Conceptual and nomenclatural problems of Digamasellus Berlese, 1905 and Dendrolaelaps Halbert, 1915 are reviewed. It is shown that Digamasellus punctum (Berlese, 1904) is conspecific with D. perpusillus Berlese, 1905, the type-species of Digamasellus Berlese, 1905 (new synonymy). Hence, the genus in which punctum is included must take the name Digamasellus.A new case is made for recognizing Digamasellus and Dendrolaelaps as distinct genera in the Digamasellidae. Two other genera of Digamasellidae are recognized, Dendroseius Karg, 1965 and a broadened concept of Longoseius Chant, 1961. Two new subgenera are proposed, Dendrolaelaspis in the genus Dendrolaelaps, and Longoseiulus in the genus Longoseius. Diagnoses, descriptions, and a key to these genera and subgenera of Digamasellidae, along with a comprehensive description of the family, are presented. The phylogenetic relationship of the Digamasellidae in the Rhodacaroidea, and some thoughts on phylogeny within the Digamasellidae are given.A second species of Digamasellus sensu stricto, D. australis, is described as new, and the female and male adults of the type-species of Longoseius, L. (L.) cuniculus Chant, are described for the first time. New combinations include: Dendrolaelaps (Dendrolaelaspis) orientalis (Bhattacharyya), Longoseius (Longoseiulus) longulus (Hirschmann), L. (L.) ornatus (Hirschmann), L. (L.) aberrans (Hirschmann), and L. (L.) brachypoda (Hurlbutt).The absence of the protonymphal seta, md, from the telotarsi of legs II to IV is noted as a singular deficiency in the leg setation of Longoseius cuniculus Chant. This seta is not known to be absent in any other species among the families of Gamasina.A paper published by Hirschmann while the present work was in press is considered in an addendum to this paper. The subgeneric name Dendrolaelaps (Tridendrolaelaps) Hirschmann, 1974 is an objective junior synonym of Digamasellus Berlese, 1905, and the latter also has priority over Dendrolaelaps Halbert, 1915 so long as both names are applied within the same genus. A lectotype is designated for the nominal species Digamasellus punctum (Berlese). The status of the subgenus Dendrolaelaps (Multidendrolaelaps) Hirschmann, 1974 is problematic, pending a more comprehensive diagnosis providing data sufficient to indicate whether this is a monophyletic group. The quadrisetus group is newly proposed for some of the species placed by Hirschmann in the armatus group of Multidendrolaelaps. Digamasellus badenhorsti (Ryke) is tentatively considered as the second known species of Dendroseius Karg. Hirschmann's opinion, that Longoseius Chant warrants no more than a species-group in Dendrolaelaps, is disputed.

Three allopatric species are recognized in the North American genus Tegrodera LeConte. Speciation was probably a relatively recent event in this genus as all species are closely related, and separable by minor but consistent differences of adult anatomy. The most distinctive species, T. aloga Skinner, ranges throughout much of the Sonoran Desert in western Arizona and northwestern Sonora. T. erosa LeConte, a species occurring in southern California and Baja California, is separated geographically from T. aloga by the arid Colorado Desert. T. erosa consists of two distinct subspecies, the nominate form occurring in southern California, and T. e. inornata Blaisdell distributed throughout much of Baja California. T. latecincta Horn, a species found in the Owens and Antelope valleys of California, is the closest relative of T. erosa. It is separated from the latter by the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains, and from T. aloga by the vast Mojave Desert. The species of Tegrodera are each associated with different plant communities, though the genus Eriastrum seems to be an important food source for all adults. The taxonomic analysis presented herein includes the study of both intra- and interspecific variation. The first instar larva of T. aloga and T. e. erosa are compared, and notes on seasonal distribution, habitat, and non-sexual behavior are included.

Adult carabid beetles of the species Harpalus pensylvanicus (DeGeer) and Pterostichus melanarius (Illiger) were collected from a cultivated field near London, Ont., and brought into the laboratory for observation and mass culture in terraria; the culture method is described. Both species oviposited successfully in the laboratory; P. melanarius produced as many as 134 eggs/female over a 6-month period, whereas H. pensylvanicus deposited only about 10 eggs/female under similar conditions. However, percentage emergence in Harpalus was substantially higher (62.6) than with Pterostichus (36.8 and 45.7). Large numbers of first- and second-instar P. melanarius larvae may be obtained by using the rearing method described. The low oviposition rate of H. pensylvanicus made large-scale rearing of this species difficult.

Observations are made on the mating behaviour and adult parasitization by horsehair worms (Nematomorpha) of Pterostichus.

Unfed forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria Hbn.) larvae were subjected to temperature treatments of −18°, −12°, −7°, −1°, 4°, and 22 °C, each at durations of 2 days, 7 days, and 14 days. Each temperature–duration treatment was initiated 3 days before expected hatch, and 3 days after hatch. Fed larvae were subjected to identical treatments 2 days after hatch. Temperature treatments of the before hatch group resulted in appreciable mortality only at −18 °C for 7 days and at −18 °C and −12 °C for 14 days. Temperature treatments of the after hatch group resulted in nearly 100% mortality at −18 °C for all durations, at −12 °C for 14 days, and about 50% mortality at −7 °C for 14 days. Other temperature–duration combinations caused little mortality. The mortality resulting from temperature treatments of fed larvae did not differ from unfed larvae of the after hatch group.

Second-instar nymphs of Leptoglossus corculus (Say) confined to shortleaf pine conelets for only 4 days caused 100% conelet abortion. The bugs fed almost exlusively on the cytoplasm of cells of the nucellar tissue. Feeding in May produced an abscission zone in only a few days and resulted in conelet abscission in less than 2 weeks. Similar ovule destruction, followed by conelet abortion, occurred in late summer after being fed upon by the same instar, but conelet abscission was prevented because of a greater proportion of tracheary elements in the conelet stalks.

Two new species of Tachinus are described: T. minor from the Huachuca Mountains, Ariz., and Durango, Mexico, and T. schuhi from Oregon. Tachinus corticinus Gravenhorst, a common Palaearctic species is recorded from North America for the first time and is redescribed. A male of T. vergatus Campbell, previously unknown, is described from an Ontario specimen. The latest key to North and Central American Tachinus (Campbell 1973) is modified to include these additions. The pertinent features of each species are illustrated with line drawings or scanning electron photomicrographs.

A technique for mass rearing the carrot weevil, Listronotus oregonensis (LeConte), is described. Adults were provided with carrot roots for food and oviposition sites. Larvae developed directly in these roots. Different temperature regimens for larval rearing were tested and best results were obtained using 21 °C for the first 2 weeks of larval development and 27 °C thereafter. Photoperiod was maintained at 16 h and relative humidity at 70%. Under these conditions, 97.6% of adults emerged in 39–42 days.

The cherry scallop shell moth, Hydria prunivorata (Ferguson), is a colonial feeder on black cherry, Prunus serotina Ehrh. Pupae overwinter in the litter and adult emergence occurs from May through September. Eggs are laid on the foliage in pyramidal-shaped masses 23–26 days after adult emergence. Eggs begin to hatch 4 days following oviposition and each of the four larval stages lasts 4–6 days. There is one generation per year in New York. The egg parasite Telenomus sp. is the principal mortality factor occurring in populations that have remained at outbreak levels for 2 or more years. The life stages of H. prunivorata are described and control recommendations discussed. The peach bark beetle, Phloeotribus liminaris (Harris), may kill black cherry trees that are stressed by heavy defoliation.

Laboratory studies of large Diptera, viz. Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) and Musca domestica (L.), necessitated the development of an aspirator that would be more efficient than the conventional one and which prevents associated debris from entering the operator's lungs. A suitable device was made by attaching a portable, lightweight vacuum cleaner to the mouth piece of the aspirator (Fig. 1). The size of the collecting jar can be varied to suit the size of the sample. This apparatus, which is easy to use (Fig. 2), and does not damage the insects being collected, saves considerable time. The aspirator may be useful for collecting from an assortment of dirty habitats (Wiens and Burgess 1972) as well as other scaly-winged insects. It may be adapted for use in the field by connecting it to a portable generator.

The depressed flour beetle, Palorus subdepressus (Wollaston), was found in southern Manitoba during a survey of the insect fauna of hog barns in April 1974. This is the first record for this species in Canada. Adults and larvae were obtained from residues of coarsely ground feed on the floor of the hog pens. Dr. E. C. Becker of the Biosystematics Research Institute, Ottawa, kindly confirmed the identification of the adults and two specimens were retained for the Canadian National Collection. A culture has been established at the Research Station, Winnipeg.

The subgenus Hagenomyia, of the genus Simulium, was erected by Shewell (1959) for Simulium pictipes Hagen, 1880, and S. longistylatum Shewell, 1959. Unfortunately, Hagenomyia Shewell is a junior homonym of Hagenomyia Banks (1911, p. 8) created for H. tristis (Hagen), an African myrmeleontid (Neuroptera). This matter was drawn to the attention of Mr. Shewell some time ago, and he has requested that I act on it.