A combination of laboratory and field trials, from 1983 to 1985, were used to determine mortality factors affecting all life stages of Alberta populations of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), feeding on corn. The resulting life table demonstrated that greatest mortality occurred during the first and second larval instars (62.2%), when mature larvae are in diapause (69.5%), and from moth migration and loss in reproductive potential (70.3%). Stages where mortality was slight included the egg stage (11.7%), non-diapausing third- to fifth-instar larvae (2%), and pupae (10.4%).

Laboratory trials showed that greater egg mortality occurred at relative humidities (RH) of 35 and 55% than at a RH of 75%. In the field, egg parasitism was nil, predation of early-instar larvae (5.2%) and diapausing larvae (6%) was low, and parasitoids were scarce (emerging from ca. 2% of pupae). Sustained periods of hot, dry weather with high moisture stress were related to mortality of both eggs and early-instar larvae. Death of early-instar larvae also was related to periods of rainy weather with low evaporation. The 64% non-diapause larval mortality was much lower than that reported elsewhere. The dramatic increase in the corn borer since its recent introduction to Alberta may be due to a lack of natural enemies, and because only non-resistant corn hybrids are grown.

An emergence trap for bark-inhabiting insects was constructed out of a 22.7-L plastic pail. Screened windows in the sides of the bucket provided ventilation. A plastic funnel in the bottom of the bucket held one of three sizes of container for live- or dead-trapping of emerged insects. In laboratory and field tests with lodgepole pine bolts infested with mountain pine beetle and associated insects, the traps had a trapping efficiency of 97.5%.

A new species of crabronine wasp, Crabro canningsi, is described from the Yukon. Its relationships with other species are discussed and additional records of Crabro species in the Yukon are presented.

Grapholita libertina Heinr. larvae are a pest of economic importance in lingonberries (partridgeberries), Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. var. minus Lodd, in Newfoundland. Both domestic and export markets are affected. Surveys conducted during the period 1973–1982 to determine distribution and larval population levels, in localities where berries were harvested commercially, indicated they were infested to varying intensities in all 15 localities studied. Highest infestations occurred at Pouch Cove (5 September 1974 — 122 larvae per kilogram of ripe berries) and on Witless Bay Line (9 August 1977 — 276 larvae per kilogram of green berries).

In experiments conducted from 1980 to 1982 at six locations, there was a significant decrease in level of infestation as the crop reached maturity. Our results suggest that delaying the opening of the lingonberry harvest season until the last week of September decreased the risk of infestation.

Observations on the life history of G. libertina and a naturally occurring hymenopterous parasite are presented.

In feeding choice tests, first- and second-instar larvae of Calosoma sycophanta L. preferred gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), pupae as prey but third-instar larvae most often consumed caterpillars. All beetle larvae preferred female pupae over male pupae. In non-choice feeding tests, older predator larvae consumed more gypsy moth fifth-instar larvae than the larger sixth-instar larvae, but the total weights of prey eaten in both cases were similar. First-instar larvae of C. sycophanta only partially consumed prey, and caterpillar size did not affect the total numbers eaten. Beetle larvae ate as many female gypsy moth pupae as male pupae, but larger larvae consumed greater weights of the former than of the latter. As a consequence, C. sycophanta larvae fed female pupae were larger than those provided with male pupae. However, for a given increase in size, third-instar larval beetles ingested the same weight of food no matter what the prey size was. Conversely, young beetle larvae seemed to require greater amounts of the body contents of large prey for a given size increase, probably because fluids from large prey were lost during predator attack. The information gained in this study may make it possible to use sizes of field-observed C. sycophanta larvae to predict numbers of prey they have killed.

Sixteen hymenopteran and one dipteran species of parasites were recovered from Rhyacionia zozana (Kearfott) larvae and pupae collected in California and Oregon. Total percentage parasitism was high, averaging 47.2% in quantitative studies. The ichneumonid wasp, Glypta zozanae Walley and Barron, was the most abundant parasite, attacking over 30% of the hosts collected. Parasitization rates were presented for each parasite species recovered. Two suspected predators, Phyllobaenus binotatus (Chapin) (Coleoptera: Cleridae) and Leptothorax sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), were found in association with R. zozana cocoons. A single Aegilips sp. (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) was recovered from a host cocoon; the relation between this parasite and R. zozana is as yet undetermined. Parasite biologies were discussed.

An outbreak of Neodiprion sertifer (Geoffroy) was studied in a lodgepole pine plantation. It was the first tree generation on a 60-ha peatland area. The nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) of N. sertifer was not found in the larval population or in the soil. Within a 1.7-ha experimental plot, a 0.35-ha block was treated with NPV and the ensuing epizootic was studied during three successive summers. The treatment caused 50% mortality of fourth- and fifth-instar larvae. The NPV persisted in the treated block and gradually dispersed into the adjacent blocks. After 2 years, larval mortality was 78% in the treated block and 21% at a distance of 110–125 m from it. The larval population remained at a high level and the outbreak expanded from the experimental plot to the entire 60-ha area in the years following the virus treatment, but few virus-diseased colonies were observed outside the experimental plot. Thus, the capability of this NPV to persist and spread was not sufficient to control and contain the sawfly outbreak.

Anaphes iole Girault is redescribed from specimens reared from Lygus hesperus Knight and Pseudatomoscelis seriatus (Reuter). Anaphes anomocerus, A. ovijentatus, and A. perdubius are synonyms of A. iole. Host-induced morphological variation is discussed. The main attributes that vary with host are the relative size of certain funicular articles and their complement of sensory ridges. There is no morphological overlap between populations as indicated by measurements of most other structures. However, certain structural features that can be used to define the species unequivocally were found.

The Lasionycta skraelingia (H.-S.) species complex, formerly considered to include only one species, is shown to consist of six species. Three species (Lasionycta buraetica Kononenko, from the Sayan Mountains, USSR; L. corax Kononenko from the Upper Kolyma River area, USSR; and L. taigata Lafontaine from northern Canada) are described as new. The name L. alpicola, proposed by Hampson as an aberration of L. skraelingia, is validated as a species. The taxon Lasionycta phaea (Hampson), currently treated as a subspecies of L. impingens (Walker), is shown to be a distinct species in the L. skraelingia complex; a lectotype is designated for Anarta phaea Hampson. Adults and genitalia are illustrated for the six species; a key to species and distribution maps are also included. Lasionycta membrosa (Morrison, 1875) is placed in synonymy with L. subdita (Möschler, 1860).

Pterostichus melanarius Ill. was the predominant ground beetle recovered in pitfall traps in three blocks of apple trees at Jordan Station, Ont. In one block, C, the number of mature fifth-instar larvae of Cydia pomonella (L.) seeking overwintering sites was related significantly (r2 = 0.5476, P < 0.05) to the number of P. melanarius caught, but was not related significantly (r2 = 0.1181, P > 0.10) to the proportion of beetles that were serologically positive. The proportion of larvae pupating also was not related significantly (r2 = 0.2014, P > 0.10) to the number of P. melanarius. The total number of all predators caught was related significantly (r2 = 0.4490, P < 0.05) to the number of larvae present, but the proportion of larvae that pupated was not related significantly (r2 = 0.3606, P > 0.05) to the total number of predators.

In block A, in 1983–1985, the number of mature larvae of C. pomonella seeking overwintering sites was not related significantly (r2 = 0.3763, 0.3619, and 0.5042, P > 0.05, respectively) to the number of P. melanarius taken in pitfall traps. In both blocks A and B, the number of serologically positive beetles was not related significantly (r2 = 0.3824 and 0.7921, P > 0.10, respectively) to the number of larvae seeking overwintering sites.

Amara aenea DeG., Anisodactylus sanctaecrucis F., Bembidion quadrimaculatum oppositum Say, Clivinia impressifrons LeC., Diplochaeila impressicolis (Dej.), Harpalus aeneus F., and Pterostichus chalcites Say also gave positive serological reactions to the antiserum against C. pomonella.

The occurrence of other species of Lepidoptera did not affect significantly the results obtained for C. pomonella.

The woolly-bear caterpillars of Grammia (= Apantesis) blakei (Grt.) are sometimes abundant on native range pastures in the short-grass region of southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan and occasionally cause early season damage to adjacent cultivated crops. The larvae overwinter as mid- to late-instars in protected sites on the soil surface and begin feeding in the spring as soon as new plant growth is available. They are general feeders on both mono- and dicotyledonous plants. Larval densities exceeding 10/m2 were found at several locations from 1982 to 1985 and historical records indicate that densities sometimes exceed 50/m2. The moths are present in late May through June but are rarely observed or collected. In Canada the species is univoltine with a mid-larval summer diapause.

Hypericum perforatum L., St. John's - wort (Hypericaceae), is a cosmopolitan weed that, when eaten by livestock, causes photodermatitis, reduced weight gain, and, in extreme cases, death (Giese 1980). Chrysolina hyperici (Forester) and Chrysolina quadrigemina (Suffr.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) dramatically reduced populations of H. perforatum when introduced into Australia (Clark 1953) and the United States (Holloway and Huffaker 1951; Holloway 1957). These species also have served as effective biocontrol agents when introduced into central British Columbia (Smith 1958), Ontario, and Nova Scotia (Harris and Maw 1984). This paper surveys the distribution of Chrysolina spp. in eastern Ontario, 18 years after initial release of both species.

In a 1984 study on the ecological factors influencing the forest vegetation in the southern region of the province of Quebec (Gauthier 1985; St-Jacques 1986), an adult specimen of Cleruchus biciliatus (Ferrière) was found. This is the first record of the occurrence of the species in North America.

Sampling was done in 120 sites selected in a stratified random design in natural forests of the Mirabel area, northwest of Montreal (from 45°33' to 45°45'N and from 74°3' to 74°44'W). At each site, vegetation was sampled from an area 20 by 50 m. A 400-cm2 sample of litter was taken from each of these areas. In the laboratory, the litter samples were put into modified Berless funnels (Phillipson 1971). Following a 48-h extraction process, the organisms, collected in 70% ethyl alcohol, were identified and counted.