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Insect research collections often include outreach drawers displaying specimens to enhance public awareness and access to scientific knowledge at various events. Despite their educational value, there is limited understanding of how these drawers are designed, used, or evaluated for quality. As a first step towards understanding these aspects, we surveyed members of the community who use insect drawers for public outreach. Survey results indicate that curators and collection managers consider outreach drawers important and use them widely at events, though they are rarely assessed beyond aesthetics and/or anecdotal audience feedback. The number and thematic scope of these drawers vary significantly among institutions, from as few as 3 to more than 50, and covering topics from collection history to pollinator conservation. However, few institutions display these collections online, limiting access to in-person events. Their maintenance and development are also often constrained by limited funding and staff availability. To guide decisions and efforts to enhance the educational impact and accessibility of outreach drawers, we introduce a quick-assessment tool based on five criteria: information, relevance, aesthetics, potential for engagement and inspiration. The next step is to apply appropriate tools to measure public engagement with these displays. 

Scientific research is often confined to academic circles, limiting public awareness of critical discoveries. This document highlights the transformative impact of science communication through an entomological exhibition accompanied by a visual infographic in a rural museum in La Tatacoa, municipality of Villavieja, Huila, Colombia. Based on an undergraduate research project on native bee diversity in the region, a collaborative initiative led to the creation of a small bee exhibition at the Tatacoa Natural History Museum. Despite initial skepticism regarding the presence of more than 110 bee species in this arid ecosystem, the exhibition effectively captured public interest. Following its publication on social media, the exhibition went viral, significantly increasing awareness of local biodiversity. The initiative also became a valuable educational tool, fostering environmental engagement among local students and inspiring conservation efforts. The subsequent renovation of the museum further enhanced public appreciation of regional biodiversity. This case study underscores the impact of accessible science communication in bridging the gap between academic research and societal awareness, demonstrating that visual and interactive formats can foster greater public engagement with conservation and biodiversity. 

Outreach insect drawers serve as valuable educational tools, showcasing insect diversity and fostering curiosity. However, these static displays often fail to bridge the emotional gap between people and insects. Here, I discuss how by incorporating live insects, namely male bumble bees and carpenter bees, into outreach events might help to reduce fear and foster empathy amongst the public. I argue that, by integrating live insects with traditional displays, we can inspire deeper connections and encourage conservation efforts, ensuring that people see insects as living organisms worth protecting, rather than just specimens behind glass. Future research questions and suggestions regarding evaluation of outreach collections are discussed. 

A new genus and species of halictine bees (Halictinae: Halictini: Mexalictina) is described and figured from a mid-elevation forest in northwestern Costa Rica.Meliamelitta vulcanusgen. and sp. n. is allied toMexalictusEickwort but differs in the structure of the labral basal elevation, the obtuse epistomal sulcus, the elongate mandibles, the pectinate inner metatibial spur, the unique pterostigma, and the sculpturing of the basal area of the propodeum, among other features. A key is appended to the genera and subgenera of Mesoamerican, Central American, and Caribbean Halictinae to facilitate the recognition of the genus. 

Taxonomic notes are presented for the exclusively cleptoparasitic halictine bee subtribe Sphecodina (Halictinae: Halictini). Keys are presented to the Western and Eastern Hemisphere genera of Sphecondina. In the New World fauna, the genusMelissocleptisGonçalves is considered a subgenus ofAustrosphecodesMicheners. l., and the following species transferred:Austrosphecodes(Melissocleptis)albifacies(Gibbs),A. (M.)capriciosus(Schrottky),A. (M.)coriae(Moure & Hurd),A. (M.)diablotinus(Gibbs),A. (M.)genaroi(Engel),A. (M.)nigritus(Ashmead),A. (M.)tainoi(Engel),A. (M.)variabilis(Schrottky) comb. n. A key is provided to the subgenera ofMicrosphecodesEickwort & Stages. l., withTrichosphecodessubgen. n., established for those species with elongate ocular setae. Keys are also presented for the species ofMicrosphecodes s. str. andTrichosphecodes, along with the descriptions of the speciesMicrosphecodes(Microsphecodes)eickwortisp. n.,M. (M.)multirugosussp. n.,M. (M.)quechuasp. n., andM. (Trichosphecodes)trichophthalmussp. n. The Brazilian speciesNesosphecodes depressusGonçalves is transferred toNotoclopsgen. n., resulting in the new combinationNotoclops depressus(Gonçalves) comb. n. A key is presented to New World subgenera ofSphecodesLatreille, with the following new or resurrected groups:ProteranerRobertson,DrepaniumRobertson,SphecodiumRobertson,Asphecodiumsubgen. n., andBoreosphecodessubgen. n. The following new species are described among New WorldSphecodes:Sphecodes(Asphecodium)brevisulcatussp. n.,S. (Sphecodium)eustaurossp. n.,S. (S.)electrumsp. n.,S. (Sphecodes)zacatuchesp. n. The genusCaenosphecodesgen. n. is proposed forSphecodes pseudoredivivusAstafurova & Proshchalykin andS. redivivusBlüthgen, differing fromSphecodesby the elongate free part of the marginal cell, in this respect resembling New WorldMicrosphecodes. This results in the combinationsCaenosphecodes pseudoredivivus(Astafurova & Proshchalykin),C.sauteri(Meyer),C. simlaensis(Blüthgen), andC. redivivus(Blüthgen) comb. n. The currently employed characters for subgenera ofEupetersiaBlüthgens. l. fail to distinguish the groups. Accordingly, the key to subgenera is revised and the species newly organized as to subgenera.Cephalosphecodessubgen. n. is established forEupetersia macrocephalaPauly andE.mandibulataBlüthgen,Xanthocleptissubgen. n. is proposed forE.reticulata(Benoist), andPollinicleptissubgen. n. is erected forE.nathaniBaker,E.malayensis(Blüthgen),E.sabahensisPauly, andE.singaporensisPauly. A new species ofNesoeupetersia,E. dnopherasp. n., is described from Sabah, Malaysia and a tentative key provided to species of the subgenus.ThrausmusBuysson andCallosphecodesFriese are treated as independent genera, and the latter considered close toMelittocleptesgen. n., withMelittocleptes insularis(Smith) comb. n. as type species. A key is presented to Old World subgenera ofSphecodes, with the following new or resurrected groups:Proteraneropsissubgen. n.,Paradrepaniumsubgen. n.,Eusphecodessubgen. n.,SabulicolaVerhoeff,Caenocleptessubgen. n.,Xystoclopssubgen. n.,Callocleptessubgen. n., andNomiocleptessubgen. n. 

Two new subgenera are established for enigmatic species of African small carpenter bees, genusCeratinaLatreille (Xylocopinae: Ceratinini).Ceratina foveiferaStrand is most similar toCopoceratinaTerzo & Pauly but differs in integumental coloration and sculpturing and absence of supraclypeal ridges, and is here classified inXestoceratinasubgen. n.Ceratina labrosaFriese is similar toCeratinas. str. andEuceratinaHirashima, Moure, & Daly but differs by the structure of the metasomal terga and male genitalia, and is placed inAlloceratinasubgen. n. 

A system of subgenera is newly proposed for the diverse cuckoo bee genusTriepeolusRobertson (Epeolini: Thalestriina).Eurepeolussubgen. n. is proposed forTriepeolus tristis(Smith) andT.ventralis(Meade-Waldo), together spanning the Palaearctic, whileMesepeolussubgen. n. is established forT.epeolurusRightmyer for a distinctiveEpeolus-like group found in Mesoamerica. 

A new Palearctic species of the cleptoparasitic bee genusDioxysLepeletier & Audinet-Serville (Megachilinae: Dioxyini) is described and figured from southern Spain.Dioxys falsificussp. n. is most similar toD.pumilusGerstäcker, a species that occupies areas more easterly around the Mediterranean (at least from Sardinia eastward and potentially in eastern Morocco eastward). It is possible that historical records ofD.pumilusfrom southern Spain apply toD.falsificus. A revised key is provided to the genera of Dioxyini, and the South AfricanDioxoides alataMichener is transferred toNotodioxytesgen.n.