We tested the pyrethroid insecticide esfenvalerate in single, double, and triple applications for control of insects affecting seed production of blister rust-resistant western white pine, Pinus monticola Douglas. All treatments increased the proportion of normal seed produced and reduced the proportion of seed damaged by the western conifer seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann. Only the triple application reduced the proportion of cones killed by the pine cone beetle, Conophthorus ponderosae Hopkins. Other seed-damaging insect species [seed chalcids, Megastigmus sp.; the fir coneworm, Dioryctria abietivorella (Grote); and seedworms, Cydia sp.] were present but in numbers too low to test for insecticide efficacy.

Mated female Olesicampe geniculatae Quednau and Lim were released in St. John’s, Newfoundland, to establish a biological control against the mountain ash sawfly, Pristiphora geniculata (Hartig). Two hundred and fifty-nine females were released during 1981–1984 in a field cage constructed over a mountain ash tree and provided with thousands of host larvae; 171 females were released outside the cage in 1984. A second open release of 368 P. geniculata cocoons, obtained as larvae from the field cage and presumably parasitized by O. geniculatae, was made in 1986 at Pasadena in western Newfoundland. Olesicampe geniculatae rapidly established in the St. John’s area where host populations dropped to insignificant levels by 1990. Island-wide monitoring during 1989 and 1990 indicated that O. geniculatae had spread to the west and south coasts, at rates as high as 50 km per year. Effective and persistent suppression of P. geniculata by O. geniculatae is anticipated.

Twenty-eight pieces of amber from the Dominican Republic were studied. These pieces, 22–40 million years old, contain 29 cricket specimens as inclusions. Six new species in the Trigonidiidae: Trigonidiinae are described, one in the extant genus Anaxipha (A. dominica) and in three related new genera: Proanaxipha (P. latoca and P. bicolorata), Abanaxipha (A. longispina and A. incongrua), and Grossoxipha (G. yaque). One specimen is described in the Mogoplistidae: Mogoplistinae in the extant genus Ornebius (O. ambericus). The presence of these specimens in amber proves that utilization of the boreal habitat is of long standing. Disparity in the size of the hind legs of one specimen indicates that crickets may once have had the ability to regenerate lost limbs.

Results are presented for a 4-year (1986–1989) cytological survey of the Simulium venustum/verecundum complex on the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland, Canada. Based on 4578 larval identifications from 72 sites, six species in the S. venustum/verecundum complex were found: S. truncatum Lundström (= S. venustum EFG/C), S. venustum CC2, S. venustum CC3, S. venustum AC(gB), S. verecundum Stone and Jamnback (= S. verecundum AA), and S. rostratum Lundström (= S. verecundum ACD). The possibility that S. venustum A/C and S. venustum Say (= S. venustum CC) exist on the Avalon Peninsula in low numbers cannot be excluded, although this is doubtful. Discoveries of EFG/C and CC2 reciprocal sex exceptions support the hypothesis that exceptional individuals are the product of crossover. Cytological results confirm the supposition that S. truncatum, S. venustum CC2, S. venustum CC3, S. venustum AC(gB), S. verecundum AA, and S. rostratum are all distinct species. Results are interpreted within the broader geographic context of the S. venustum/verecundum complex. Three new cytotypes are recognized: one, from Quebec, we place under AC(gB); the other two, from the eastern United States, fall under CC2.

In laboratory wind tunnel studies, quiescent Korscheltellus gracilis (Grote) females initiated wing fanning as light intensity was reduced to 25–11 lx at the end of a 16-h, 450-lx photophase. Males downwind of a wing-fanning female initiated wing fanning, rapid walking, or both, and upwind flight toward the female typically ensued shortly thereafter. Wing-fanning females whose abdomens had been removed, and excised hind wings of females evoked the same male responses, but females whose hind wings had been removed evoked no male response. The sex pheromone of K. gracilis evidently is released from the female’s hind wings, a so far unique site of pheromone release in female Lepidoptera. The importance of this finding to understanding the mating system of hepialids and the ancestral form of pheromone release among the Lepidoptera is considered.

The response of the western balsam bark beetle, Dryocoetes confusus Swaine, to subalpine firs, Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt., baited with (±)-exo-brevicomin (EXOB) or 9:1 blends of EXOB and endo-brevicomin (ENDOB), in two chiral combinations: (+):(±) and (+):(+), was assessed in a heavily infested stand in British Columbia. Unbaited control trees were not attacked, and the proportion of mass-attacked baited trees was similar for all other treatments. However, trees baited with the (+):(+) blend had the highest number of attacks per square metre, and they were also surrounded by the most attacked trees. The (+):(±) blend was intermediate in attractancy, and (±)EXOB was the least attractive bait. Pheromone-based management of D. confusus infestations may be more effective with the 9:1 blend of (+)EXOB:(+)ENDOB than with the previously used (±)EXOB baits.

The life cycle of Strobilomyia appalachensis Michelsen, a maggot exploiting black spruce seed cones, was studied in two plantations in northern Ontario in 1987 and 1988, and two seed orchards in New Brunswick in 1991 and 1992. Oviposition by S. appalachensis occurs slightly later than the white spruce cone maggot, S. neanthracina Michelsen, relative to seed cone development; otherwise the life cycles of the two species are similar. Adults were trapped near host foliage in May and early June. Eggs were laid between the scales of seed cones during early June, starting when the scales on most cones were closed and ending 1 week after cones were fully pendant. Up to five eggs per cone were observed but single eggs were most common. The first larval molt occurred within the egg chorion and second-instar larvae emerged from the egg. Second-instar larvae were found in the cones during the 2nd and 3rd week of June, and third instars from the 3rd week of June until mid to late July. Larvae tunneled around the cone axis and destroyed an average of 60% of the total seed per cone before exiting and dropping to the soil. Larval drop occurred from late June to late July and was significantly correlated with periods of rainfall. Mature larvae moved into the duff and overwintered in the soil as pupae. Aspects of the maggot’s life history are discussed in relation to pest management strategies.

The effect of greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), infestations on yield components of early- and late-planted spring wheat, Triticum aestivum L., were measured in 2 successive years in eastern South Dakota. Greenbug populations in plots generally increased rapidly and peaked when wheat plants were in boot stage. Populations then began a steady decrease until anthesis, at which time they were near zero. The number of seeds per spikelet and the number of spikelets per square metre were consistently significantly negatively correlated with aphid-days, whereas average seed weight was significantly negatively correlated with aphid-days for only one planting. A linear regression model that included different intercepts for each spring wheat planting and a common slope relating yield to greenbug feeding days (aphid-days) provided a good fit to the data. Based on the model, a loss of 41 kg of grain per hectare is expected for each 100 aphid-days that accumulate per tiller.

A new, broader concept of the genus Aradophagus Ashmead is presented to include Abuko Masner and Huggert and Ladora Masner and Huggert (new synonyms). The extent of the tribe Aradophagini is discussed and some character states re-evaluated. Ladora maura Masner and Huggert is synonymized under Apegus squamosus Dodd (new synonym). The distribution of some species of Aradophagus is discussed. The first fossil member of the genus is reported from late Tertiary amber of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic). Aradophagus diazisp.n ov. is described from Venezuela as the first member of the genus and the tribe in South America. A key to described world species of Aradophagus is presented.

The Nearctic species of the genus Holoteleia are revised. Two named species are redescribed and five new species are described: H. armigera from Florida; H. coriacea, H. laticeps, and H. polita from eastern Canada and the United States; and H. elegans, widespread east of the Rocky Mountains. A diagnosis of Holoteleia and a key to the Nearctic species are given. Potential impact of environmental degradation on the frequency of Holoteleia species in North America is discussed.

This study determined the importance of Ophiostomatales fungi in the biology of individual adult Ips sexdentatus Boern. in Scots pine. We investigated factors possibly involved in success of rearing without Ophiostomatales, such as the sterilization technique, the presence of antibiotics, and the absence of yeasts. After sterilization of pupae, 866 adult beetles were reared in the media; the proportion of Ophiostoma-free mature adults was 99.2% and total mortality was about 13%. The most preferred rearing method used sterilized pupae which moulted on moistened filter paper and were transferred individually to separate vials where maturation took place on a sterilized phloem medium.The weight and size of Ophiostoma-free mature adults from semi-artificial media and, after establishment in logs, their fecundity and length of their egg galleries, were compared with those of naturally contaminated mature beetles obtained from logs. With the exception of a higher weight observed for adults matured in semi-artificial media, no essential difference was observed between the two groups. Ophiostomatales do not appear to play an essential role in the maturation and fecundity of I. sexdentatus adults.

Phenology of fall dispersal into apple orchards is described for winterform pear psylla, Cacopsylla pyricola Foerster, in orchards located in Yakima and Wenatchee, Washington. Psylla in both regions first appeared on pear in mid to late September, reaching peak densities in late October or early to mid November, and then decreased in numbers to a low in December. Movement onto apple began in October; peak counts on apple occurred in late November to early December. There was considerable variation among years in phenology of leaf fall in pear and numbers of psylla entering apple. Leaf fall in pear was delayed in a cool, wet fall (1991) compared with warmer and drier years (1990 and 1992), and temperatures during leaf fall were consequently lower in 1991. Numbers of psylla moving onto apple were considerably lower in 1991 than 1990 or 1992. Catch on sticky traps and dispersal rates onto apple were both positively correlated with rates of leaf fall in pear, temperature, and density of psylla on pear.

A brown-sugar flotation technique, recovery trays, and fruit dissection, three methods for determining numbers of larvae of Rhagoletis mendax Curran (Diptera: Tephritidae) from lowbush blueberry fruit, were tested at Kentville, Nova Scotia, in 1990. Similar numbers of larvae were detected by each method, with an average of 3.3, 5.2, and 17.3 larvae recovered at low, medium, and high levels of infestation, respectively. Recovery trays require a minimum of labour but results are available only after 2 weeks, and thus they are of no use for rapid determination. For quality or quarantine inspections, brown-sugar flotation should be used.

Eight species of Strepsiptera have been reported so far from Florida, but none from the Bahamas. This study reports five species from southern subtropical Florida, and one species from Andros Island, the Bahamas. Of these, Floridoxenos monroensis gen.nov., sp.nov. Kathirithamby and Peck (Corioxenidae: Corioxeninae) is described and added to the subfamily Corioxeninae based on the 4-segmented tarsi without claws; Strichotrema beckeri (Oliveira and Kogan) (Myrmecolacidae) of Brazil is reported from the United States for the first time; a second record for Elenchus koebelei Pierce (Elenchidae) from Florida is reported; and Caenocholax fenyesi Pierce (Myrmecolacidae) is a new record for Bahamas. This latter species is generally a widespread parasite of fire ants in the southern parts of North America, in the West Indies, and in the northern Neotropics.

Species of Agabus of the lutosus-, obsoletus-, and fuscipennis-groups, as defined by Larson (1989), are revised. Members of the lutosus- and obsoletus-groups are restricted to the Cordilleran and Great Plains regions of temperate western North America. Within this region, the species of each group are largely parapatric. Three species are assigned to the lutosus-group: A. lutosus LeConte along the Pacific Coast; A. griseipennis LeConte in the Great Basin, Rocky Mountain, and Great Plains regions; and A. rumppi Leech in the southern deserts. Agabus lutosus and A. griseipennis hybridize in the Pacific Northwest; A. lutosus mimus Leech is synonymized with A. lutosus. The obsoletus-group contains five species: A. obsoletus LeConte, A. morosus LeConte, and A. ancillus Fall along the Pacific Coast and the Sierra Nevada Mountains; A. hoppingi Leech in the Sierra Nevada Mountains; and A. obliteratus LeConte, containing two subspecies, A. o. obliteratus and A. o. nectris Leech, new status, with a wide range including the Great Plains and Cordillera but not reaching the Pacific Coast. The four species of the fuscipennis-group, A. ajax Fall, A. coxalis Sharp, A. fuscipennis (Paykull), and A. infuscatus Aubé, are boreal and all except A. ajax are Holarctic. Agabus coxalis is restricted to northwestern North America, the other three species are transcontinental.For each species the following information is provided: synonymy, description, and illustrations of taxonomically important characters; notes on relationships, variation, distribution, and ecology; and a map of North American collection localities. Group diagnoses and keys to the species of each group are presented. A correction to the key to species groups of North American Agabus (Larson 1989) is made with the addition of a couplet to include the obsoletus-group. Lectotypes are designated for A. discolor LeConte and A. obliteratus LeConte.

Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), commonly occurs at relatively low population densities in areas of canola (oilseed rapes, Brassica rapa L. and Brassica napus L.) production in western Canada, but occasionally can reach outbreak densities (Madder and Stemeroff 1988). The most severe outbreak of P. xylostella in recent years occurred in Alberta and Saskatchewan in 1985 when approximately 467 860 ha were treated with insecticide, at a cost of approximately $11.9 million (Madder and Stemeroff 1988).

Damage to canola is the result of larval feeding. Leaves are the preferred feeding sites, and plants can withstand substantial damage before yield is affected (Philip and Mengersen 1989). However, late in the season when the leaves become senescent, larvae feed on pods and this can result in significant yield reductions. Plutella xylostella is multivoltine, capable of completing at least three generations per year in Alberta (Philip and Mengersen 1989), and four to five in Ontario (Harcourt 1986).

On 27 May 1993, a normal, healthy woman in her early 30s put packages of groceries just purchased on the car seat beside her. As she sat in the driver's seat, she “…felt something painful sticking into her behind her knee.” She looked and saw something there, brushed it, but when it did not come off, she grabbed it into a soft tissue paper, and folded the paper over so the animal could not escape. She went immediately for medical assistance.

The second author, a physician, examined the animal and thought it to be a dead spider, as he could not prod it into moving (many clubionids “play dead”). However, when he put it into alcohol, it writhed violently for a few moments before dying. He sent it to the Department of Entomology, University of Alberta. The spider was determined to be a female of Cheiracanthium inclusum (Hentz, 1847), a first record for Alberta, and only the second record for Canada.