A preliminary study was carried out on the insect fauna of Al-Baha Province, south-western part of Saudi Arabia. A total number of 582 species and subspecies (few identified only to the genus level) belonging to 129 families and representing 17 orders were recorded. Two of these species are described as new, namely: Monomorium sarawatensis Sharaf & Aldawood, sp. n. [Formicidae, Hymenoptera] and Anthrax alruqibi El-Hawagry sp. n. [Bombyliidae, Diptera]. Another eight species are recorded for the first time in Saudi Arabia, namely: Xiphoceriana arabica (Uvarov, 1922) [Pamphagidae, Orthoptera], Pyrgomorpha conica (Olivier, 1791) [Pyrgomorphidae, Orthoptera], Catopsilia florella (Fabricius, 1775) [Pieridae, Lepidoptera], Anthrax chionanthrax (Bezzi, 1926) [Bombyliidae, Diptera], Spogostylum near tripunctatum Pallas in Wiedemann, 1818 [Bombyliidae, Diptera], Cononedys dichromatopa (Bezzi, 1925) [Bombyliidae, Diptera], Mydas sp. [Mydidae, Diptera], and Hippobosca equina Linnaeus, 1758 [Hippoboscidae, Diptera]. Al-Baha Province is divided by huge and steep Rocky Mountains into two main sectors, a lowland coastal plain at the west, known as “Tihama”, and a mountainous area with an elevation of 1500 to 2450 m above sea level at the east, known as “Al-Sarat or Al-Sarah” which form a part of Al-Sarawat Mountains range. Insect species richness in the two sectors (Tihama and Al-Sarah) was compared, and the results showed that each of the two sectors of Al-Baha Province has a unique insect community. The study generally concluded that the insect faunal composition in Al-Baha Province has an Afrotropical flavor, with the Afrotropical elements predominant, and a closer affiliation to the Afrotropical region than to the Palearctic region or the Eremic zone. Consequently, we tend to agree with those biogeographers who consider that parts of the Arabian Peninsula, including Al-Baha Province, should be included in the Afrotropical region rather than in the Palaearctic region or the Eremic zone.

The Egyptian fauna of the genus Nemotelus Geoffroy was revised. We recognize 9 species (compared to 5 species recognized about 40 years ago). As a result of this revision N. matrouhensis sp. nov. is described as new. N. anchora Loew, 1846; N. candidus Becker, 1906 and N. oasis Becker, 1906 are newly recorded from the Egyptian fauna. The female of N. albifacies Becker, 1902 is described for the first time and both sexes of N. niloticus Olivier, 1811 are redescribed and illustrated for the first time. N. punctiventris Becker, 1902 is removed from synonymy with N.

The members of Coccinellidae are among the most important biological control agents being used throughout the world. The objective of this study was to provide the current scenario of this family in Saudi Arabia. Collection surveys of ladybird individuals were conducted throughout Saudi Arabia. A total of 5400 specimens of Coccinellidae were collected belonging to 51 species in 19 genera and seven tribes: Sticholotidini (2 genera / 10 species), Coccidulini (1/3), Scymnini (4/24), Diomini (1/1), Hyperaspidini (1/3), Chilocorini (3/8), Noviini (1/3), Coccinellini (8/11), Epilachnini (2/2). One genus, Clitostethus, and eight species and subspecies, Cheilomenes lunata lunata (Fabricius, 1775), Clitostethus arcuatus (Rossi, 1794), Nephus ornatulus Korschefsky, 1931, N. nigricans (Weise, 1879), Pharoscymnus fleischeri (Weise, 1883), Novius yemenensis Raimundo & Fürsch, 2006, Scymnus (Scymnus) scapuliferus Mulsant, 1850, and Stethorus endrodyi Fürsch, 1970, are reported as new records to Saudi Arabia. Two endemic species, Scymnus agrumi and S. arabicus, were recorded. This study also describes the geographical distribution for each species and the diagnostic characters for new records.

The family Tabanidae is one of the important families of superfamily Tabanoidea, having medical and veterinary importance. In Egypt, there is no strict cladistic approach on tabanid flies phylogeny yet. The 20 available Egyptian tabanids under 2 subfamilies are analyzed cladistically. Cladistic analysis is based on 91 morphological characters depending on Single linkage, UPGMA, Complete linkage clustering methods (Cophenetic correlation value). This produces a well-resolved and firmly supported phylogenetic hypothesis on the generic relationships. Based on our phylogenetic results, the revised classification of examined taxa is consistent with the conventional classification.

The Egyptian fauna of the genus Tabanus Linnaeus is reviewed. Only seventeen species are recognized instead of the previous 21. This is because six species have been removed as doubtful records, and an additional two species have been added (T. leucostomus Loew, 1858 (new record) and T. arenivagus Austen, 1920). A key to Egyptian species of Tabanus is included together with illustrations. Specimens examined and distributions are given for each species. The status of the six species doubtful to occur in Egypt is discussed.