The following communication is introductory to a few remarks on the Nova Scotian and Canadian Insects which I have received through the kindness of J.M. Jones, Esq., W. Saunders, Esq., and Prof. Croft.

The study of the geographical distribution of Insects has become more interesting by the differnece of opinion as to the origin and diffusion of species. The insects of seperate arctic regions have a great muttual resemblance, and the difference between them increases in the successive concentric circles from the above regions towards the equator.

In the Canadian Entomologist, during the year 1898, I gave a series of papers on the classification of the horntails and sawflies, representing the superfamilies Siricoidea (Xylophaga) and Tenthredinoidea (Phyllophaga); while the past year, 1899, I gave a classification of the entomophilous wasps, or the superfamily Sphecoidea (incorrectly spelt Sphegoidea).

This exhibit shows pictorially the part that entomological evidence played in a murder trial. Some unusual “hairs” were found stuck in a drop of blood on a 25¢ shinplaster (Canadian bank note) in the possession of a suspect. More of the unusual plumose hairs were taken from the pocket of the murdered man (Patrick Martin). The hairs were brought by the R.C.M.P. to the Entomology Research Institute where they were identified as either dermestid or bee hairs. Subsequent investigation turned up fragments of a bumble bee (Bombus sp.) in the desk where the murdered man kept his collection of shinplasters. These hairs proved to be identical to those in the murdered man's pocket and to the ones on the shinplaster in the possession of the suspect.

Larvae of the pale western cutworm, Agrotis orthogonia Morrison, were fed on wheat in the laboratory, greenhouse, and in field plots. Larvae did not completely sever the plants until the third-instar. The rate and amount of damage varied directly with size and densities of larvae, temperatures above 15 °C., and soil moisture; and inversely with the age and size of the wheat plant. The findings were related to field conditions to appraise potential damage and the necessity of insecticides for crop protection. Possible procedures are discussed for evaluation of the efficiency of various chemicals in the laboratory and in field plots.

In July last I noticed that the leaves of the burdocks on the Heights of Levis were riddled as if from a discharge of small shot. On examination, I found that the damage to the leaves was caused by numerous larvæ of a species of Cassida. The creatures were there in strength, each supporting, by means of the forked prolongation of its anal segment, its “stercoraceous parasol.” Towards the end of the month the grim-looking pupæ were to seen, bristling round their edges with white branched spines, and attached to the leaves by a natural cement. In the present month (August) the beetles have appeared. They are about eight millimetres in length and five millimetres in breadth.

The simple fact which Mr. W. H. Edwards published in this journal last May has thrown great doubt over the relationship of all the American species of Cyaniris. From eggs laid in September, 1874, by C. Pseudargiolus, he reared in the following February C. violacea. From this fact he is led to conjecture that in W. Virginia, where his experiments were made, C. neglecta may prove to be a goneutic form of the same species, reducing the entire series in that district to one.

Some two years ago I received from Mr. E. A. Schwarz a single example of a curious Lucanide bearing labels “Kaweah, Cal.,” and “Ceruchus (?), n. sp.” This specimen, as I have since learned, was one of a considerable number taken by Mr. Ralph Hopping six years ago on grain and wild grasses growing near the grain on a small sandy hill at the locality indicated. In a letter just received from Mr. Hopping, he states that he has this year taken four fresh specimens, May 17–20, at the same place, one flying in the bright sunshine shortly after noon, the others at twilight. Mr. Hopping has kindly sent me three more specimens, and I have seen two others in the collection of Mr. Fuchs, also from the same source. These specimens are all males, and I have little doubt that Mr. Hopping's entire catch is of this sex.

The life stages, feeding habits, and some aspects of natural control of Symmerista leucitys Franclemont, a univoltine defoliator of sugar maple, are described.

Venation as in Meyrick's figure (Handbook Brit. Lep. 712) except that on primaries vein 9 is connate with the stalk of 6-8 from apex of cell. Unicolorous light ochre-yellow. Head and palpi somewhat paler than forewings. Antennae faintly smoky with traces of brown annulations. In well marked specimens the forewings show the merest traces of irregular, whitish, median and subterminal bands. Secondaries pale smoky. Fringes on both wings light yellowish. Abdomen yellowish, including anal tuft. Traces of smoky shadings on pectus and basal portions of legs. Expanse 9-10 mm.

During the month of August, 1960, I had the opportunity of studying the extensive collection of ant-lions at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University. This collection contains most of the type material of Nathan Ranks and Hermann Hagen. In many cases only syntypes were present which necessitated the desicgnation of lectotypes. Whenever possible I have selected and designated a male specimen as the lectotype since many of the specific characters are restricted to the males. Others of the syntypical series were labeled lectoparatypes. In many instances one specimen had a “type” label and the rest of the series “paratype” labels or no labels at all. However, these labels were not considered to be type designations as they were not indicated as such in the original descriptions. The specimens were therefore considered to be syntypes. Also, in checklng the specimens listed in the original descriptions with the available material, it was sometimes found that other specimens belonged to the type series, even though they were not so labeled. I have included such specimens in my decisions on lectotypes.

During intermolt in the fifth instar nymph the epidermal cells are compact, with many mitochondria which appear dense, lack well defined cristae, and are considered relatively inactive. The cell membranes are much folded and show plasmodesmata and microvilli at the juxtaposition of two cell membranes. The endoplasmic reticulum is well formed and well supplied with ribosomes; in the compacted cells the reticular membranes may assume bizarre shapes such as a ball of concentric rings. The nuclei are small with inconspicuous nucleoli.

267. Euxoa nesilens, Smith(Jour. N.Y. Ent. Soc. XI., 192, Dec., 1903). —Described from Calgary and from Brandon, Man. The type is a Calgary specimen in Prof. Smith's collection, and a ♀ co-type is in my own. The description says: “In general appearance it resembles siles, but does not have the black basal streak, nor the blackish suffusion between the ordinary spots. On the other hand, it does have more complete, better marked median lines … Its distinctness is clear, and its association is with basalis, from which, however, it differs obviously in colour.”

The genus Clistomorpha, as considered by Curran in 1927 (Can. Ent., LIX, 297), contains representatives of a number of distinct genera, namely Clistomorpha Townsend and Hyalomyodes Townsend of the Gymnosomatidae, as well as of Psalidopteryx Townsend and Neopsalidopteryx n. gen. of the Exoristidae.

Cymodusa borealis sp.nov. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) is described from the Canadian arctic. This species belongs to the cruentata group of Cymodusa Holmgren (sensu Sanborne 1986).