Additions to the knowledge of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from Norway, with descriptions of two new species.

Two genera of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) are for the first time recorded from Norway: Dusmetia Mercet, 1921 and Prionomastix Mayr, 1876. Six new species records for the country are presented, including two newly described taxa: Aphycus staverlokki Japoshvili sp. n. and Metaphycus sannes Japoshvili sp. n. The total number of known Norwegian species of the family is currently 156.

New records of mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) parasitoids belonging to the family Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from Turkey.

As a result of surveys conducted in Aydin 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.

New records of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from the Netherlands, with a description of new species.

As a result of our survey of parasitoid wasps, the number of encyrtid species known from the Netherlands increased from 106 to 123. Microterys nederlandicus Japoshvili sp. n. is described as new for science. Figures for all species identified during our survey are provided.

Opportunities to reduce pollination deficits and address production shortfalls in an important insect-pollinated crop.

Pollinators face multiple pressures and there is evidence of populations in decline. As demand for insect-pollinated crops increases, crop production is threatened by shortfalls in pollination services. Understanding the extent of current yield deficits due to pollination and identifying opportunities to protect or improve crop yield and quality through pollination management is therefore of international importance. To explore the extent of "pollination deficits," where maximum yield is not being achieved due to insufficient pollination, we used an extensive dataset on a globally important crop, apples. We quantified how these deficits vary between orchards and countries and we compared "pollinator dependence" across different apple varieties. We found evidence of pollination deficits and, in some cases, risks of overpollination were even apparent for which fruit quality could be reduced by too much pollination. In almost all regions studied we found some orchards performing significantly better than others in terms of avoiding a pollination deficit and crop yield shortfalls due to suboptimal pollination. This represents an opportunity to improve production through better pollinator and crop management. Our findings also demonstrated that pollinator dependence varies considerably between apple varieties in terms of fruit number and fruit quality. We propose that assessments of pollination service and deficits in crops can be used to quantify supply and demand for pollinators and help to target local management to address deficits although crop variety has a strong influence on the role of pollinators.

Preliminary faunistic study on the rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) of Republic of Dagestan, with some additional information from northern Caucasus.

A checklist of rove beetles recorded from the Republic of Dagestan (221 species) is given, with 47 new records from this region. The genus Oedichirus Erichson, 1839 (Oedichirus rubronotatus Pic, 1903) and species Stenus turk Puthz, 1972 are new additions to the fauna of Russia. Two new synonyms are established: Xantholinus dagestanicus Bordoni, 2011 syn. nov. and X. circassicus Bordoni, 2011 syn. nov. (both =Xantholinus variabilis Hochhuth, 1851).

List of Staphylinids of Lagodekhi Reserve with some new records from Sakartvelo (Georgia).

The rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) are one of the most diverse families of beetles comprising more than 63650 species worldwide (Irmler et al. 2018). It is the best studied coleopteran family in Georgia (Herman, 2001; Schülke Smetana, 2015), with more than 750 species recorded (Tarkhnishvili Chaladze, 2019). The first records of Staphylinidae from Lagodekhi were reported by Zhizhilashvili (1941), who recorded 12 species of rove beetles from the reserve: Anotylus hybridus Eppelsheim, 1878 as Oxytelus; Anotylus gibbulus Eppelsheim, 1878 as Oxytelus; Xantholinus variabilis Hochhuth, 1851; Cordalia obscura Gravenhorst; Philonthus parvicornis Gravenhorst, 1802 as P. agilis Gravenhorst; Stenus circularis Gravenhorst, 1802 as S. clavulus Hochhuth; S. cribratus Kiesenwetter, 1850; Tachyporus hypnorum (Fabricius, 1775); Ocypus nitens (Schrank, 1781) as Staphylinus similis Fabricius; Quedius minor Hochhuth, 1849 as Q. distincticolor Roubal; Aleochara intricata Mannerheim; Olophrum caucasicum Fauvel, 1875. The record of Medon bicolor (Olivier, 1795) (as Sunius) in the same paper is erroneous because the species is absent from Georgia. Coiffait (1969) described Quedius grouziacus as a new species from Lagodekhi, however the species was later synonymized with Q. suramensis Epelsheim, 1880 by Solodovnikov (2002). Ushakov (1988) recorded Gauropterus sanguinipes Reitter, 1889, Gyrohypnus angustatus Stephens,1832 and Atrecus affinis (Paykull, 1789) as Baptolinus affinis caucasius Roubal, 1933. Gusarov and Koval (2002) registered Korgella caucasica (Gusarov Koval, 2002; Özdikmen, 2005), as Heinzia. Later Shavrin Khachikov (2019) added Acrolocha amabilis (Heer, 1841) which was new to the staphylinid fauna of Georgia. There have been no other focused studies on the Staphylinidae of Lagodekhi Protected Areas (LPA), though we recognize that there are likely further records in the literature.

The scorpionflies (Mecoptera) from Lagodekhi Reserve, with some distributional and seasonal activity data.

We studied scorpionflies of Lagodekhi Reserve for the first time. Three species were recorded from the area, Panorpa similis Esben-Petersen, P. connexa McLachlan, and P. arcuata (Navás). Seasonal activity is also studied.

Notes and corrections to Guerrieri Gahari's (2018) list of Iranian Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) (Zootaxa, 4444 (3)).

A correction to an oversight in a recently published checklist of Iranian species of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) is presented, along with recommended amendments, resulting in 173 species belonging to 51 genera.

An updated checklist of Iranian Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea).

An updated checklist of Iranian Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) is presented based on literature records from 1947-2016. The current list includes 159 species representing 48 genera. Parasitoid-host associations in Iran and distributional data are also provided. Twelve encyrtid species (7.55%) are known only from Iran but a high number of species (68 species, 42.77%) are widely distributed in the Palaearctic region. Four species previously listed from Iran, Metaphycus angustifrons Compere, 1957, Homalotylus ephippium (Ruschka, 1923), H. sinensis Xu & He, 1997, and Ooencyrtus kuvanae (Howard, 1910) are no longer considered present. Hosts of Iranian encyrtid species are tabulated by order and family, with the majority being Hemiptera (66.98%), followed by Lepidoptera and Coleoptera (each 9.44%), Diptera (6.60%), Hymenoptera (4.71%) and Neuroptera (2.83%). The majority of Encyrtidae known in Iran are parasitoids of the superfamily Coccoidea (46.22%). Host-plant associations of Iranian Encyrtidae are also tabulated, by plant family.

Replication of honey bee-associated RNA viruses across multiple bee species in apple orchards of Georgia, Germany and Kyrgyzstan.

The essential ecosystem service of pollination is provided largely by insects, which are considered threatened by diverse biotic and abiotic global change pressures. RNA viruses are one such pressure, and have risen in prominence as a major threat for honey bees (Apis mellifera) and global apiculture, as well as a risk factor for other bee species through pathogen spill-over between managed honey bees and sympatric wild pollinator communities. Yet despite their potential role in global bee decline, the prevalence of honey bee-associated RNA viruses in wild bees is poorly known from both geographic and taxonomic perspectives. We screened members of pollinator communities (honey bees, bumble bees and other wild bees belonging to four families) collected from apple orchards in Georgia, Germany and Kyrgyzstan for six common honey bee-associated RNA virus complexes encompassing nine virus targets. The Deformed wing virus complex (DWV genotypes A and B) had the highest prevalence across all localities and host species and was the only virus complex found in wild bee species belonging to all four studied families. Based on amplification of negative-strand viral RNA, we found evidence for viral replication in wild bee species of DWV-A/DWV-B (hosts: Andrena haemorrhoa and several Bombus spp.) and Black queen cell virus (hosts: Anthophora plumipes, several Bombus spp., Osmia bicornis and Xylocopa spp.). Viral amplicon sequences revealed that DWV-A and DWV-B are regionally distinct but identical in two or more bee species at any one site, suggesting virus is shared amongst sympatric bee taxa. This study demonstrates that honey bee associated RNA viruses are geographically and taxonomically widespread, likely infective in wild bee species, and shared across bee taxa.

List of leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from Lagodekhi reserve with new records for Transcaucasia and Georgia.

Leaf beetles of Lagodekhi National Park have been studied for the first time. Thirty two species were recorded from the area of which 14 are new for Georgia, 1 genus and 8 species are new to Transcaucasus. Together with the additional 16 species that were already known from literature, a total of 48 chrysomelid species for Lagodekhi reserve is listed here with notes on the specimens examined and general distributions. Some insights into the elevational pattern of leaf beetle diversity in Lagodekhi National Park are also provided.

First report of Cheiloneurus exitiosus (Perkins, 1906) and Helegonatopus dimorphus (Hoffer, 1954) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) from Japan, with remarks on their abundance in rice paddies.

BACKGROUND: Encyrtid secondary parasitoids of Delphacidae have not been recorded in Japan. However, they may play an important role in the rice ecosystem because they can reduce the number of Dryinidae, the natural enemies of rice planthoppers. NEW INFORMATION: We found two encyrtid species, Cheiloneurus exitiosus (Perkins, 1906) and Helegonatopus dimorphus (Hoffer, 1954), from rice paddies and the surrounding environment. Haplogonatopus oratorius (Westwood, 1833) and Anteon sp. were newly recognized as hosts of He. dimorphus. Parasitism of C. exitiosus was rare, but He. dimorphus was common in Kumamoto Prefecture. The sex ratio (male proportion) and clutch size of He. dimorphus was estimated as 0.19 and 4.95, respectively.

Checklist of Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Aphelinus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) species from Belgium with respectively four and three new records.

Aphid parasitoids have good potential for crop protection. However, they have been poorly studied in Belgium, especially in terms of species diversity. Therefore, the aim of this work was to establish the first checklist for the country. To complete the list, aphid parasitoids were sampled in wheat and pea fields near Gembloux (Belgium), in 2013 and 2014. Among the identified species, Aphelinus asychis Walker, Aphelinus daucicola Kurdjumov, Aphelinus fusciscapus (Förster), Aphidius asteris Haliday, Aphidius eadyi Starý, Gonzalez & Hall, Praon barbatum Mackauer, and Trioxys auctus (Haliday) were recorded for the first time in Belgium. Thirty-two Aphidiinae and seven Aphelinus species were included in the checklist. It is hoped this study will stimulate further research, as species diversity is still low compared with neighbouring countries.

Redescription of Urartucoris ermolenkoi (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Coreidae) and a revised key to the genera of Pseudophloeini of the Western Palaearctic Region.

Urartucoris ermolenkoi P. V. Putshkov, 1979 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Coreidae: Pseudophloeinae) is recorded from Turkey for the first time. Redescriptions of the genus and species are provided, the male of Urartucoris ermolenkoi being described for the first time, and intraspecific variability of the species is discussed. Adults of Urartucoris ermolenkoi were collected from mid April to end of July and in mid September by means of pitfall traps. First data on the habitat of the species are provided: it is epigeic, inhabiting sparse forests and shrublands at higher elevations (ca. 1400-1600 m a.s.l.) in arid regions of central Anatolia. A revised key to the genera of the West Palaearctic Pseudophloeini is provided. Translations of the original descriptions from Russian are given in Appendix.

The Norwegian species of Copidosoma Ratzeburg (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Encyrtidae).

The species of Copidosoma Ratzeburg (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) are reviewed for Norway. Sixteen species are recognized, of which one, Copidosoma longicaudata sp. nov., is newly described, illustrated and compared with closely related species. Seven species represent new distribution records for Norway--C. aithyia (Walker), C. genale (Thomson), C. herbaceum Mercet, C. primulum (Mercet), C. radnense Erdos, C. thebe (Walker) and C. truncatellum (Dalman). An illustrated dichotomous key for the identification of both sexes of Norwegian Copidosoma is presented.

Checklist of Iranian Encyrtids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) with descriptions of new species.

A list of Iranian Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) is given for the first time. It includes 93 species representing 32 genera. Host information from Iran and distributional data are also provided. Three genera and 7 species are first recorded from Iran. New host records are provided for three species. Two new species, Gyranusoidea iranica sp. n. and Microterys iranicus sp. n., are described and diagnostic characters are provided for them.