Species of the genus Tinotus Sharp of America north of Mexico are reviewed. Five species are recognized: T. caviceps Casey, T. imbricatus Casey, T. morion (Gravenhorst), T. parvicornis Casey, and T. trisectus Casey. The genus Tinotus is recorded from Canada for the first time and is represented in the country by two previously unrecorded species: T. morion (Gravenhorst), introduced from the Palearctic region, and T. caviceps Casey, described from Nevada and subsequently reported from California, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, and Montana. Tinotus morion was previously listed in North America from Connecticut and Nevada (unverified records), but until now it was unknown from Canada. Here it is reported as new for New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. Tinotus caviceps is found for the first time in southern Quebec where it probably reaches its northern distribution limit. The following synonymies are established, with the first names being valid: T. caviceps Casey (= T. pallidus Casey), T. imbricatus Casey (= T. amplus Notman, T. brunnipes Notman), T. parvicornis Casey (= T. planulus Notman), and T. trisectus Casey (= T. binarius Casey, T. brunneus Casey, and T. lateralis Notman). A new lectotype is designated for T. brunnipes Notman. The lectotype specimens have been dissected and their genital features illustrated. Diagnoses, illustrations, and a key to identify species from America north of Mexico are provided.

The pine engraver, Ips pini (Say), is broadly distributed across North America (Lanier 1972; Wood 1982; Seybold et al. 1995) with a host range that includes most species of Pinus L., and in rare cases, species of Picea A. Dietrich (both Pinaceae), within its range (Swaine 1918; Bright 1976; Wood 1982; Furniss and Carolin 1992). Ips pini has been recorded from Pinus banksiana Lamb., Pinus resinosa Ait., and Pinus strobus L. (eastern North America), and from three of four subspecies of Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loudon [P. c. contorta, P. c. latifolia (Engelm.) Critch., and P. c. murrayana (Balf.) Critch.], Pinus coulteri D. Don, Pinus jeffreyi Balf., Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex P. and C. Laws., and Pinus flexilis James (western North America) (Furniss and Carolin 1992; Seybold et al. 1995). Hopping (1964) reported I. pini on Picea rubens Sarg., Picea glauca (Moench) Voss, and Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm. The adult insect is intermediate in length relative to most Ips spp., ranging from 3.3 to 4.5 mm (Hopping 1964; Bright 1976; Wood 1982; USDA Forest Service 1985).

A virus isolated from obliquebanded leafroller, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris), larvae collected in an apple, Malus domestica Borkh. (Rosaceae), orchard of Saint-Joseph-du-Lac (Quebec, Canada) was studied. Microscopic studies revealed that it was a uninucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus from the family Baculoviridae. Larval mortality was approximately 75% (0% mortality in control group) in larvae infected as third instars immersed in a suspension of 1.7 × 108 occlusion bodies/mL. The average time for larval mortality was 23 ± 3 d after treatment. The majority (95.5%) of infected larvae died as fifth or sixth instars. Infection was observed primarily in fat body cells, and occasionally in the tracheal matrix and epidermis. Mean larval development time of infected larvae surviving to pupae was 20 ± 3 d, significantly greater than the 18 ± 3 d observed in control larvae. Adult emergence was significantly lower in pupae of treated larvae (73.6%) than in the control group (93.5%). Our work constitutes the first baseline study of naturally occurring virus of the obliquebanded leafroller.

In this study, survival to adult stage, duration of development of the immature stages, egg micromorphology, DNA polymorphism, and reproductive compatibility were measured for early- and late-emerging phenotypes of Delia radicum Linneaus to determine whether both phenotypes had evolved differences other than the duration of puparial development and to find the most likely genetic system controlling the expression of both phenotypes. Survival to adult stage was not significantly different between the early- and late-emerging phenotypes. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers tested suggest that it is possible to distinguish an early-emerging fly from a late-emerging fly. Furthermore, the results suggest that the early- and late-emerging phenotypes differ not only in the timing of adult emergence but also in their egg structure (egg micromorphology) and in their larval and puparial mortality. These two phenotypes are not reproductively or ecologically isolated. The genetic system controlling the expression of early and late emergers in a population of D. radicum is probably an adaptive strategy reducing predator and parasitoid pressures, optimizing resource utilization, and ensuring survival of D. radicum during atypical winters. This strategy could eventually lead to temporal sympatric speciation if there are changes in a few key loci responsible for host plant selection and fitness on a new host.

The cranberry girdler, Chrysoteuchia topiaria (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is the most important sod webworm species attacking turfgrasses in Quebec, Canada (Simard 2001). Unlike other webworms, the cranberry girdler is rarely observed on grass blades but feeds on the crowns and roots in the thatch. Biopesticides based on a nematode–bacterium complex appear to hold promise as a means of controlling turfgrass insect pests, particularly those that colonize the thatch and the first few centimetres of soil (Potter 1998), such as the cranberry girdler (Georgis and Hague 1991). Our objective was to assess the susceptibility of the cranberry girdler to entomopathogenic nematodes. In the laboratory, we determined the LC50 values for four nematode species and evaluated the effect of contact time on host mortality.

The effect of time of day and age on the amounts and ratios of four pheromone compounds [(Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (Z11-14:Ac), (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (E11-14:Ac), (Z)-11-tetradecenol (Z11-14:OH), and (Z)-11-tetradecenal (Z11-14:Al)] was compared in azinphosmethyl-susceptible (susceptible) and -resistant (resistant) female obliquebanded leafrollers, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris). The amounts of all four pheromone compounds varied during the hour before and five hours after the onset of scotophase. The glands of resistant females contained approximately one half the amount of Z11-14:Ac and Z11-14:OH as the glands of susceptible females during the second and third hours of scotophase, and between 50 and 70% as much Z11-14:Al as the glands of susceptible females during the hour before and second to fourth hours of scotophase. The glands of susceptible and resistant females contained similar amounts of E11-14:Ac. The relative amounts of each of the four pheromone compounds were affected by time of day but not by resistance status. There was a negative linear relationship between the amounts of each of the four compounds and female age in both types of females. The amounts of Z11-14:Ac and E11-14:Ac declined at similar rates with age in susceptible and resistant females; the amounts of Z11-14:OH and Z11-14:Al declined more rapidly with age in susceptible than in resistant females. The relative amounts of the four compounds were not affected by female age. Temporal variation in the relative amounts of pheromone in susceptible and resistant C. rosaceana may be associated with similar variation in the emission of pheromone and corresponding temporal variation in the relative attractiveness of the two types of females.

Two mark–recapture experiments and a trap interference experiment were conducted to determine the sampling range and range of attraction, respectively, of Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) pheromone-baited traps in northern Idaho. To determine the sampling range, either live beetles or logs containing brood were marked with one of four colors of fluorescent powder. Colored beetles or logs were placed along transects oriented away from a central pheromone-baited trap at distances of 50, 100, 200, and 300 m. A release distance of 400 m was added to one mark–recapture experiment during the 2nd year. To determine the range of attraction, a trap interference study was conducted. For this experiment, groups of three traps were oriented in equilateral triangles with distances of 50, 100, 200, and 300 m between the three traps. Distances between traps were changed daily to allow for adequate replication. Mark–recapture studies indicated that most D. pseudotsugae were recaptured from distances less than or equal to 200 m from the pheromone-baited trap. On average, 95% of beetles recaptured were males. Results of the trap interference experiment provided no insight into the range of attraction of D. pseudotsugae pheromones. Natural resource managers should attempt to place pheromone-baited suppression traps within 200 m of target D. pseudotsugae populations. Also, to minimize undesirable beetle-caused tree mortality, traps should be placed as far as possible from live trees that managers wish to protect.

Assays were done in the laboratory and field to monitor the response of Pacific coast wireworm, Limonius canus LeConte, to food baits. A glass-plate assay was used in laboratory trials to study movement of wireworm larvae through soil in response to several food baits, including germinating seeds of grains, rolled oats [Avenu sauva L. (Poaceae)], carrot [Daucus carota L. (Umbelliferae)], and potato [Solanum tuberosum L. (Solanaceae)]. Studies were also done with these baits to determine effectiveness under field conditions. In both laboratory and field trials, germinating seed of wheat [Triticum aestivum L. (Poaceae)] and barley [Hordeum vulgare L. (Poaceae)] ranked higher in response by larvae than the remaining food baits. In the glass-plate assays, 65–70% of wireworms contacted the wheat or barley seed baits within a 2-h assay period. Corn [Zea mays L. (Poaceae)] seed and sliced carrot were also effective, with 60% of larvae contacting the baits. Rice [Oryza sativa L. (Poaceae)], rye [Secale cereale L. (Poaceae)], and potato were contacted by 30–45% of larvae. In the majority of assays, contact with the bait occurred within 30 min of the start of the assay. Trail lengths varied substantially among larvae (0–70 cm). The field studies showed that all food baits captured more wireworms than unbaited traps. A second assay conducted in the laboratory showed that moistened rolled oats were contacted with a higher probability if oats were aged 72 h following wetting (51% of larvae contacted the bait) than oats used immediately following wetting (28% of larvae). Field trials using baits composed of different volumes of rolled oats showed little evidence of a dose response in capture rates of L. canus, although all baits captured more wireworms than unbaited traps. These studies showed that L. canus is attracted to food baits in both laboratory and field trials, and that baits may prove useful to monitor populations of this pest in the field.

Two species of bees native to China, Osmia excavata Alfken and Osmia jacoti Cockerell, were released in 1991–1993 to observe life-history characteristics and assess pollination efficiency. Osmia excavata successfully established in both coastal (Shandong Province) and interior (Hebei Province) habitats, whereas O. jacoti was only able to establish in the coastal habitat. Sex ratios (female:male) ranged from 1:1.05 for O. jacoti to 1:2.46 for O. excavata. Apple, Malus domestica Borkh (Rosaceae), pollination was enhanced following the release of either species in orchards in Shandong. Fruit diameter increased following the release of either Osmia species in 'Red Delicious' blocks compared with control blocks where no pollination treatment was applied. The number of seeds per fruit was also increased relative to controls, and the percentage of asymmetrical fruit decreased. Release of O. excavata produced the best results for this cultivar. For 'Ralls Janet', the number of seeds per fruit increased following the release of either species and the percentage of asymmetrical apples decreased. Effects on fruit diameter were confounded by poor cultural practices (i.e., lack of adequate fruit thinning) in these 'Ralls Janet' blocks. Fruit set increased relative to controls following release of either Osmia species for both apple cultivars. Release of O. excavata also produced higher fruit set relative to blocks that received hand pollination treatment; release of O. jacoti was better than hand pollination only for 'Red Delicious'. Observations on the behaviour of individuals showed that O. excavata averaged 49.6 foraging trips per day and set an estimated 3108 fruit on 'Ralls Janet'; O. jacoti made fewer foraging trips (average of 31.2) per day and set 1831 fruit. Both species were more efficient pollinators than Apis mellifera. Osmia excavata would appear to be a better candidate for commercial apple pollination than O. jacoti under conditions similar to those in this study.

Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman females were placed in contact with queen, worker, and drone brood cells of Apis mellifera L. that were soon to be sealed. In a non-choice test, V. destructor adult females were introduced into a comb containing either queen or worker brood cells; 0.62 and 18.28% of the mites entered the queen and worker brood cells, respectively. Only 1 of the 11 mites that entered queen brood cells oviposited, laying a single egg. In another test, brood cells were combined in the same comb in a 1:25:3 queen:worker:drone ratio. The percentages of egg-laying mites in queen, worker, and drone brood cells were 16.66, 61.86, and 79.06%, respectively. When queen, worker, and drone brood cells were combined in equal proportions (33.3:33.3:33.3), percent infestation was significantly different among queen (3.25%), worker (49.12%), and drone (90.07%) brood. Multiple infestation was found in drone brood cells but not in others. Also, mites were inoculated into sealed queen cells. These cells contained either one or two mites (either at the egg or protonymph stage). Conversely, in a simultaneous test with worker brood cells, the offspring per foundress mite included a mean of three individuals (either at the egg, protonymph, or deutonymph stage). It is concluded that V. destructor can infest queen, worker, and drone brood cells, but drone brood cells are preferred; in addition, queen brood cells do not provide an optimal environment for reproduction because it causes a delay in mite oviposition and (or) progeny development.

Sex attractant blends were developed for monitoring three conifer-feeding species of Eucosma Hübner found in pine seed orchards and plantations in Wisconsin and Ontario. Eucosma monitorana Heinrich, which attacks developing cones of red pine, Pinus resinosa Aiton (Pinaceae), preferred lures containing 100:5:15 (μg blend) of (Z)-9-dodecenyl acetate (Z9-12:Ac), (E)-9-dodecenyl acetate (E9-12:Ac), and (Z)-9-dodecen-1-ol (Z9-12:OH), respectively, over lures without the alcohol or with higher levels of E9-12:Ac. This blend was unattractive to sympatric Eucosma gloriola Heinrich, a species that feeds inside shoots of red pine and eastern white pine, Pinus strobus L. Eucosma gloriola was attracted to a 100:30 blend of Z9-/E9-12:Ac, and adding Z9-12:OH had no significant effect. Eucosma tocullionana Heinrich, which attacks cones of eastern white pine, was attracted equally to 10:3 and 10:5 μg blends of Z9-/E9-12:Ac, and adding Z9-12:OH had no effect. A ratio as low as 1:0.3 was attractive to E. tocullionana but not to sympatric E. gloriola, which preferred a 100-fold higher dosage of the same blend. The seasonal flight periods of the three species overlapped in all study areas. The flight of E. gloriola usually peaked in late May slightly before that of E. monitorana while the flight of E. tocullionana peaked about 1–3 weeks later. The results indicate that sex pheromones, seasonal flight periods, and host preferences are isolating mechanisms for these closely related sympatric species.

The cabbage seedpod weevil, Ceutorhynchus obstrictus (Marsham), was discovered infesting canola [Brassica napus L. and Brassica rapa L. (Brassicaceae)] in southern Alberta in 1995, and by 1999 its populations had reached outbreak densities. The weevil has dispersed rapidly through cropland in the southern prairies, prompting this study to assess its potential for establishment in Canada's primary region of canola production in the Moist Mixed Grassland and Aspen Parkland ecoregions. In this study, both short- (24 h) and long-term (4 years) distribution patterns of cabbage seedpod weevil were examined, and these data were combined with previously published ecological findings and meteorological data in CLIMEX™ software to predict regions of western Canada where economically important infestations are likely to occur. Adult temporal distributions over 24 h on canola in bud and flower remained restricted primarily to the inflorescence rather than on stems and leaves regardless of time of day. Surveys conducted in commercial canola fields from 1997 to 2000 recorded rapid dispersal of the species to the north and east from the region of southern Alberta where it was initially found. Dispersal occurred at a rate of approximately 55 km/year, and in 2000 C. obstrictus populations were found in Saskatchewan for the first time. The CLIMEX™ model predicts that the distribution of C. obstrictus will eventually encompass the entire region of canola production in western Canada.