex bicinctus is described from Honshu and Kyushu and T. katayamai is described from Honshu, both based only on females. Tremex kaedei Togashi, 1997, is a new synonym of T. nakanei Takeuchi, 1955, and T. kurokivorus Togashi, 2006, is a new synonym of T. okinawensis Togashi, 1997. Tremex sudajii Togashi, 2006, is transferred to the genus Eriotremex Benson, 1943. Tremex okinawensis is newly recorded from Amami-ôshima Island and the male of this species is diagnosed for the first time. Pterocarya rhoifolia (Juglandaceae) is newly recorded as a host plant of T. nakanei. Keys are given for the females of eight Japanese species and for the males of six Japanese species. The stability and taxonomic use of some characters, mostly employed in previous works, are examined and discussed. Collection records are given for 443 specimens of eight species examined.

Twenty-six genera and five subgenera of the tribe Smicromyrmini are reviewed. The tribe (528 valid species) is Afrotropical (15 genera /126 species), Palaearctic (13/213) and Oriental (14/204) in distribution. The females are known for 80%, and males for 87%, of the 26 genera and five subgenera. The hitherto unknown female of Rasnitsynitilla Lelej in Lelej & van Harten, 2006 is described. New combinations are proposed for Rasnitsynitilla bartolozzii (Lo Cascio et Grita, 2014), comb. nov. (from the genus Smicromyrme Thomson, 1870) and Skorikovia sanguinicollis (Klug, 1829), comb. nov. (from the genus Ephutomma Ashmead, 1899). The genus Indratilla Lelej, 1993 is newly recorded from India and the subgenus Eremotilla Lelej, 1985 from the Oriental Region. Keys to females and males of these genera and subgenera of Smicromyrmini are provided. Habitus photos of males and/or females are provided for each genus and subgenus.

Zhen, Wenquan, Xue, Hao, Zu, Guohao, Zhang, Lianzhong (2023): First report of Brachyplatycerus De Santis (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae) from China, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 5231 (2): 179-182, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5231.2.4, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5231.2.4

The species in the tribe Mutillini (Mutillidae: Mutillinae) sensu Waldren et al. (2022, in press) of the Oriental region are reviewed. Fourteen species in the genera Kurzenkotilla Lelej, 2005, Mutilla Linnaeus, 1758, Standfussidia Lelej, 2005, and Storozhenkotilla Lelej, 2005 are keyed, reviewed, and illustrated. The males of the genus Kurzenkotilla are described and associated with the females. One new species: Storozhenkotilla nathani Lelej, sp. nov., male is described from India (Karnataka and Kerala). New combinations are proposed for Kurzenkotilla harmandi (André, 1898), comb. nov., K. rufodorsata (Cameron, 1897), comb. nov., K. semiviolacea (André, 1896), comb. nov., K. cicatricifera (André, 1894), comb. nov., and Storozhenkotilla binghami (Lelej, 2005), comb. nov. Six new country records are presented: Kurzenkotilla niveosignata (André, 1894) from Pakistan, K. annamensis Lelej, 2005 from Thailand, K. visrara (Cameron, 1898) from India, K. scrobiculata (Hammer, 1962) from Nepal, K. rufodorsata (Cameron, 1897) from Nepal, and Storozhenkotilla binghami Lelej, 2005 from Sri Lanka. Specimens of Mutilla mikado Cameron, 1900 from China were misidentified as Mutilla europaea by Su et al. (2019), and we recognize M. mikado as the sole member of the genus Mutilla to occur in the Oriental region. A key to the species of Oriental Mutillini is provided.

The neotropical apoid wasp genus Microstigmus is of particular interest biologically because it represents an origin of eusociality independent of vespid wasps and bees, and is part of the only eusocial lineage among the approximately 10,000 solitary species of apoid wasps. Females construct nests made of silk and the species exhibit an unusual diversity of nesting strategies. However, research is hampered because many species remain undescribed and the basic nesting biology of only a few species is known. I describe three new species from north-west Ecuador related to M. bicolor Richards, including diagnostic morphological characters, altitudinal ranges and molecular data as well as descriptions of their nests and nesting biologies. M. rosae sp. nov. is a mass provisioner that preys on nymphal Thysanoptera, while M. lydiae sp. nov. and M. mirandae sp. nov. are progressive provisioners that prey on nymphal leafhoppers (Cicadellidae). Nests of all three species can contain multiple adult females but more than half of nests contain only a single female. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E46768B9-FD13-4370-8E31-8D1819B724F4

Type specimens from the collection of Hymenoptera deposited in the Department of Entomology, National Museum, Prague are currently being catalogued. In this part of the catalogue dealing with the family Braconidae, we present precise information about 27 taxa belonging to the subfamilies Brachistinae (1 species), Cheloninae (1 species), Doryctinae (1 species), Euphorinae (2 species), Gnamptodontinae (1 species), Lysiterminae (1 species), Microgastrinae (2 species), Opiinae (15 species) and Orgilinae (3 species), including holotypes of 20 species. Current status, distribution, and photos are given for each taxon. Additionally, one missing type and one historically important specimen are mentioned in the catalogue with detailed information about them.

A new species of Ichneumoninae, Dicaelotus caraganae Sheng & Li, sp. nov.,is described and illustrated. Specimens were reared from the cocoon of Asclerobia sinensis (Caradja, 1937) (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae), from Hangjinqi, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. The new species is characterized by face very short, median length shorter than clypeus; clypeus 2.9 × as wide as long, apical margin with weak median convex; area basalis of propodeum very short, lateral carinae indistinct; hind coxa partly irregularly black; fourth and subsequent metasomal tergites black. A key to species of Dicaelotus known in China is provided.

Species of the genus Protelenomus Kieffer (Platygastroidea, Scelionidae) are phoretic egg parasitoids of coreid bugs. The discovery, DNA sequencing, and molecular phylogenetic analysis of a Protelenomus species phoretic on Cletus punctiger (Dallas) (Hemiptera, Coreidae) shows that Protelenomus is a derived lineage of Trissolcus Ashmead. Protelenomus is treated as a junior synonym and a new species of phoretic Trissolcus, T. siliangae Yan, Chen & Talamas, is described from China.

González-Vaquero, Rocío Ana (2022): Solitary and semisocial behaviour in the Corynura group: new findings in a clade sister to all other Augochlorini bees (Hymenoptera: Halictidae). Journal of Natural History 56 (45-48): 1841-1868, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2022.2134833, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2022.2134833

The diversity of the Elampini cuckoo wasps in northeastern Brazil is reviewed. Three new species are described: Hedychrum oxente Lucena & Zanella sp. nov., Holopyga lunae Lucena sp. nov., and Muesebeckidium clemensi Lucena & Zanella sp. nov. A lectotype is designated for Holopyga piliventris Ducke, 1907 and herein illustrated. Elampus aequinoctialis Ducke, 1901 is restored as a valid species (previously synonymized with Elampus gayi Spinola, 1851) and diagnosed. Holophris huberi (Ducke, 1901) and Muesebeckidium clemensi sp. nov. represent the first records of both genera to northeastern Brazil. New records along with up-to-date distributional maps are discussed, and an identification key to the species of Holopyga from northeastern Brazil is provided. The total diversity of Elampini recorded for northeastern Brazil is now represented by the following eight species: Elampus aequinoctialis Ducke, 1901, Exallopyga guatemalensis (Cameron, 1888), Hedychrum oxente Lucena & Zanella sp. nov., Holophris huberi (Ducke, 1901), Holopyga iheringi du Buysson, 1901, H. lunae Lucena sp. nov., H. piliventris Ducke, 1907, and Muesebeckidium clemensi Lucena & Zanella sp. nov.

Five species of five genera in Tetrastichinae (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) from China are reviewed, including one new species, Mestocharella qingdaoensissp. nov., and three new country record species: Nesolynx thymus (Girault, 1916), Holcotetrastichus rhosaces (Walker, 1839), and Peckelachertus diprioni Yoshimoto, 1970. New distributional data for Ceratoneura indi Girault, 1917 are provided.

Charmon thailandensis sp. nov. from Thailand is described and illustrated based on a female specimen from Doi Phu Kha National Park, Nan Province, Thailand. The new species is distinguished from apparently closely-related species of Charmon Haliday, 1833, based on both morphology and DNA sequence (barcode) data. Morphologically it appears to be near to C. extensor (L., 1758) but DNA data suggest it is quite basal with respect to all the other sequenced species. A checklist of the 10 known species of Charmon with their known distributions is provided. The possibility that C. extensor might represent a complex of more than one species is briefly discussed.

Gupta, Ankita, Achterberg, Cornelis Van, Pattar, Rohit, Minz, Kriti Arpana (2022): On the occurrence of a Palaearctic species of the genus Aphaereta Foerster (Braconidae, Alysiinae) and description of a new species of the genus Leiophron Nees (Braconidae, Euphorinae) from central India. Zootaxa 5209 (4): 455-462, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5209.4.4

A fairyfly (Hymenoptera, Mymaridae) Cleruchus breviclava Triapitsyn & Coray, sp. nov. is described and illustrated. The new species is an egg parasitoid of the invasive Cis chinensis Lawrence (Coleoptera, Ciidae) in Antrodia xantha fungus (Polyporales, Fomitopsidaceae) in Basel, Switzerland; it is also known from low mountains in Germany and Switzerland. Supporting data on the “barcoding” region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene, as well as separate regions of nuclear ribosomal RNA, the D2 region of 28S and the internal transcribed spacer 2, provide strong evidence of conspecificity of the morphologically variable macropterous and strongly brachypterous individuals of C. breviclava. Macropterous females of the new species are most similar to those of C. detritus Bakkendorf, also known from Switzerland. New records are provided for some other species of Cleruchus Enock in Europe. A key to both sexes of the described European species of the genus is given.

The genus Pareucamptonyx Olmi, 1991 is endemic to the New World and comprises three described species, two from the Neotropical region and one from the Nearctic. Here is presented the first revision of species of Pareucamptonyx from the Neotropical region, including four new species described from Brazil: P. albopictus Martins sp. nov., P. kumagaiae Martins sp. nov., P. niger Martins sp. nov. and P. paranaensis Martins sp. nov. Detailed illustrations, distribution map, and key to females are provided, as well as a revised diagnosis of the genus and notes about the method of collection. Additionally, new distribution records for P. townesi (Olmi, 1984) are reported.

In total, 388 specimens belonging to 61 species of sawflies were collected in North-Western Georgia in 2020. Among the collected species, 29 are new country records.

The braconid Utetes anastrephae (Viereck, 1913) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a larva-pupal parasitoid of fruit flies of the genus Anastrepha Schiner, commonly associated with Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart, 1835) (Diptera: Tephritidae), the most important pest of mango (Mangifera indica L., 1753) in Mexico. This parasitoid was established in a laboratory colony using larvae of Anastrepha ludens (Loew, 1873) as host. Here we describe a demographic study to compare the reproductive and population parameters of this parasitoid reared on A. obliqua and A. ludens under laboratory conditions. Two U. anastrephae cohorts of 30 individual pairs each were set up, one was reared on A. obliqua larvae and the other one on A. ludens. Every day, 30 third instar larvae of each host species were exposed to an adult pair through the lifespan of the female. Daily mortality and fecundity were recorded. Life tables were constructed and sex ratios, parasitism rates, survival, reproductive and population parameters were estimated. Higher survival of U. anastrephae females was observed in females from A. obliqua (mean live expectancy of 22.4 days), but higher fecundity and parasitism occurred in females from A. ludens (net fecundity of 62.61 daughters/ female and 16.72% parasitism rate). The intrinsic rate of increase (r = 0.128 and r = 0.134 for A. obliqua and A. ludens respectively), mean generation time (27.88 and 28.30 days) and population doubling time (5.42 and 5.16 days) were similar in both cohorts, as well as the sex ratio (73 and 69% of females). These results suggest that A. ludens as host increase the production rates; however, any one of these two species could be used as host for mass rearing purposes.

The first record of the Asian/yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) in Ireland was reported in April 2021, when a single female individual was discovered in Dublin. Vespa velutina has been present in mainland Europe since 2004 and in the UK since 2016 and poses an enormous threat to European apiculture and bee-mediated pollination services. Three mitochondrial genes were sequenced from the Irish specimen to determine whether the specimen originated from the established European population or signified a new point of entry from its native range in China. Additionally, specimens from Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, and the Channel Islands were sequenced at these three genes to build on previous studies which have asserted, based solely on Cytochrome Oxidase 1 (COI) analysis, that the entire range of V. velutina in Europe represents a single invasion which has proliferated since the first record in France. Further data were retrieved from GenBank for comparison. Results reveal that the mtDNA lineage observed in Dublin is the same as that seen throughout Europe, and therefore the arrival of this species in Ireland likely represents a further spread of the ongoing European invasion.

Three new species of velvet ants known from females are here described: Mickelomyrme leleji Sittichaya & Williams, sp. nov., Nordeniella dokbua Sittichaya & Williams, sp. nov., and Smicromyrme songkhwae Sittichaya & Williams, sp. nov. One additional species is newly recorded from Thailand: Bischoffitilla selangorensis (Pagden). Synoptic list of Mutillidae in Thailand Natural History Museum with new records is given.

A new speciesLeioproctus zephyr(Hymenoptera: Colletidae) is described from both sexes.Leioproctus zephyrsp. nov.is remarkable in featuring a large longitudinal ridge on the clypeus. This diagnostic morphological feature present in both sexes, along with various other distinctive characters including the male genitalia, female hind-tibial spur, and glossa morphology, clearly distinguish this species from all otherLeioproctus. Along with these unique traits,L. zephyrcannot be classified into any of the existing subgenera ofLeioproctus, sharing some, but not all, of the characters of the subgeneraCeratocolletes,Charicolletes,ProtomorphaandOdontocolletes. DNA barcoding with the CO1 gene confirmed the sexes belonged to the same species and it did not match any previously barcoded species. This species is restricted to native vegetation remnants in the southwest Western Australian biodiversity hotspot, and is highly specialised, foraging only on a few species in the genusJacksonia(Fabaceae). The unusual clypeus may be an adaptation for foraging on the keeled papilionaceous flowers. The limited number of sites this species has been collected from and its oligolectic diet suggestL. zephyrshould be considered to be a species of conservation concern. Further taxonomic research is required to determine the phylogenetic position of this unusualLeioproctus.

The species of Plutothrix Förster, 1856 are reviewed. Plutothrix gribanovi, sp. nov., is described from Russia, P. longigaster, sp. nov., and P. zerovae, sp. nov., are described from Finland and Russia. The male of P. canariensis Hedqvist, 1974 is described for the first time. The species Plutothrix transdanuviana (Erdös, 1946), syn. nov., is synonymized under Seladerma antennatum (Walker, 1833). The following new records are reported: Plutothrix nudicoxa Graham, 1993 and P. perelegans Graham, 1993 from Finland, P. obtusiclava Graham, 1993 and P. zhangyieensis Yang, 1996 from Russia, and P. perelegans Graham, 1993 from Ukraine. An identification key to females of all Palaearctic species of Plutothrix is provided.

Seven species of the ant genus Parasyscia Emery, 1882 in the subfamily Dorylinae are recognized in China, including one known species, P. reticulata (Emery, 1923), and five new species: P. wilsoni sp. nov., P. nigrita sp. nov., P. tibetana sp. nov., P. shii sp. nov., P. xui sp. nov. and one new record species, P. ganeshaiahi Aswaj et al, 2021. The worker caste of P. reticulata is reported for the first time. The species P. fossulata (Forel, 1895) is excluded from the ant fauna of China. A revised key for the Asian species of Parasyscia based on the worker caste is provided.