Non-native and native tree species plantations and seasonality could have substantial impacts on the diversity of indigenous soil fauna in a semi-arid forest ecosystem.

The temporal and spatial dynamics of soil fauna in many terrestrial ecosystems are still not fully understood, while soil fauna is one of the most critical characteristics in assessing soil quality. Therefore, the effects of native [Quercus brantii (QP) and Amygdalus scoparia (AMP)] and non-native [Cupressus arizonica (CUP) and Pinus eldarica (PIN)] plantations and natural trees [Quercus brantii coppice trees (QNC), standard (QNS), and Amygdalus scoparia (AMN)] on diversity and abundance of macro- and mesofauna were done in the semi-arid forest of Zagros, Iran. Samples were collected beneath the canopy of woody species and the outer edge of the canopy in spring and summer seasons. For this purpose, soil samples [(7 samples per woody species + control) × 2 seasons × 3 replicates] were taken from 0 to 20 cm depths. Each soil sample was a mix of three soil cores. For the macrofauna, 15 species belonging to four families (in spring) and 17 species in nine families (in summer) were collected and identified. For the soil mesofauna, 14 species belonging to 14 families (in spring) and 13 species in 13 different families (in summer) were identified, respectively. The fauna diversity indices under the canopy of studied species were higher in summer season than in spring. The result showed that the macrofauna diversity was affected by tree species, while mesofauna was affected by seasonal changes. Macrofauna biodiversity was higher under the canopy of PIN and CUP than other trees. Principle component analysis showed that the diversity of the macrofauna was higher under the canopy of PIN and CUP, and influenced by soil characteristic properties, soil properties did not influence them. Yet the diversity of the mesofauna was affected by soil characteristics and was higher in areas with higher organic carbon, nitrogen, substrate-induced respiration, basal respiration, microbial carbon biomass, and alkaline phosphatase. In addition, mesofauna biodiversity had a significant positive correlation with the soil quality index (SQI). SQI was higher under the canopy of natural stands, especially the QNS. Conservation of native species (QNS, QNC, and AMN) and plantation with native deciduous species (QP and AMP) seem to moderate environmental conditions and increase soil macro- and mesofauna diversity and SQI.

Two new species and one new record of the genus Asprothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) from China.

Two new species of the genus Asprothrips Crawford, A. bucerus sp. n. and A. punctulosus sp. n. are described and illustrated from China. A. bimaculatus Michel & Ryckewaert, previously known only from Martinique in the French West Indies and Malaysia, is newly recorded from mainland China and Taiwan, along with the first descriptive notes of the male, and the record from China of A. fuscipennis Kudô is considered a misidentification of A. bucerus sp. n. The generic diagnosis of Asprothrips is briefly summarized and an updated key to world species of the genus is also presented.

New combinations and a new generic synonym in the genus Taeniothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae).

Reasons are provided for considering Javathrips as a new synonym of Taeniothrips, resulting in the following new combinations: Taeniothrips ciliaris (Reyes) comb.n., Taeniothrips musae (Zhang & Tong) comb.n., and Taeniothrips variegatus (Reyes) comb.n. Also recognised here are the following nomenclatural changes: Taeniothrips grisbrunneus (Feng, Chou & Li) comb.n. (from Megalurothrips), and Yaothrips pediculae Han comb.n. (from Taeniothrips) with Yaothrips shii Mirab-balou et al. syn.n. Taeniothrips musae is redescribed and illustrated.

Two new synonyms among Chinese Thripinae (Thysanoptera: Thripidae).

Two species of Thripinae described from China, Danothrips dianellae Zhang and Tong, and Taeniothrips calopgomi Zhang, are here recognized as synonyms of two widespread Southeast Asian species.

Redescription of aquatic grass inhabiting Frankliniella zizaniophila (Thripidae: Thripinae) with remarks on its systematic position within the genus Frankliniella (Thysanoptera).

The aquatic grass-inhabiting thrip, Frankliniella zizaniophila (Han & Zhang 1982) (Thripidae: Thripinae), is redescribed and illustrated, and the larvae and the yellow color type of this species are described for the first time. Judging from its unique morphological characters and host plant, the systematic position of this species in Frankliniella is questionable, but until the thrips fauna of Asia is better explored, it seems best to leave this species in Frankliniella, rather than to erect a new monobasic genus.

A new species of the genus Karnyothrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae) from China.

Karnyothrips cyathomorphus sp. n. (Phlaeothripidae: Phlaeothripinae) is described as a new apterous species in the genus Karnyothrips Watson 1923, and it represents the fourth species of the genus to be recorded from China. A key to the Chinese species is given.

An illustrated key to the genera of Thripinae (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) from Iran.

An illustrated key is provided for the identification of 35 genera of Thripinae (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) from Iran with comments for each genus. Chirothrips maximi Ananthakrishnan and Limothrips cerealium Haliday are recorded from Iran for the first time. A checklist is provided of Thripinae recorded from this country.

Neohydatothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) from China: new species and records, with a key to species.

Three new species of Neohydatothrips (Thripidae: Sericothripinae) are described and illustrated from China: N. concavus sp. n., N. flavicingulus sp. n. and N. luteolipes sp. n.; and two species previously recorded from Taiwan are here reported for mainland China for the first time: N. plynopygus (Karny) and N. tabulifer (Priesner). A key to the 16 Neohydatothrips species recorded from China (including Taiwan) is provided.

A new synonym of Sericothrips from China and Japan (Thysanoptera: Thripidae).

Nine species are listed in the genus Sericothrips (Thripidae: Sericothripinae) (Mound 2013), and all of these species have the abdominal tergites completely covered with microtrichia medially (Mound & Tree 2009). S. marginalis Kud6 was described from Japan on a large number of specimens, including a micropterous holotype and macropterous females and micropterous males. These specimens were collected from plants in the families Poaceae and Fabaceae (Kudô 1991). Specimens from Japan were examined by the first author (including one paratype in SCAU), and three paratypes were also checked by the second author and compared with Chinese specimens of S. houji (Chou & Feng 1990). We were not able to find any character differences between these two species, and therefore place S. marginalis in synonymy with S. houji.

One new species, four new records and key to species of Hydatothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) from China (including Taiwan).

Hydatothrips ormosiae sp. n. (Thripidae: Sericothripinae) is described from southern China; H. ekasi, H. liquidambara and H. onari Kudô are newly recorded for mainland China, and H. noro Kudô is newly recorded for Taiwan. A key to the 16 Hydatothrips species recorded from China (including Taiwan) is provided.

A new species of Scirtothrips infesting Ginkgo biloba in eastern China.

A new thrips species, Scirtothrips ginkgoe Mirab-balou, Tong, and Chen, sp. n. (Thripidae: Thripinae) from Eastern China, collected on the leaves of Ginkgo biloba L. (Ginkgoaceae), is described and illustrated based on the male and female adult stage and the larva.

A new record and description of a new species of the genus Thrips, with an updated key to species from Iran.

An illustrated key is provided to distinguish the 26 species of the genus Thrips L. (Thripidae: Thripinae) recorded from Iran. Thrips alavii Mirab-balou, Tong & Chen, sp. n. is described and illustrated. Thrips alliorum (Priesner) is newly recorded for the fauna of Iran. A checklist is provided for all recorded species in this genus from Iran, with information on the geographical distribution for each species.