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Two new species, Holochlora mauritiana and H. ingrischi from the island of Mauritius and Zimbabwe, respectively, are described. Along with a third species, H. biloba Stål, 1874 from Madagascar, they are the sole African representatives of the mostly Oriental genus Holochlora Stål, 1873, including ca. 60 taxa distributed from India to China. Preliminary hypotheses on biogeographical and evolutionary origin of Afro-Madagascan Holochlora species are shortly discussed.

Here we present a synthesis on the current knowledge of sphodrine carabids of the southern Levant (Israel, areas under Palestinian control, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt east of Suez Channel: Sinai). A key for the identification of genera, subgenera and species is provided. Two new species are described: <em>Taphoxenus</em> (<em>Lychnifugus</em>) <em>ziegleri</em> sp. n. is described from Jordan (Type locality: Madaba), close to <em>T</em>. (<em>L</em>.) <em>meridionalis</em> Casale, 1988 (valid species), but markedly distinct for several characters both in external features and male genitalia. <em>Laemostenus</em> (<em>Laemostenus</em>) <em>sinaiticus</em> sp. n. is described from southern Sinai (Type locality: St. Catharina Monastery). This species belongs to the <em>L. quadricollis</em> species group (in the sense of Casale, 1988), and is close to <em>L. aegyptiacus</em> Schatzmayr, 1936. An updated key for the identification of the species of this group known so far in that area, which includes both epigean and subterranean species, is provided. The diagnostic features of all species newly described are illustrated, and their possible relationships are discussed. Furthermore, the features of male genitalia of <em>Laemostenus</em> (<em>Laemostenus</em>) <em>aegyptiacus</em> Schatzmayr, 1936 and <em>Laemostenus</em> (<em>Laemostenus</em>) <em>libanensis</em> (Piochard de la Brûlerie, 1876) are illustrated for the first time. The latter, known so far from the remains of the holotype specimen, is redescribed from material recently sampled in Lebanon.

The first Italian records of the rare parasitic ant species <em>Plagiolepis grassei</em> Le Masne, 1956 are here reported. This species is considered as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN’s Red List, and was previously recorded from France and Spain only.

The first infestation of an entomological collection in Italy by <em>Trogoderma</em> <em>variabile</em> Ballion, 1878 is recorded; it was detected in Rome in 2014. This record and another one from the Molise Region, are herein discussed. Distributional, biological and nomenclatural data on this polyphagous alien pest are summarized, and its possible local establishment is discussed.

The mosquito <em>Culex</em> <em>tritaeniorhychus</em> is an established vector of Japanese encephalitis in India and many Asian countries. Entomological monitoring enables estimation of the abundance of the vector mosquitoes and therefore aids in vector management and disease control. In compliance with this proposition, an assessment of the pupal productivity of the mosquito <em>C. tritaeniorhynchus</em> was made from selected rice fields of West Bengal, India. The results are expected to provide the present status of mosquitoes in an endemic region of Japanese encephalitis. In course of sampling of the rice fields, the mosquito <em>C. tritaeniorhyhchus</em> was found in abundance with other mosquitoes like <em>Culex</em> <em>bitaeniorhynchus</em>, <em>Anopheles subpictus, Anopheles vagus, Anopheles barbirostris</em>. Application of multivariate analysis indicated that the plant height, water depth and temperature could explain the variations in the pupal productivity of<em> C. tritaeniorhynchus</em> in rice fields. The correspondence of the immature abundance of <em>C. tritaeniorhynchus</em> with plant height suggests persistence of the population throughout the paddy rice cultivation period. Using the plant height as an indicator, the abundance of the mosquito <em>C</em>. <em>tritarniorhynchus</em> can be predicted enabling application of appropriate strategies for population intervention and thus the possibility of the disease.

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<em>Philorhizus</em> <em>occitanus</em> sp. n. from the South-Western Alps (Ellero Valley and Maira Valley) is described. This new species is similar to <em>P</em>. <em>crucifer</em> and <em>P</em>. <em>notatus</em> as far as the external morphology is concerned, but it is distinguished by the color pattern and the shape of elytra, as well as by the features of the median lobe of aedeagus. <em>P</em>. <em>liguricus</em>, which is easily distinguished from <em>P</em>. <em>occitanus</em> sp. n. by the external morphology, was already recorded from the South-Western Alps and from the Ligurian Apennines. P<em>.</em> <em>occitanus</em> sp. n. is a likely close relative of <em>P.</em> <em>notatus</em>, although the affinities of this relict flightless new species remain uncertain.

A taxonomic revision of members of the genus <em>Meligethes</em> Stephens, 1830 is carried out. Taxonomic and distributional notes are provided on fiftythree <em>Meligethes</em> species, mostly known from the Eastern Palearctic and marginally from the Western Palearctic and the Oriental Regions. Among these, twentythree new species of <em>Meligethes</em> are diagnosed, figured and described: <em>M</em>. <em>argentithorax</em> sp. n. (Central China: Shaanxi, Shanxi), <em>M</em>. <em>aurantirugosus</em> sp. n. (Nepal),<em> M. aureolineatus</em> sp. n. (Central China: Sichuan), <em>M. aurifer</em> sp. n. (Central China: Shaanxi, Shanxi), <em>M. brassicogethoides</em> sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), <em>M. clinei</em> sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), <em>M. elytralis</em> sp. n. (Central China: Sichuan), <em>M. ferruginoides</em> sp. n. (Central China: Sichuan), <em>M.</em> <em>cinereoargenteus</em> sp. n. (Central China: Sichuan), <em>M. henan</em> sp. n. (Central China: Henan), <em>M. luteoornatus</em> sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), <em>M. marmota</em> sp. n. (Nepal), <em>M. nivalis</em> sp. n. (SW and central China: Xizang and Chongqing), <em>M. martes</em> sp. n. (Central China: Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan), <em>M. nigroaeneus</em> sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), <em>M. occultus</em> sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), <em>M</em>. <em>pseudochinensis</em> sp. n. (Central China: Hubei), <em>M. pseudopectoralis</em> sp. n. (SW China: Yunan),<em> M. schuelkei</em> sp. n. (Central China: Sichuan, Shaanxi), <em>M. simulator</em> sp. n. (Central-N China: Shanxi), <em>M. stenotarsus</em> sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan, Xizang), <em>M. tryznai</em> sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), and <em>M. volkovichi</em> sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan). Revaluations at specific rank from synonymy are introduced for <em>Meligethes lutra</em> Solsky 1860, and for <em>M. melleus</em> Grouvelle, 1908. Three new synonymies are established: <em>Meligethes brevipilus</em> Kirejtshuk, 1980 = <em>M. auripilis</em> Reitter, 1889 (syn. n.), <em>Meligethes zakharenkoi</em> Kirejtshuk, 2005 = <em>M. shirakii</em> Sadanari Hisamatsu, 1956 (syn. n.), and <em>Meligethes shirozui</em> Sadanari Hisamatsu, 1965 =<em> M. wagneri</em> Rebmann, 1956 (syn. n.). Complete redescriptions are given for <em>Meligethes binotatus</em> Grouvelle, 1894, <em>M. castanescens</em> Grouvelle, 1903, <em>M. ferrugineus</em> Reitter, 1873, and <em>M. melleus</em> Grouvelle, 1908. The male of <em>Meligethes lloydi</em> Easton, 1968, is described and figured for the first time. The female genitalia of <em>Meligethes auricomus</em> Rebmann, 1956, <em>M. cinereus</em> Jelínek, 1978, and <em>M. griseus</em> Jelínek, 1978 are described and figured for the first time. Available information on insect-host-plant relationships and ecology are summarized for each species; probably all are associated as larvae with flowers of Rosaceae, chiefly of members of the closely related genera <em>Rosa</em> L., <em>Rubus</em> L., <em>Prunus</em> L., and <em>Crataegus</em> Tourn. ex L. All treated species are grouped in two here revaluated subgenera (<em>Meligethes</em> s.str. and <em>Odonthogethes</em> Reitter, 1871), and tentatively grouped also in species-groups and (when necessary) species-complexes, based on their morphology.

Study of the type specimen of <em>Otiorhynchus ambrosii</em> Bertolini, 1893 allowed to reinstate the synonymy: <em>Dodecastichus mastix</em> (Olivier, 1807) [= <em>Otiorhynchus</em> (<em>Dodecastichus</em>) <em>ambrosii</em> Bertolini, 1893; syn. n.]. As a consequence, the following synonymy is also established: <em>Dodecastichus consentaneus</em> (Boheman, 1842) [= <em>Otiorhynchus</em> (<em>Dodecastichus</em>) <em>consentaneus</em> <em>alticola</em> A. Solari & F. Solari, 1915; syn. n.]. A revised list of <em>Dodecastichus</em> Stierlin, 1861 is also drawn up to correct some errors in the latest 2013 catalogue, to include the revised synonymies above, and additional data on all the species of the genus. The alternative original spelling <em>Dodecastichus</em> <em>oligostictus</em> (J. Müller, 1946) is selected over <em>Dodecastichus</em> <em>oligolepis</em> (J. Müller, 1946), both used in the description of this species.