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Population outbreaks of invasive fluted scales in urban areas of Ecuador have become frequent in recent years. Despite the negative impact that these scale insects cause on the native flora, little is known about the natural enemies that control their populations in Ecuador. During collections and observations carried out between July and October 2021 in the province of Guayas, in western Ecuador, high infestations caused by the invasive pests Crypticerya genistae (Hempel, 1912), Crypticerya multicicatrices Kondo & Unruh, 2009, and Icerya purchasi Maskell, 1879 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Monophlebidae: Iceryini) were found. Hence, this study aimed to determine the natural enemies of these fluted scales using taxonomic keys based on their morphological characteristics. As a result, five species of predators were identified, i.e., Novius punicus (Gordon, 1972), Novius cardinalis (Mulsant, 1850) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Syneura cocciphila (Coquillet, 1895) (Diptera: Phoridae), Ceraeochrysa sp. (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), and Cardiastethus sp. (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae); the latter is reported preying on C. multicicatrices for the first time. Knowledge of natural enemies is crucial for developing more effective, eco-friendly pest management strategies that could help mitigate the adverse effects of these invasive scale insects.

Cardiastethus brevirostris Poppius, 1909 and its close relatives in Asia are reviewed. Four new species are recognized: C. hiurai sp. nov. from eastern and south-eastern Asia, C. nepalensis sp. nov. from Nepal, C. kathmandu sp. nov. from Nepal, and C. linnavuorii sp. nov. from the Russian Far East and Japan. All the specimens previously identified as Dysepicritus rufescens (A. Costa, 1847) from Japan and Thailand are shown to be C. hiurai. Diagnoses, digital habitus images, scanning-electron micrographs, and illustrations of diagnostic features including male genitalia are provided. A key to the species of C. brevirostris and allies is offered to facilitate identification. Zoogeography and biology are briefly discussed.

The honeydew of Marchalina hellenica is collected by honeybees for pine honey production, which is of great economic importance in Turkey. During 2009–2011 we investigated the predators of M. hellenica, which is distributed mainly in the areas with a Mediterranean climate – in the Aegean, Marmara and Mediterranean regions of Turkey. The findings showed that M. hellenica has many predators in the studied areas and that these play an important role in the forest ecosystem. These predators are: Anystis baccarum (L.) (Acarina: Anystidae); Allothrombium triticium Zhang and Allothrombium pulvinum Ewing (Acarina: Trombidiidae); Neoleucopis kartliana (Tanasijtshuk) (Diptera: Chamaemyiidae); Myrrha octodecimguttata (L.), Rodolia cardinalis Mulstant, Scymnus subvillosus (Goeze) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Dichochrysa genei (Rambur), Dichochrysa prasina (Burmeister) and Chrysoperla lucasina (Lacroix) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae); Wesmaelius subnebulosus (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae), Cardiastethus nazarenus Reuter and Elatophilus pachycnemis Horváth (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae). The most efficient and common predator was N. kartliana , here recorded for the first time from Turkey.

Specimens of Anthocoridae, Lyctocoridae, and Lasiochilidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) intercepted at various ports-of-entry and housed at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) Miami Plant Inspection Station (Miami, FL) were examined and identified to species or genus. The collection comprised 127 specimens intercepted primarily at the Miami Inspection Station. Specimens were distributed among 14 genera and 26 identified species in 3 families: Anthocoridae (99 specimens), Lyctocoridae (9 specimens), and Lasiochilidae (19 specimens). Seventy-eight of the 127 specimens could be identified to species. The remaining 49 specimens were identified to genus, except for 2 specimens that could not be identified below tribal level. For each identified species, we provide brief descriptions of habitat and prey preferences (where known), and a summary of currently known geographic range. Fifty-six of the 127 specimens were of a single genus: Orius Wolff, 1811 (Anthocoridae: Oriini). The specimens of Orius comprised at least 9 different species; 17 specimens could not be identified to species. The 127 specimens were intercepted on a variety of commodities, including ornamental plants, cut flowers, bouquets, agricultural produce, ceramic tiles, and wood products. Fourteen of the identified species do not currently occur in the continental U.S.; moreover, the 49 specimens that we could identify only to genus very likely also are of species not currently established in the continental U.S. The majority of intercepted specimens (93 of 127) arrived on shipments from the Neotropics and Europe. Specimens of Lasiochilidae and Scolopini (Anthocoridae) were entirely from shipments arriving from the Neotropical region. Specimens of Orius were intercepted on shipments from the Neotropics, Mexico, Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Finally, 10 species were intercepted on shipments arriving from countries not previously listed as being part of their known geographic ranges. One Old World species, Cardiastethus affinis Poppius, 1909, known previously only from East Africa and India, was intercepted in 2 separate shipments arriving from Central America and the West Indies.

The presence of two Anthocoridae (Insecta: Heteroptera) species new to Croatia is recorded: Elatophilus (Euhadrocerus) crassicornis and Cardiastethus nazarenus. Both were captured on the island of Cres on Pinus nigra.