The deep-sea octocoral Isidoides has not been reported since its original description in 1910. Recent collections in the SW Pacific have provided fresh specimens, revealed a novel mitochondrial gene order and allowed us to reject monophyly with the Chrysogorgiidae. However, systematic placement of Isidoides is still unclear, so we amend its familial placement to incertae sedis.

Chlorodiella longimana is the only crab in its subfamily, Chlorodiellinae, presently known from the Altantic Ocean; the other 46 species are restricted to coral reef areas in the Indian and Pacific oceans. We investigated the relationship of this species with the other members of its subfamily using genetics and morphology, and found that it belongs in a new genus, Ratha, described here. Our integrative approach using traditional taxonomy and molecular genetics enhances our understanding of one of the most species-rich crab families, Xanthidae.

Blister beetles (Meloidae) are an outstanding and diverse component of Australasian fauna, still virtually ignored by entomologists. This study focusses on the identification and characterisation of higher taxa occurring in the area, relating them to the worldwide blister beetle fauna. The morphological uniqueness of some groups led to the redefinition of genera and the description of new taxa, including a new tribe.

Rapid and accurate species identification in Greenideinae is urgently needed for the integrated management of pest aphids. In this research, we tested the efficiency of DNA barcoding in this subfamily and found that it is a useful method for identifying species and resolving taxonomy problems. This result showed that DNA barcoding will be another species identification technique besides the morphological method in Greenideinae.

Isolated Pacific islands have been colonised by few ancestors, resulting in biotas lacking most groups that inhabit adjacent continents. We describe the first Bembidion beetle from Tahiti, adding another group to Tahiti’s native biota. Using DNA sequence data we show that the new species’ closest relative is Australian, supporting a generalised pattern of over-water dispersal to Pacific islands by Australian ancestors.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that South America is the centre of diversity of the rare parasitoid wasp family Orussidae. Three new species are described and placed in a phylogenetic context, leading to the placement in synonymy of the genus Stirocorsia. The phylogenetic analyses corroborates that the large ophrynopine subclade radiated in the Cenozoic in the Australasian-Oceanian and the Neotropic regions.