A new species, Conostigmus khonomaensis sp. nov., is described from Nagaland, India. Two male specimens were collected by yellow pan traps from the Khonoma village in Nagaland. Moreover, this is the second species of the genus Conostigmus reported from India. An identification key to the two Indian species of Conostigmus is also provided.

A study, conducted during the litchi blooming period of 2022 and 2023, provided valuable insights into the diversity and foraging behaviour of bee visitors associated with litchi flowering in the sub-Himalayan Terai region of West Bengal. The study enlisted 15 species of bees from 5 families, namely Andrenidae (1 species), Apidae (7), Colletidae (1), Halictidae (4), and Megachilidae (2), visiting the litchi bloom. Among them, Apidae family alone contributed 49.56% of the total bee assemblage. As an individual species, Apis mellifera was the most frequent visitor (1.09 individuals/m2/minute). In contrast, Megachile laticeps was the least abundant (0.28 individuals/m2/minute) visitor with least foraging speed (2.20 seconds) and highest foraging rate (13.96 flowers/minute/forager). A good diversity of bees was ensured by the higher values of Shannon diversity (2.672) and Margalef richness (2.385) indices. Furthermore, higher value of Sheldon evenness (0.965) and lower value of Simpson dominance (0.071) indices confirmed no prominent dominance of a single/few species on the foraging parameters. Maximum foraging activity of different bee visitors was recorded at 10:00-12:30 hours. Thus, by understanding these dynamics, it may be possible to develop targeted strategies to conserve and support these vital pollinators and ensure sustainable litchi production in the region.

This study documents the first occurrence of Encarsia cubensis Gahan (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) as a parasitoid of the woolly whitefly, Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell), in India. Morphological characterisation and analysis of the mitochondrial COI gene were carried out to determine the species. Field surveys revealed a significant level of parasitism above 70 per cent, highlighting the potential of E. cubensis in the natural regulation of the woolly whitefly on guava, which could have significant implications for pest management.

Ceraphron initium sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Nagaland state of India based on male specimens. The genitalia of this new species is studied and compared with the closely related species C. semira Salden & Peters and C. thompsoni (Dalla Torre).

A study was conducted to investigate the development and fitness of predatory syrphid, Ischiodon scutellaris on cowpea aphid host parasitised by Lysiphlebus fabarum. Number of eggs laid by I. scutellaris in the cowpea plants infested with healthy aphids (317.16 ± 14.84 eggs) and in plants with mixed population of healthy and parasitised aphids (302.20 ± 5.49 eggs) were statistically on par with each other. The number of healthy aphids (243 ± 36.65 aphids) and mixed population of healthy and parasitised aphids (206.60 ± 37.39 aphids) consumed by I. scutellaris was statistically on par with each other. Net reproductive rate (R0) of I. scutellaris in the healthy and healthy + mummified aphid hosts were 289.90 ± 7.66 and 267.40 ± 2.74, respectively. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) of I. scutellaris on the healthy (0.15 ± 0.08) and healthy + mummified aphid hosts (0.14 ± 0.07) was significantly different from each other. The results of the study confirmed that adult flies of I. scutellaris could be maintained in the mixed population of healthy and mummified aphid host, A. craccivora without any interference in its oviposition and egg hatchability. The observations of this study are of practical significance in terms of culture maintenance of syrphid predator, I. scutellaris at times of non-availability of pure healthy aphid hosts.

The aphid wasp genus Arpactophilus Smith, 1863 is reported from India, for the first time outside Australasia. A new species Arpactophilus pulawskii Amal & Girish Kumar sp. nov. is described and illustrated.

The solanum whitefly, Aleurotrachelus trachoides (Back) and woolly whitefly, Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) have invaded India. They are feeding on plants belonging to the Solanaceae, Apocynaceae, and Convolvulaceae families and on guava, respectively. As a result of their invasion, regular field surveys have been conducted to identify potential biological control agents and develop effective biocontrol strategies. During these surveys, an exotic parasitoid called Encarsia cubensis Gahan (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) was found to emerge on fourth instar nymphs of both A. trachoides and A. floccosus. The nymphs were collected from Duranta erecta L. and Solanum nigram L. in Karnataka, India and Psidium guajava L. in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, India. Identity of species was confirmed through their morphological and molecular characteristics. Partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 (CO1) gene sequences (PQ397536; PQ456730; PQ456728; PQ456729) demonstrated 98.41- 99.14

Osmia (Pyrosmia) Tkalc & uring;, previously known only from the Palaearctic region, is reported for the first time from India, specifically from northern India, which marks the confluence of the Palaearctic and Indo-Malayan realms and therefore, has a mixture of species from both. This is the third subgenus of Osmia Panzer after Osmia (Helicosmia) Thomson and Osmia (Osmia s.str.) reported from India. Osmia (Pyrosmia) muelleri sp. nov. is described based on the material deposited in the National Zoological Collection, Zoological Survey of India. The rare and unique osmiine bee with an unusually shaped mandible, Osmia gulmargensis Nurse, is also redescribed and illustrated.

Two species of Austronomia Michener, 1965 (Hymenoptera: Halictidae, Nomiinae), namely A. goniognatha (Cockerell, 1919) and A. takauensis (Friese, 1910), are reported from India for the first time. Eleven Nomiinae bee species, Austronomia capitata (Smith, 1875), Austronomia himalayana (Nurse, 1902), Austronomia notiomorpha (Hirashima 1978), Austronomia pseudoscutellata Pauly, 2009, Hoplonomia incerta (Gribodo, 1894), Lipotriches ceratina (Smith, 1857), Lipotriches phenacura (Cockerell, 1911), Macronomia antennata (Smith, 1875), Nomia crassipes (Fabricius, 1798), Pachynomia nathani Pauly, 2009, Steganomus fulvipennis Cameron, 1898 are added to the West Bengal bee fauna. A checklist of Nomiinae bees comprising 30 species from West Bengal along with floral association is documented.

The oil-collecting bees of the genus Ctenoplectra Kirby from India are revised based on specimens deposited in the National Zoological Collection, Zoological Survey of India and University of Agriculture, GKVK, Bengaluru. The most exciting part of this revision is the addition of two Southeast Asian species of this genus, C. cornuta Gribodo and C. davidi Vachal, to the Indian fauna, which previously consisted of only C. chalybea Smith.

INTRODUCTION:Urban rodents are reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens, including Bartonella spp., which are transmitted by ectoparasites such as fleas. Zoonotic diseases caused by Bartonella often go undocumented due to confusing or subtle clinical symptoms, lack of awareness and poor diagnosis. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and diversity of Bartonella spp. by screening free-ranging rodents and their ectoparasites in the unique ecological settings of Alipore Railway Station, Kolkata, India. The station's high passenger traffic and proximity to food stalls create favourable conditions for rodents and fleas to thrive, increasing the risk of zoonotic transmission. METHODS:Rodents and fleas were identified by morphological features and DNA sequencing. Detection of Bartonella was carried out by DNA sequencing of citrate synthase (gltA) gene. Phylogenetic relationships among the obtained sequences were inferred through phylogenetic tree and haplotype network analyses. Q-PCR testing from human samples from the surrounding area was performed to confirm the zoonotic transfer potential. RESULTS:Of 60 rodents, identified as Bandicota indica 28 (46.7%) and Bandicota bengalensis 32 (53.3%), and 110 fleas ( Xenopsylla cheopis ) were collected. The prevalence of Bartonella infection varied across three different hosts, that is, 32/60 rodents (53.33%), 87/110 fleas (79.1%) and 4/25 human (16%). Phylogenetic analysis revealed four distinct Bartonella lineages comprising 11 novel haplotypes (H1-H11), with haplotype H4 shared between rodents, fleas and humans, indicating active and cross species transmission of Bartonella spp. Haplotype H10, identified as B. rochalimae , was a phylogenetically diverged lineage exclusively found in fleas, suggesting a potentially novel lineage. CONCLUSIONS:The results highlight the significant public health risks posed by Bartonella spp. in densely populated urban areas, particularly in environments like railway stations where human-rodent interactions are frequent. This study underscores the necessity of integrated pest management and surveillance strategies, using molecular tools such as Q-PCR, to mitigate the risk of zoonotic disease transmission in urban settings.

Taeniogonalos taihorina (Bischoff, 1914) is recorded from India (Nagaland) for the first time. The differences of the Indian specimen from the type of this species are discussed.

The megachilid bees of Ladakh are documented based on the collections deposited in the National Zoological Collection and the collections made from Leh district by S. Angmo during 2020-2023. Accounts of sixteen species known from this region belonging to three tribes viz., Anthidiini (03 species), Megachilini (09 species) and Osmiini (01 species) are provided. Thirteen species have been detected among which seven species, Stelis scutellaris Morawitz, Coelioxys conoideus (Illiger), Coelioxys rufescens Lepeletier and Serville, Megachile creutzburgi (Tkalc & uring;), Megachile leachella Curtis, Megachile lagopoda (Linnaeus) and Megachile maritima (Kirby) are new to India, while three among the remaining six species are new to Ladakh. Floral associations for the recently collected specimens are provided. The Mitochondrial COI sequences of 09 species are deposited in BOLD/NCBI among which sequences for 03 species are novel deposits. Based on the COI sequences already available in the database and the sequences deposited, a phylogenetic tree for the studied specimens has been included.

The challenges of bee research in Asia are unique and severe, reflecting different cultures, landscapes, and faunas. Strategies and frameworks developed in North America or Europe may not prove applicable. Virtually none of these species have been assessed by the IUCN and there is a paucity of public data on even the basics of bee distribution. If we do not know the species present, their distribution and threats, we cannot protect them, but our knowledge base is vanishingly small in Asia compared to the rest of the world. To better understand and meet these challenges, this perspective conveys the ideas accumulated over hundreds of years of cumulative study of Asian bees by the authors, including academic, governmental, and other researchers from 13 Asian countries and beyond. We outline the special circumstances of Asian bee research and the current state of affairs, highlight the importance of highly social species as flagships for the lesser-known solitary bees, the dire need for further research for food security, and identify target research areas in need of further study. Finally, we outline a framework via which we will catalyze future research in the region, especially via governmental and other partnerships necessary to effectively conserve species.

We found a coinfestation of fairyfly (Dicopus) along with scabies. Based on the literature as well as our observation, it is proposed that the Dicopus parasitoids can control the eggs of Sarcoptes scabiei.

The fairyfly species Schizophragma mitai Triapitsyn is reported for the first time from the Oriental region. Since the extension of range from the Palaearctic region to the Oriental region, the species is redescribed based on the Indian material. A detailed note on S. indica Rehmat & Anis is provided with an observed variation. The illustrations and updated distribution map of both species are also included.

The Neotropical palm infesting whitefly, Aleurotrachelus atratus Hempel (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a highly invasive pest that was reported during 2019 on coconut in India. In a short span of time, it spread rapidly across states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh on coconut, oil palm and many other ornamental palm plants. During the recent survey, the immature stages of A. atratus were found parasitized by an aphelinid parasitoid, Encarsia cubensis Gahan (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). These parasitoids were identified by their morphological characteristics and also characterized by DNA barcoding of adult parasitoids using partial (658 bp) mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 (CO1) gene (GenBank accession number ON881119). This is the first report on occurrence of Encarsia cubensis as primary parasitoids on A. atratus in India and its natural parasitism ranged from (46–68

Lippia alba, an introduced species of Lippia has widely been used in traditional and folk medicine. Being in -compatible with self-pollination, these plants rely on pollinators, particularly bees, for reproduction. In this study, floral association of the bee pollinators/visitors belonging to four families of Apoidea with L. alba has been examined.