The leafhopper species, Mukaria splendida Distant, is economically important due to itsstatus as a pest on bamboo and was recently reported to bea vector for phytoplasmal disease. Morphological identification is often difficult and requires a high level of taxonomic expertise, with misidentifications causing problematic false-positive/negative results. In this paper, colour polymorphism was recorded in the bamboo-feedingleafhopper M. splendida (Distant, 1908), which is a major insect pest in the bamboo ecosystem based on explorations conducted in different locations of India. Ten morphs were identified for each sex of M. splendida Distant based on the colour pattern on the pronotum and forewings. However, in view of the economic importance of the species, the morphological studies were integrated with the molecular data for the accurate identification of the species. The morphological characteristics and sequence results of the amplified product of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) gene confirmed that all the morphs were M. splendida and the pairwise distance matrix showed a negligible genetic distance in the COI mtDNA gene. Simulated future predictions, along with detailed notes on the colour polymorphic forms with illustrations, and additional distribution records as well as thebiology of M. splendida were discussed in light of the available literature, all of which will aid the authentic identification of this species.

A new species of the cleptoparasitic bee genus Tetralonioidella Strand, 1914, collected from Meghalaya, India is described. Only two species occur in India, namely Tetralonioidella himalayana (Bingham, 1897) and Tetralonioidella tricolor (Lieftinck, 1972). The new species, Tetralonioidella meghalayensis Dohling & Dey sp. n., is the third species of Tetralonioidella Strand, 1914 discovered in India. An updated checklist of species along with identification keys to female species of the genus Tetralonioidella from India are given. Illustrations of the female specimens studied are also provided.

Insect pollinators and flowering plants have a long‐standing, coevolutionary, mutualistic relationship. One such example is the litchi tree (Litchi chinensis Sonn.), a fruit crop that relies on insect pollination. Litchi flowers are hermaphroditic, but they cannot self‐pollinate due to self‐sterility, unlike self‐pollinating plants. Therefore, insect pollinators are crucial to successful fruit development. To understand the pollinator’s foraging behaviour and diversity associated with litchi under hot and subhumid conditions, the present study was conducted on the Shahi variety of litchi at the ICAR‐Research Complex for Eastern Region, Farming System Research Centre for Hill and Plateau, Ranchi (Jharkhand), India. During the flowering period, a total of 19 species of insect pollinators from the orders Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Coleoptera were observed visiting litchi inflorescences. Apis mellifera and Apis dorsata were the most dominant pollinator species. Each species displayed distinct characteristics in terms of abundance and diversity. Varied foraging speeds (stay times) were also noted, with A. dorsata (6.94 s) being the fastest and Musca domestica (2.88 s) being the slowest. Pollinator activity was highest in the eastern direction, between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Apis florea had the highest foraging rate (visitation rate) (14.02 flowers visited per minute), followed by Apis mellifera, while Episyrphus taeniops​ had the lowest. Apis species were identified as the most abundant and frequent visitors in litchi orchards.

A new species of leafhopper, Scaphoideus banjarensis sp. nov. from India (Himachal Pradesh: Banjar), is described. Also two genera, Neolimnus Linnavuori and Wanritettix Vilbaste, and four species of tribe Scaphoideini, are newly reported from India: N. egyptiacus (Matsumura) and N. quadricornis Khatri & Webb; W. wanrianus (Matsumura); and Grammacephalus punjabensis Shah & Duan. Indian Scaphoideini currently comprises 78 species in 18 genera, including those newly reported here. Illustrations and distributions for newly recorded species are also included.

The present study aimed to understand nesting habits, nest architecture, and foraging behavior of the stingless bee, Tetragonula (Tetragonula) ruficornis Smith, a widespread species in the north Indian plains from Varanasi to Punjab. Among the 47 wild, unmanaged colonies studied, 27 were situated in the cavities of tree trunks and 20 in the cavities of building walls. The internal nest structure revealed that brood cells were arranged in clusters at the center of the cavity with encircling pollen and honey pots. Further, the natural nesting cavity’s total length, width, and height varied from 105 to 168 mm, 129 to 216 mm, and 283 to 472 mm, respectively. The foraging activity of outgoing and incoming foragers of T. ruficornis varied significantly during different hours of the day, across the seasons and prevailing weather conditions. Further, activity was limited to daytime from 08:00 to 18:00 h, with peak activity of outgoing and incoming forager bees between 10:00 and 12:00 h during all seasons. Irrespective of seasons, the foraging activity of outgoing, pollen, and nectar foragers was at its maximum at 12:00 h. However, foraging ceased during December and January due to low temperatures, while peak activity was observed during April. The foraging pattern showed a significant positive correlation with mean monthly maximum and minimum temperatures and a significant negative correlation with relative humidity. The current investigation delivers crucial information on nest architecture and foraging behavior, which could be exploited for designing bee hives and utilization in directed pollination services.

Sycophilodes Joseph is a non-pollinating fig wasp genus so far reported only from Ficus benghalensis L. The genus Sycophilodes is revised with redescription of the male and the first description of the female of its only currently included species, S. moniliformis. A second species, Sycophilodes uluberiaensis Pramanik & Dey sp. nov. is described. Available keys are modified and supplemented to facilitate identification of Sycophilodes and a key for distinguishing both sexes of the two included species is presented. All type specimens are deposited in the National Pusa Collection, IARI, New Delhi.