In the Canadian Maritimes, many beekeepers rent honey bee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Apidae), hives to growers of lowbush blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium (Ericaceae), for pollination services. Anecdotally, hives have less vigour following pollination, potentially due to higher Nosema spp. (Nosematidae) spore loads, the microsporidian causing nosemosis. We undertook a study to determine whether sending honey bee hives to lowbush blueberry fields for pollination (blueberry hives) results in higher Nosema spp. spore loads relative to hives remaining in apiaries (home hives). Nosema spp. spore loads were quantified using light microscopy. Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae were differentiated using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. Nosema spp. spore loads were greatest in April and May and declined to low levels from June to September. Ninety-eight per cent of Nosema detections were positive for N. ceranae. In April, blueberry hives had a lower spore load than home hives did; however, in June, spore loads were significantly higher in blueberry hives. No other differences in Nosema spp. spore loads were observed between hive types. We conclude that Nosema ceranae is the dominant Nosema species in the Canadian Maritimes and that using hives for lowbush blueberry pollination does not appear to influence long-term Nosema spp. spore loads.

Vitellogenins are the major yolk protein precursors found throughout the animal kingdom. In insects, the primary structures of vitellogenins have been determined in species from most major orders, except for Orthoptera, where only partial sequences have been reported. We amplified and sequenced the complete complementary DNA for two vitellogenins from the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria (Orthoptera: Acrididae), which code for vitellogenin A and vitellogenin B, two proteins of approximately 200 kDa each. Both proteins are highly expressed at similar rates in adult females only, and their expression can be completely abolished by RNA interference–mediated silencing of the juvenile hormone receptor, methoprene-tolerant (Met). Homologous sequences were inferred from the genome of Locusta migratoria (Orthoptera: Acrididae), yielding complete coding sequences considerably larger than previously published. Vitellogenin A and vitellogenin B from S. gregaria are highly similar to their respective homologues from L. migratoria but show relatively low similarity between each other, suggesting that these genes originated from a common ancestor long before these species diverged.

The distribution and diversity of fauna of remote regions, including much of the boreal forest, are incompletely known. We took part in extensive biodiversity surveys in the Far North of Ontario (north of 51° N), Canada from 2009 to 2015. In the family Carabidae Latreille (Coleoptera), we report new records and range extensions for 600 specimens representing 99 species. We documented the first record for Canada of one species, the first records for Ontario of 11 species, and range extensions (> 100 km from the known range) for 70 species. The range extensions were largely in a northwards direction, with a median distance of 650 km and a positive skew in the distribution of these distances. These new records fill an important gap in knowledge of the distribution of this family.

Wrangel Island, Russia, because of its geographic position, harsh climate, yet surprising biodiversity, has been geobotanically studied and divided into various subzones. The distributions of the three species of the subgenus Tipula (Arctotipula) (Diptera: Tipulidae) that have been collected on Wrangel Island are related to these subzones. The predominantly Nearctic species, T. (A.) besselsoides Alexander, 1919, is newly recorded for Russia as well as on this island, where it was found to be the most widespread of the three species. The Holarctic species, T. (A.) salicetorum Siebke, 1870, is rarer, being found mostly in the climatically harsh northern and eastern areas of the island. The third species, T. (A.) oklandi Alexander, 1922, which was thought to have been more widespread formerly, is here confirmed only for Russia. It was collected in the warmest part of the island, and the female is illustrated for the first time. An illustrated key to both male and female adults is presented. Distribution maps are provided for all species, and the data on the distribution of oklandi have been adjusted.

The identification of volatile pheromones attractive to and produced by many species within the family Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) has spurred development of synthetic pheromone lures that can be used to assess cerambycid populations and to monitor for invasive and rare species. We applied this method of trapping to examine cerambycid attraction to pheromone compounds and to initiate an analysis of the cerambycid communities within western Idaho, United States of America. A total of 8195 cerambycids, representing 67 species, 17 tribes, and 42 genera within six subfamilies of the Cerambycidae, were captured. Thirteen volatile pheromone lures were tested over three years, and a significant treatment effect was detected for nine cerambycid species. No significant differences were found among sites for species richness, diversity, or evenness. No significant differences were found among lures for species richness or diversity, but a significant difference was detected among lures for species evenness. We propose a method for designing a multicomponent lure, based on data from the target region, to maximise the number of species captured and to target specific cerambycid species within a targeted region.

The emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), is a serious pest of ash (Fraxinus spp.) (Oleaceae) in North America. Control of emerald ash borer is difficult in natural forest settings; therefore, a classical biological control programme is the most feasible management option for this invasive, nonnative insect. Here, we report the first Canadian release and establishment of parasitoids Tetrastichus planipennisi Yang (Hymeoptera: Eulophinae), Oobius agrili Zhang and Huang (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), and Spathius galinae Belokobylskij and Strazanac (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in natural forests in Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick, Canada for the control of emerald ash borer. Releases of T. planipennisi were made from 2013 to 2019, O. agrili from 2015 to 2019, and S. galinae from 2017 to 2019. Trees from release sites were destructively sampled to rear out adult emerald ash borers and parasitoids 1–3 years after parasitoid release. Recoveries of T. planipennisi were made at 81% of release sites (13 of 16) 1–2 years after release, and O. agili were recovered from 29% of release sites (4 of 14) 1–3 years after release. Spathius galinae was not recovered. These data provide important information for the development and deployment of a successful biological control programme for the management of emerald ash borer in Canada.

The pea leaf weevil, Sitona lineatus Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is an invasive pest of field pea, Pisum sativum Linnaeus, and faba bean, Vicia faba Linnaeus (Fabaceae). Larvae feed on leguminous root nodules and associated Rhizobium leguminosarum Frank (Rhizobiacea) nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Larval feeding causes economic damage, but the current method to assess nodule damage is laborious. Leghaemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying molecule in root nodules, is degraded as larvae feed. Measurement of leghaemoglobin could be an alternative method to estimate larval damage. Here, we developed a fluorometric assay to measure the variation in haem fluorescence, which relates to leghaemoglobin content, from nodulated roots. Roots were collected from caged faba bean plants with or without weevil infestation. Faba bean yield and haem fluorescence were inversely correlated with the percent damaged nodules. A plant growth score was positively correlated with haem fluorescence. This method can be used to assess nodule damage in pulse crops from pea leaf weevil and potentially from other biotic stresses, and it may have wider application to studies of nitrogen fixation.

The Poweshiek skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek) is endemic to the tall grass prairie in North America and is now critically endangered globally. Existing populations are scattered among tall grass prairie remnants. However, the host food plants eaten by Poweshiek skipperling larvae, the vegetative and microclimatic descriptions of immature and adult microhabitats, and O. poweshiek behaviour in Manitoba are unknown. We followed Poweshiek skipperling adults in their natural habitat to locate microhabitats where eggs were laid and to observe larval foraging behaviour and development. We measured vegetative, structural, and microclimatic characteristics of microhabitats used by immatures and documented the host species larvae consumed, their general behaviour (on plants; movement within microhabitats), and their developmental schedules. Larvae ate Andropogon gerardi, Muhlenbergia richardsonis, Sporobolus heterolepis, and Schizachyrium scoparium (all Poaceae) in natural tall grass prairie. Larvae appeared to navigate microhabitats to locate host food plants, alternating between shoots of various species throughout their development. Microhabitats seemed to be more open, with drier microclimates, than areas where eggs were not laid. This improved understanding of larval feeding patterns, adult behaviours, and microhabitat attributes may help local grassland stewards and researchers reduce the list of possible causes of decline and identify potential solutions to recover the Poweshiek skipperling.

Dietary honey bee royal jelly increases insect growth rates and adult body size. Royal jelly as a dietary supplement could enhance mass insect production by increasing the body size of mass-reared model species. To determine the effect of royal jelly on a cricket species, Gryllodes sigillatus Walker (Orthoptera: Gryllidae), farmed for human consumption, we ran two experiments. We tested the dose-dependent response of G. sigillatus to royal jelly using a range of diets across 0–30% w/w royal jelly. We also measured the individual-level life history responses to royal jelly over time by individually rearing G. sigillatus nymphs on two separate diets: half were fed a commercial cricket diet, and half were fed the same diet mixed with 15% w/w fresh royal jelly. We found sex-dependent effects: females fed the royal jelly diet were 30% heavier, and this effect was driven by significantly longer abdomens containing 67% more eggs compared to those fed the standard diet. Female mass was optimised at approximately 17% w/w royal jelly. Our results reveal that although a royal jelly dietary supplement can increase the yield of mass-reared insects, the life history responses are species and sex specific.

The macadamia nut borer, Gymnandrosoma aurantianum Lima (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is the main pest of Macadamia integrifolia Maiden and Betche (Proteaceae) in Central America. We identified five compounds in female sex pheromone gland extracts, (E)-8-dodecenyl acetate, tetradecyl acetate, dodecyl acetate, (E)-8-dodecenol, and (Z)-8-dodecenyl acetate, in a ratio of 100:44.9:33.4:6.5:1.2, respectively, from Guatemalan populations of this insect. All compounds except tetradecyl acetate elicited electroantennography responses in two- to five-day-old males. In field tests, traps baited with single compounds did not capture males, except for the major component (E)-8-dodecenyl acetate. Mixtures of (E)-8-dodecenyl acetate with secondary components were active in field tests, but the number of G. aurantianum males trapped did not differ between these mixtures and (E)-8-dodecenyl acetate alone. Doses of more than 1 mg (1.5 or 2 mg) of the major component did not significantly increase capture. The gradual loss of the amount of (E)-8-dodecenyl acetate in rubber septa under field conditions indicates that septa should be renewed every four weeks. In conclusion, the addition of secondary components to the major component of the sex pheromone gland contents does not improve capture of G. aurantianum males. Our results demonstrate that 1 mg of (E)-8-dodecenyl acetate could be used as an attractant for monitoring populations of this moth.

Parasitoid body size has been used as an indicator of fitness and its capability to parasitise hosts in the field, but studies that have investigated this relationship have disagreed. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between the two most common body parts used in body size classification and tried to select groups of small and large parasitoids by discriminant analysis. We found that groups with small or large individuals differ from each other only when the two body parts were used to classify them. We conclude that using just one body part to estimate the size of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley, 1879 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) could be misleading and that caution is needed when defining small and large individuals.