This paper documents what we consider to be expanding distributions in three genera of Platygastroidea: Platyscelio Kieffer (Scelionidae), Aphanomerus Perkins (Platygastridae) and Tetrabaeus Kieffer (Platygastridae). Platyscelio africanus Risbec is the first record of Platyscelio in the Western Hemisphere (French Guiana). Aphanomerus is a new record for the continental Nearctic region (USA, Los Angeles) and Tetrabaeus is a new record for the Palaearctic (Ukraine, Georgia, and South Korea) and Sino-Japanese (Japan) regions. Tetrabaeus also expands its known distribution in the Nearctic (Canada and Mexico).        Scanning electron micrographs and brightfield images are provided to enhance knowledge of the morphology of these genera, and to make them more easily recognized in the future. Tetrabaeus americanus (Brues, 1909) and Aphanomerus rufescens Perkins, 1905 are redescribed.

Hierodula tenuidentata is reported for the first time in Romania, from several places, with strong evidence on the existence of stable populations in this country. Preliminary data regarding the ecology of the species and its relations with indigenous fauna are presented, as well as differences between this species and its closest congeners from Romania and Europe.

The extraordinary fossil sites of Vlădiceni (Iaşi, Romania) recently discovered, with lithostratigraphy of Middle Miocene age, have uncovered a rich fauna especially of fishes, molluscs, amphipods and insects. This includes also the first fossil specimen of family Cantharidae from both this geological formation and from Romania: Malthodes (Malthodes) vladiceniensis sp. nov., which is illustrated and described and compared with living and fossil species of the genus.

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Neoclytus acuminatus is an alien longhorn beetle native to North America and currently established in Europe where it has a relatively wide distribution. Herein, its distribution in Romania is summarized based on new data accumulated since its first record fifteen years ago. Some aspects on its biology and morphology are discussed.