Two soil sampling techniques were used over a 2 year period to examine the distribution of carabid beetles in a pest management apple orchard in southern Ontario. Soil coring was the most suitable technique for investigating temporal and vertical distribution patterns. Horizontal distribution of individual carabid species was best examined by sampling the rhizosphere of the cover crop only. Comparison of the soil sampling results with those obtained from pitfall traps showed that in late summer carabid larvae are subterranean in habit, as are adults of Bradycellus rupestris Say and Amara spp. Carabid density was highest (289.1 m−2) in late summer and fall, and lowest in late winter. In most samples carabid density was greatest in the rhizosphere of the cover crop and decreased rapidly with increasing depth: few beetles were found at depths greater than 30 cm. In August, densities of the commonest adult carabids were greatest close to trees in the orchard and decreased with increasing distance from trees. The distribution of carabid larvae was not related to distance from the tree, but densities of larvae were higher to the south of trees, and lower to the north.

Mesopolobus finlaysoni sp. n. and M. longicaudae sp. n. (Peteromalinae) are described from the Vancouver district, British Columbia. Relationships with allied species and some biological data are given.

Keys are provided to the five genera and 12 species of Philaenini in North America. Philaenus (Stål) is redefined to include only two species, one of which, spumarius L., 1758 (= rubra Capanni, 1894, = aurata Capanni, 1894, new synonymies) is represented in North America by three introduced subspecies: quadrimaculatus (Sch.) in eastern and western continental America, spumarius s.s. in Newfoundland, and tesselatus (Mel.) from one locality in southern Ontario. Philaenus parallels Stearns is removed to Paraphilaenus Vilb. as its sole Nearctic representative (new combination) and Philaenus lineatus (L.) belongs to the distinctive genus Neophilaenus Hpt. Philaronia Ball is represented in North America by five species: abjecta (Uhl.), canadensis (Wal.), fuscovaria (Stål) new combination, pauca n. sp. and superba n. sp. Philaenarcys new genus includes three species: bilineata (Say), 1831, new combination (= Ptyelus basivitta Wlk., 1851, new synonymy), killa n. sp., and spartina n. sp.

The functional response of the predacious mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot to increases in the prey density of adult female Tetranychus urticae Koch was examined. Previous studies on artificial substrates have described the functional response curve of P. persimilis to adult female prey as dome-shaped, because as prey density increased the predator was disturbed by prey activity.

An experiment to determine the effect of artificial and natural substrates on the activity level of T. urticae was conducted. T. urticae showed a significant increase in activity on artificial substrates of plastic and waterproof paper compared with a substrate of excised bean leaf (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Since prey activity was significantly influenced by substrate, the functional response of P. persimilis to adult female T. urticae was re-examined. P. persimilis exposed to various densities of T. urticae on excised bean leaf disks (5 cm2) showed a functional response curve having a curvilinear rise to a plateau as prey densities increased from 0.2 to 10.0 prey/cm2.

The functional response curve predicted by Holling’s disk equation did not differ significantly from the observed functional response curve.

The rate of successful search and the handling time predicted by the disk equation were 0.194 and 10.34 h respectively.

The length of mature, fusiform plasmatocytes is a suitable character for distinguishing between last instar larvae of the closely related species Euxoa annir (Streck) and E. lutulenta (Smith). This is a consistent character for a number of Euxoa species, but unreliable in E. altera (McD) where it changed in constant fashion during this stage. The relationship between plasmatocyte length and the duration of aestivation was also examined and showed no clear correlation.

A visible mutation with salmon-colored eyes was found in our colony of Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood. The trait, designated salmon (sal), is a recessive controlled by an X-chromosome locus which is at least 36 map units from ocra. Adults emerged from less than 20% of the puparia obtained by mating females homozygous for salmon with the hemizygous salmon males; these flies have very pale eyes and die at an early age. The mutant is genetically rescuable since females homozygous for salmon mated with wild-type males produced the normal number of phenotypically wild-type female offspring and about 32% of the expected number of male offspring; the males have very pale eyes.

The mortality factors for three species of Pleroneura were identified for the egg, larval, and adult stages. Allophroides n.sp. and Scambus transgressus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) were observed parasitizing the larval stages and four spiders were found preying on Pleroneura adults. Quantitative assessments of mortality in the egg and larval stages were made and tabulated in the form of a partial life table. Allophroides n. sp. was the dominant mortality factor in the larval stage. Mortality of unknown cause also was a substantial mortality factor.

Eggs from a laboratory colony that had been in colonization for 34 generations at 25° ± 2 °C and 60% ± 10% R.H. were planted on thinning apples and held at temperatures ranging from 19.4 °C at night to 33.3 °C during the day. Humidity fluctuated freely with temperature changes. Then equal numbers of adults from the 1st generation of the fluctuating temperature colony and of adults from the 35th generation of the constant temperature colony were released. In a second series of tests, equal numbers of gamma irradiated (25 kr gamma irradiated) and unirradiated adults from the 2nd and 3rd generations of the fluctuating temperature colony and irradiated (25 kr) and unirradiated adults from the 36th and 37th generations of the constant temperature colony were released There were no statistical differences in recaptures of the 1st generation of the fluctuating temperature colony and the 35th generation of the constant temperature colony. Recaptures of the 2nd and 3rd generations of the fluctuating temperature colony were significantly greater than recaptures of the 36th and 37th generations of the constant temperature colony.

The toxicities of acephate, aminocarb, carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifos-methyl, methomyl, mexacarbate, permethrin, and trichlorfon to last instar western spruce budworm, Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman, were significantly altered by the presence of host-plant foliage. The pyrethroid permethrin was significantly more toxic when sprayed directly on fully exposed larvae than when first sprayed on foliage. However, all other toxicants were more toxic sprayed on foliage. A toxicologically-based method was used to assess the residual toxicities of the nine chemicals. Each chemical was applied to potted seedlings at its respective LD90-foliage, then weathered for up to 7 days. Significant differences in toxicity were related to both insecticide and weathering interval. The toxicities of carbaryl and permethrin were least affected by weathering.

Sex attractant traps for males of the clover cutworm, Scotogramma trifolii (Rottenberg), on farms in southern Alberta caught more moths within crops or on fallow than those near or within the farmyards except for traps immediately on the south side of the yard For males of the army cutworm, Euxoa auxiliaris (Grote), two trap placements in open areas were more effective than locations within the farmyard, again with the exception of the traps on the south side of the yards. Traps 2 m high caught significantly fewer moths than those at 1 m or ground level and the crop in which the trap was placed had no significant influence on catch of either cutworm.

The spermatophores in mated female European corn borers, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), were shown to lose volume (depletion), change colour, and retract their spiral stalks over a period of about 7 days in such a way that postmating age could be estimated from their appearance. Colour changes and stalk retraction occurred more slowly in females that laid fertile eggs than in those that did not, but depletion occurred at the same rate. The average postmating age was estimated as 5.2, 6.3, 3.9, and 2.6 days for small light trap catches of first generation females in 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1977 and 4.4, 3.9, and 3.2 days for larger catches of second generation females in 1974, 1975, and 1977. Catches did not show decreasing numbers in successive age groups but tended to show modal values at < 1 day and at 4–6 days with only 1% living > 7 days. Redistribution of the moths from the date of capture back to the date of mating tended to give a unimodal curve of numbers on time in the 1975 second generation but not in 1974 or 1977. The unimodal curve of redistributed moths in 1975 was significantly different from a normal distribution. The redistribution showed that 58% of the moths mated within the heat unit interval when the second generation was expected to emerge, whereas only 38% of the actual catches occurred in this interval. Redistribution also showed that mating probably occurred even on cold nights when few moths were trapped, and conversely that on some warm nights with large catches most of the moths had mated on earlier nights.

The insecticide phosphamidon, both alone and mixed with other chemicals, was tested in the laboratory as a motor stimulant to female spruce budworm moths. For phosphamidon alone, the time to reaction of virgin female budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) moths was about 40 min. However, small supplements of pyrethrum or synthetic pyrethroids reduced the reaction time to about 3–8 min. The slow reaction to phosphamidon alone could account for the failure of that insecticide to kill gravid females. It is postulated that moths quickly stimulated to flight activity within the canopy would be more likely to acquire a lethal dose of insecticide before the spray cloud dissipated.

The Nearctic species, as well as several Palearctic species, of Athous Eschscholtz, Harminius Fairmaire, Hemicrepidius Germar, and Acanthathous Champion are studied and rearranged with the following new combinations: the Nearctic Hemicrepidius simplex (LeConte), H. falli (Reitter), and H. palpalis (Fall) (each from Athous); the Palearctic Hemicrepidius hirtus (Herbst) and H. niger (Linnaeus) (each from Athous); Hemicrepidius dauricus (Mannerheim) and H. flavipennis (Cherepanov) (each from Harminius); Hemicrepidius inornatus (Lewis) (from Yukara); and Acanthathous photinoides (Champion), A. campanulatus (Champion), A. mexicanus (Candèze), A. aequinoctialis (Champion), A. marcidus (Champion), A. aztecus (Champion), A. rugipennis (Champion), A. angusticollis (Champion), A. carinicollis (Champion), and A. championi (Schwarz) (each from Athous). Hemicrepidius hirtus (Candèze) (nee hirtus Herbst) is renamed californicus, new name, and the name H. hemipodus (Say) is recognized rather than decoloratus (Say). Pertinent generic characters are illustrated and brief notes are given for each of the above species (except those in Acanthathous) and for Harminius (Diacanthous) triundulatus (Mannerheim), H. (D.) undulatus (DeGeer), and Hemicrepidius pallidipennis (Mannerheim). Renter’s two subgenera of Harminius: Diacanthous and Megathous are recognized. A key to the genera associated with Athous and to the subgenera of Harminius is provided.

The corixid Trichocorixa verticalis (Fieber) was the most abundant aquatic insect in small intertidal pools (potholes) of a New Jersey salt marsh. Aquatic samples revealed that first to third instars of T. verticalis were evenly distributed but the distribution of fourth and fifth instars was associated with the abundance of chironomid larvae. Aquatic samples of adult T. verticalis showed wide fluctuations in abundance. These fluctuations were associated with the drying up of shallower potholes, forcing adults to migrate to deeper sites that still retained water.

Light trapping of adult T. verticalis showed that there was a negative correlation between abundance and nocturnal ambient air temperature. This correlation indicated that T. verticalis dispersed on cooler nights to minimize water loss that would have been high had they emerged from warm pothole water temperatures into warm ambient air temperature. Spatial heterogeneity in the abundance of T. verticalis in light-trap samples was associated with differences between plots in water-surface area within a 100 m radius of the light trap. Dispersive behavior of T. verticalis is discussed in relation to harsh, ephemeral, and unpredictable salt-marsh aquatic habitats.

Larvae of both Aedes triseriatus (Say) and Aedes atropalpus (Coquillett) produce oviposition attractants active for A. triseriatus, even when the larvae are pretreated with kaolin. These experiments demonstrate that the earlier observed attractancy of larval holding waters was not simply due to the presence of waste matter or associated microorganisms from the larval gut. It is further shown that the active material may be extracted directly from the larvae into hexane or ether. It is also demonstrated that the larval produced oviposition attractants of these species are similar in their ability to attract gravid females of A. triseriatus.

The radiosensitivity of Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) to 60Co radiation was determined at doses of 5 to 100 krad. P. truncatus was more radiosensitive than T. castaneum at 5, 15, and 25 krad (P < 0.05) at 8 and 16 days after irradiation but after 24 days all individuals irradiated at 15 and 25 krad were dead. At 50 or 100 krad all individuals of both species died in 16 or 12 days, respectively. Dose rates of 1.07 to 12.84 krad/min for a total delivered dose of 25 krad had no effect on the speed of lethal response. The results indicate that on economic grounds alone, it may not be justified to use 50 or 100 krad to accelerate the onset of death by 8 or 12 days, respectively.

Eggs of Hexagenia rigida McDunnough transferred directly from 20° to 36°, 32°, 28°, 24°, 20°, 16°, 12°, and 8 °C were monitored for start of hatch, hatching rate, success of hatch, and hatching period. Eggs did not hatch at 36 °C or 8 °C. There was a direct relationship between temperature and start of hatch (from day 7 at 32 °C to day 77 at 12 °C). Over 90% hatch occurred at all temperatures except 12 °C. Hatching periods ranged from about 6 days at the higher temperatures to over 80 days at 16 °C and 12 °C. Hatching occurred at 36 °C when eggs were transferred in increments of 4 °C every 2 days.Storage capabilities of eggs in "early", "middle", and "late" stages of embryonic development were tested at 12 °C and 8 °C using a direct or stepwise transfer method. Hatching parameters monitored were hatch rate, success of hatch, and hatching period up to 90% hatch of total number of eggs. Middle stage eggs transferred in a stepwise manner could be held at 8 °C for up to 52 weeks with least effect on hatching parameters. Middle and late stage eggs could be stored for up to 16 weeks at 8 °C using the direct transfer method, and early stage eggs, which were affected most by cold storage, could be held for 2 days at 12 °C with minimal effect on hatching parameters. The storage of eggs, shown here to be possible, is potentially useful for providing such material for bioassays throughout the year.

Twenty species of black flies are now recorded from the Maritime Provinces of Canada. These include five species of Prosimulium, two species of Cnephia, and 13 species of Simulium. With the exception of S. vernum Meigen, all species have been previously recorded from maritime Canada. The known biology of these black flies is summarized and includes information on overwintering stages, larval and pupal habitats, adult emergence and feeding habits, and seasonal occurrence and abundance.

Twelve holotypes of Neotropical Sarcophagidae described by C. H. T. Townsend are redescribed. Discomyiophora aurata Townsend and Sisasarcophaga metallica Townsend are transferred to the genus Notochaeta. Notochaeta aldrichi Lopes is a new junior synonym of aurata Tnsd. Chlorosarcophaga cochliomyia Townsend is a new senior synonym of Robineauella calliphorina Enderlein.

All four major southern pines can be killed by the southern pine beetle, but loblolly and shortleaf are much more susceptible than longleaf and slash. Oleoresin from more than 50 trees of each species was tested for composition and amount of monoterpenes and resin acids, viscosity, flow (rate, duration, and amount), and rate of crystallization. Discriminant function analyses were used to classify the loblolly and shortleaf trees as to probable resistance. The best classification used physical properties (total flow, flow rate, viscosity, time to crystallization). Supposedly resistant and susceptible trees were subjected to controlled attack, and the chemical and physical properties of four loblolly pines that survived natural attack were measured. Resistance is strongly related to the physical properties of the oleoresin, and can be predicted by these properties. Loblolly and shortleaf trees with “average” properties usually succumb to 100 or more attacks per sq. m of bark surface. Several trees classified as resistant survived a much higher rate of attack.