In an evaluation of several chemosterilants for insect control Borkovec (1972) stresses their safe handling. The compound tris (l-ziridinyl) phosphine sulphide, trivial name thiotepa, is currently being tested as a sterilant against several insects. More recently, Terry et al. (1977) noticed a 99 to 100% sterility in boll weevils treated with thiotepa. When 0- to 24-h-old pupae of Trogoderma granarium Everts were dipped in 1% thiotepa for 8 min only 0.1% of their eggs hatched (Chaudhary and Kapil 1977). The males of Earias vitella F. were also sterilized when their pupae were dipped in 0.5 to 0.75% thiotepa (Singh et al. 1978). Finally, no eggs hatched when Dysdercus koenigii (F.) was topically treated with 4 pg of thiotepa per insect (Govindan and Pillai 1977).

We shall return later to the pessimism expressed in the last sentence of that quotation from Maeterlink, a pessimism which seems to have caught the popular fancy, but let us first consider some of the rather startling things that make recently been discovered about the biology of that group of animals that make up three-fourths of the animal kingdom even though they are usually not represented in zoological gardens, are the Cinderellas of most zoological museums, and are a part of the great unknown to most university professors of zoology.

On a recent visit to Cambridge I was permitted, through the courtesy of the Museum authorities, to examine the types of Chambers' numerous Coleophorid species deposited in this institution and to make genitalic slides of the material. This study has enabled me to clear up a number of doubts which have existed regarding the identity of certain of the species and, I hope, will put our knowledge of the group on a sounder basis than heretofore.

Insect damage to jack pine shoots (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) in the Lake Nipigon region of Ontario was first reported by Thomas and Lindquist (1956). Since then, a study of insects infesting jack pine shoots has shown that a bark beetle, Conophthorus sp., has been chiefly responsible for shoot damage. A secondary borer, Cimberis elongatus (Lec.), was usually associated with the bark beetle, and because little has been published on the biology of any of the anthribids, the general life history of C. elongatus is outlined here.

Linognathoides laeviusculus (Grube) (Phthiraptera: Anoplura: Polyplacidae) is a louse found on holarctic ground squirrels but little is known about how the life history, physiology, and hibernation of the host influence its population dynamics. Two hundred and fourteen Richardson’s ground squirrels (Urocitellus richardsonii (Sabine); Rodentia: Sciuridae) were trapped over the summer of 2010, and the age, sex, and mass of all euthanised squirrels were recorded. Squirrels were hand-washed to remove lice, which were then identified to species, stage of development, and sex. Linognathoides laeviusculus was the only louse collected. In total, 5057 lice were collected with 63.6% of the squirrels infested at a mean intensity of 37.2 (90% confidence interval=29.98–48.66). Two peaks in prevalence of L. laeviusculus infestations occurred (April and mid-June), and one peak in intensity (June). Juvenile squirrels had higher prevalence and mean intensity when compared to adults. Adult male squirrels had higher mean intensity compared to adult females. Adult lice comprised most of the population infesting emerging adult squirrels in the spring but nymphs predominated for most of the active season of the host. Infestations were highly aggregated with k=0.203 and index of discrepancy D=0.813. The seasonal dynamics of L. laeviusculus appear to be strongly correlated with the annual cycle of the squirrel host.

The oribatid fauna of commercial balsam fir [Abies balsamea (L.)] forests of western Newfoundland were surveyed through Berlese funnel extraction of samples taken from soil and various forest microhabitats. A total of 83 species or species complexes representing 39 families was collected. Fourteen genera and 36 species are new records for Newfoundland. One genus, Haplozetes Willmann, 1935, is a new record for Canada. For each species, notes on abundance in soil samples and distribution among microhabitats are provided and for the more abundant species, seasonal variation in abundance of immature and adult stages is plotted.

Dactylopius sorghiellus, Forbes. Syn. D. Kingii, Ckll.

Dr. S. A. Forbes has kindly sent me the type material of this species, which I have examined with much interest. The material studied consisted of 4 specimens. As is usual with these subterranean forms the antennæ are quite variable, both in the number of segments and their relative length.

Only two of the antennæ of the 4 specimens were 8 jointed, the others being 7-jointed, and some plainly aborted. After careful measurement and study, I conclude that the forms described by Cockerell in Science-Gossip, Feb., 1897, p. 240, as D. Kingii, must be referred to this species.

During 1900–01 I made some studies on the Bombide occurring in Colorado. This paper is an abstract of those studies, the main body of which is in an unpublished thesis deposited with the Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture at Ft. Collins, Colorado. The material used is in the collection at the State Agricultural College of Colorado, and in my own collection; also a few specimens at the U. S. Nat. Mus. Most of the collection passed through the hands of Mr. Wm. H. Ashmead, who corrected determinations and who very kindly looked over the table given below, not only making corrections in it, but adding some species I had not recognized.

Under axenic conditions, larvae of Delia antiqua develop to the adult stage on onion agar only if the agar is supplemented with mixtures of 10 essential amino acids and 8 water-soluble vitamins. The omission of the amino-acid mixture allowed no development past the first instar. When the vitamin mixture was omitted, 1 of 25 larvae developed to the pupal stage. Omission of individual vitamin supplements caused less marked effects. Omitting supplemental choline, thiamine, pyridoxine, or pantothenic acid had no significant effect on development. Omitting supplemental biotin or nicotinic acid resulted in suboptimal development to the adult stage. Omitting riboflavin or folic acid resulted in development to the adult stage, but the adults did not lay viable eggs. Presumably nutrients that are in insufficient supply in onion tissue are supplied by bacteria in nature.

A spotted tentiform leaf miner, often present during recent years in large numbers in apple orchards in the Maritime Provinces of Canada, is identified as Lithocolletis blancardella Fabr., a species common on apples in Europe. Recent collecting indicates that the species occurs widely in Eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. Diagnostic characters, especially those of the male genitalia, are compared with those of specimens identified as L. crataegella Clem. and L. propinquinella Braun, two similar species which commonly occur on apple and black cherry respectively.

A key is provided to the larvae and pupae of three species of weevils, Pissodes approximatus Hopk., P. affinis Rand., and Hylobius congener D.T., common in red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) plantations in central Ontario.

The biodiversity of transitional zones is unique, due to mixing and co-occurrence of biotic elements. Despite this, our basic knowledge on distributional patterns of soil microarthropods in areas where biogeographic regions overlap is insufficient. We studied the biogeographic patterns of Protura across three natural landforms in Ukraine within the Transcarpathia (Transcarpathian Lowland, Transcarpathian foothills, and Volcanic Ukrainian Carpathian), which are influenced by adjacent biogeographic areas (mainly Alpine and Pannonian). We hypothesised that these overlaps have brought about an increase in Protura diversity, due to inclusion of faunal elements from diverse origins and differing in geographical histories. Distinct differences in the species composition of Protura were found among lowland, foothill, and mountain sites within Transcarpathia. Mountain sites mainly have Protura species with a wide continental distribution, while species of the foothills mainly stem from the Pannonian biogeographic region. The highest number of proturan endemics was associated with the Transcarpathian foothills. We conclude that the Transcarpathian region can be defined as a biogeographical transition zone for soil microarthopods, exemplified by Protura, and that foothill sites such as the volcanic-tectonic mountain Chorna Hora is a local hotspot of diversity and endemism, representing the most valuable parts of Transcarpathia with respect to diversity and endemism.

Mr. Scudder, in his “Butterflies,” p. 136, says of this species: It is the longest lived of our butterflies. It leaves its winter quarters later in the season than other hibernating butterflies, and continues upon the wing until July and August, laying eggs all the time, so that the insect may be found in all its earlier stages most of the summer.

A new species of Dactynotus Rafinesque is described, from curlycup gumweed, Grindelia squarrosa (Pursh) Dunal.

Quite a little is known concerning the nesting habits of Anthidiine bees of the genus Anthidium and Dianthidium, but less of those of related genera, such as Callanthidium, Heteranthidium, Paranthidium, and Anthidiellum.

Wings hyaline, unmarked……………… 3.

Wings brown along the costa, the small and the posterior crossveins; body and its members, except the wings, yellow, antennal arista brown, second joint of hind tarsi sometimes black; three pairs of dorso-centrals, one of acrostichals, and two sternopleural macrochætæ……………2.

Costa and apex of wing, from the base to beyond apex of fourth vein, broadly bordered with brown, which is widely separated from the brown of the crossveins; second joint of hind tarsi yellow, third antennal joint oval, one and one-third times as long as wide, arista with a scarcely perceptible pubescence. Length, 3.5 mm. Chiric Mts., Ariz. A female specimen collected May 31, 1897, by Mr. H. G. Hubbard. Type No. 4082, U.S. Nat. Museum. Hubbardii, n. sp.