The European pine shoot moth developed successfully on native lodgepole and ponderosa pines at central Oregon locations. Lodgepole and slow-growing ponderosa pine less than 6 ft in height were most susceptible to damage. Largely because of low winter temperatures, interior British Columbia, northern Washington, northeastern Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, and the Dakotas are not likely to experience Rhyacionia buoliana (Schiff.) damage. In contrast, southern Oregon and northern California pine stands are highly susceptible.

Laboratory tests were conducted to determine the susceptibility of the various larval stages of Euxoa messoria (Harris) in Ontario to four commercial preparations of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner: Thuricide® 90TS, Thuricide®-HP, Biotrol® BTB 183, and Dipel. A field test was made to determine whether these preparations could be as effective as Dursban® (O,O-diethyl O-3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl phosphorothioate) for control of this species when applied on the rye cover crop in spring.

In laboratory tests first to third instar larvae that fed on rye leaves treated with all four B. thuringiensis preparations, were found to be susceptible regardless of the rates applied. Mortality of fourth to seventh instar larvae fed treated tobacco leaves was low. Thuricide 90TS and Biotrol BTB 183 as applied in the field for control of E. messoria populations were relatively ineffective as compared with Dursban.

The fecundity of the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) at 15 °C gradually diminishes as we diminish the daily photoperiod, this being maximum at 16 hours of photoperiod (55 ± 10 on variety Lincoln and 74 ± 15 individuals per parent on pea variety Perfection).

At 15 °C sex determination seems to take place between 12 and 14 hours of photoperiod, the critical phase for the change of sex being 13 hours 17 minutes of photoperiod for A. pisum. Maximum male production (57 – 63%) takes place at a photoperiod between 13 hours 4 minutes and 13 hours 36 minutes. A maximum of 90.5% of oviparous females was produced at a photoperiod of 12 hours and 10 minutes.

Distinguishing features of male courtship behavior in Pleuropompha include the performance of all acts including genital presentation from a position completely off and behind the female (posterior position), and the occurrence of a unique non-tactual display termed antennal fanning. Non-receptive females frequently react to antennal fanning with an equally distinct rejection response. The communicant manifested through male display is unknown. Preliminary observations suggest that fanning is perceived by the female’s antennae. Vision does not appear to play a significant role.

Male courtship in Pleuropompha differs from that of any other genus of Meloidae studied. It corresponds most closely to the behavior of certain species of the nominate subgenus of Epicauta, E. puncticollis in particular. In this species a persistent posterior position also occurs and the antennae of the male are also employed in display, although in this case display is overtly tactual.

An apparatus is described for maintaining constant air and water temperatures independently for weekly periods, and for photographically recording the nocturnal behaviour of aquatic insects at emergerce using automatic equipment.

Emergence from the water of Anax junius Drury normally occurred after sunset. The onset was affected independently by water temperature and air temperature; low water temperature and high air temperature delayed the onset of emergence. In the field, the net vrtical distance travelled above the water, before ecdysis, was positively correlated with air temperature. In the laboratory, the vertical distance travelled above the water was greatest when air and water temperatures were approximately the same. The average speed of climbing to the first resting position above the water surface was faster at high than low water temperature, but the average speed of climbing from there to the final position, where ecdysis occurred, was reduced due to the effects of air temperature and humidity. Air temperatures below 12.6 °C were found to retard ecdysis and larvae returned to the water and emerged early the following day making the final process of emergence and ecdysis diurnal instead of nocturnal. The duration of ecdysis was shorter at high than low air temperatures and only the first three stages, as arbitrarily defined, were longer at low than high relative humidity; stage 4, shortened with low relative humidity. This study shows that A. Junius, emerging from the water is affected at first by the temperature experienced when submerged, but it becomes gradually and cumulatively affected by air temperature and humidity while climbing to the ecdysial position and moulting.

Parasitism by Pollenia rudis (Fabr.) larvae on earthworms in the field was found only in Allolobophora chlorotica (Sav.) and Eisenia rosea (Sav.). Other species of worms were infected in the laboratory. Slime and coelomic fluid, from all species of worms tested, induced penetration behaviour. Penetration occurs mainly on the dorsal surface of the worm, and less frequently towards either end. Larvae repenetrated after leaving the original penetration site. Autonomy by the host of the parasitized segments was observed in E. rosea. Possible reasons for the restricted natural host range are discussed.

Diagnostic characters of Antispila nyssaefoliella Clemens and A. cornifoliella Clemens are discussed. Antispila freemani is described as a new species. Adults and male genitalia are illustrated for these three species.

Twenty new parasite–host records for 16 North American species of Ichneumonidae are given. Hosts were collected in southeastern and interior Alaska.

The behaviour of individual adult female European red mites was observed on peach leaf discs sprayed with different numbers of 200 micron droplets of nigrosine dye solution, nigrosine plus Carzol miticide, and nigrosine plus dicofol. On nigrosine and Carzol deposits, the relationship between the number of contacts and the number of stains was linear, but the addition of Carzol reduced the slope of the line. Tests of stains containing dicofol were intermediate to those of nigrosine and Carzol.

Dr. E. L. Todd of the Systematic Entomology Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, recently forwarded to me four specimens of a new species of Schinia collected by J. Baker on Steens Mt., Oregon. The new species superficially resembles S. aurantiaca (Hy. Edwards) in external appearance, but it is quite distinct on the basis of genitalic characters.

At a constant temperature of 1 °C, survival of diapausing second-instar larvae of C. fumiferana (Clem.) for any given period is, to a large extent, determined by pre-storage treatment. At a pre-storage temperature of 20 °C larval survival was 80% or higher following storage periods ranging from 169 to 290 days. Survival of larvae pre-stored at 24 °C was never as high as at 20 °C, and the survival began to decrease after 225 days storage. At 28 °C this decrease had occurred before 169 days of storage. Larvae held at high pre-storage temperatures had almost normal survival when the pre-storage period was shorter. Mean time for larvae to emerge from diapause was increased by longer diapause periods and by high pre-storage temperatures. There was a corresponding decrease in larval vigour.

A device designed to measure amount of pesticide solutions consumed by three species of bees (Megachile rotundata (F.), alfalfa leafcutting bee; Nomia melanderi Cockerell, alkali bee; and Apis mellifera L, honey bee) is described in detail. Isolated bees fed freely from capillary tubes filled with known mixtures of pesticides and honey solutions. The change in volume of solution was used in determining the exact amount of pesticide consumed by each individual.

The species of the genus Tachinomorphus (Staphylinidae: Tachyporinae) of North and Central America are revised. Five species are recognized as valid. Two species are described as new: arizonensis from the Huachuca and Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona and Durango in Mexico and sharpi from Texas and northern Mexico. Tachinomorphus remotus (Sharp) is placed in synonymy with grossulus (Leconte). Lectotypes are designated for grossulus (Leconte), remotus (Sharp), and major (Sharp). The distribution of each species is mapped and all major diagnostic characters illustrated either with line drawings or scanning electron photomicrographs. The habitat, if known, is discussed for each species. A key is included as an aid to distinguishing the species.

Black-horned tree crickets (Oecanthus nigricornis F. Walker) were reared from rows of eggs laid in the twigs of recently planted peach trees in Essex County, Ontario. Eggs were laid in September and hatched the following June. Egg laying injury was most frequent at the edges of peach blocks. The injuries did not become infection sites for peach canker fungi (Cytospora cincta Sacc. and C. leucostoma Sacc). Twenty-one per cent of the twigs died above the injury and eggs then hatched, but if the injuries healed and the twigs survived, very few eggs hatched.

L'infestation des forêts de sapin (Abies balsamea Mill.) de certaines régions de la province de Québec par l'Arpenteuse de la pruche, Lambdina fiscellaria fiscellaria (Guén.) (Lepidoptera – Geometridae), survient périodiquement. En effet, six épidémies de cet insecte ont été observées depuis les années 1920 et, dans la plupart des cas, des pertes importantes de bois furent rapportées.