Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 May 2012
Aphidecta obliterata (L.) is a common predator on conifer-infesting adelgids and aphids in Western Europe, including Scandinavia and the British Isles (Wylie, 1958b). The life cycle in Europe and descriptions of the various stages have been published (Weise, 1892; Portevin, 1931; Van Emden, 1949; Van Dinther, 1951; Wylie, 1958a). Beginning in 1941 several attempts have been made to introduce this species into Eastern Canada against the balsam woolly aphid, Adelges piceae (Ratz.). The initial liberations from England and Germany were apparently unsuccessful due to the inability of the insect to survive the Canadian winter conditions. Later collections were made in Sweden, Czechoslovakia, and Switzerland (Table I) from areas where the winter conditions more closely resemble those in Canada. These liberations also proved unsuccessful. The present paper brings together all available information on the liberations and related experiments olbtained during the liberation years.