Classical Cepheids, what else?

We present new and independent estimates of the distances to the Magellanic Clouds (MCs) using near-infrared (NIR) and optical--NIR period--Wesenheit (PW) relations. The slopes of the PW relations are, within the dispersion, linear over the entire period range and independent of metal content. The absolute zero points were fixed using Galactic Cepheids with distances based on the infrared surface-brightness method. The true distance modulus we found for the Large Magellanic Cloud---$(m-M)_0 = 18.48 \pm 0.01 \pm 0.10$ mag---and the Small Magellanic Cloud---$(m-M)_0 = 18.94 \pm 0.01 \pm 0.10$ mag---agree quite well with similar distance determinations based on robust distance indicators. We also briefly discuss the evolutionary and pulsation properties of MC Cepheids

Massive stellar systems: observational challenges and perspectives in the E-ELT era

We introduce the empirical framework concerning optical and near-infrared (NIR) photometry of crowded stellar fields. In particular, we address the impact that linear detectors and analytical PSF played in improving the accuracy and the precision of multi-band color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs). We focus our attention on recent findings based on deep NIR images collected with Adaptive Optics (AO) systems at the 8-10m class telescopes and discuss pros and cons of the different approaches. We also discuss the estimate of the absolute age of globular clusters using a well defined knee along the lower main sequence. We mention the role which the current AO-assisted instruments will have in addressing longstanding astrophysical problems of the Galactic center. Finally, we outline the role of first generation of E-ELT instruments upon photometry and spectroscopy of crowded stellar fields

A New State Record Involving Nesolathrus (Coleoptera: Mycetophagidae)

The genus Nesolathrus (Mycetophagidae) is reported as a new record for the state of Hawaii, however, the species remains undetermined, as it differs from the unique species on which the genus is based. Big Island records include specimens reared from ohia twigs, Metrosideros polymorpha, from trees killed by Ceratocystis infections (Rapid Ohia Death)

New State Records and Additions to the Alien Terrestrial Arthropod Fauna in the Hawaiian Islands

An annotated list of 393 adventive terrestrial arthropod species plus three new varieties of known established species, which have been recorded in Hawaii since the Fourth Edition of Bishop Museum’s Hawaiian Terrestrial Arthro- pod Checklist (Nishida 2002), is presented. This compilation includes records of over 362 nonnative arthropod species published between the years of 2001 and 2017 as well as over 30 new Hawaii State records that have not been previously recorded. Annotations include date first detected, island distribution, citation, relevant biological notes, and for new state and island records, the collection data. A separate table with about 150 entries lists the synonyms, misidentifications, dele- tions, and changes of status for species included in the 2002 checklist that were discovered during our research. However, the latter list is not comprehensive as a complete revision of the 2002 checklist was beyond the scope of our project. Also included is a bibliography of the approximately 270 source documents that were consulted. We intend for this publication to be a useful supplement to the 2002 edition of the Hawaiian Terrestrial Arthropod Checklist