A sex-linked mutant of the tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.), has been isolated. The wild-type pupae are brown, and the mutant pupae are yellow-bodied. The mutant (yb) could aid in sexing large numbers of tobacco budworms since > 98% of the female pupae from ± ♀ × yb/yb ♂ are yellow but all male pupae are brown. Data on mating frequency, fertility, and F1 survival of six mating types between ± or yb females and yb/yb, ±/yb, or ±/± males indicate that selection favors the wild-type genotype. When heterozygous males were crossed with either female genotype, the effect on fertility was similar to that produced by homozygous mutant males. Also, when heterozygous males were crossed with mutant females the effect on mating was similar to that produced by homozygous males. However, when heterozygous males were crossed with wild-type females, mating frequency was intermediate between that of the homozygous mutant and that of the homozygous wild-type. Survival of larvae from mutant females was lower than survival of larvae from wild-type females.

The remarkable discovery that the larch sawfly, Pristiphora erichsonii (Htg.), had developed an immunity, in parts of North America, to one of its principal parasites, the ichneumon, Mesoleius tenthredinis Morl., followed Lejeune's report (6) that parasitism rarely had exceeded 5 per cent in Manitoba and Saskatchewan since 1940. Muldrew (8, 9) showed that the immunity phenomenon resulted from the formation of a phagocytic capsule around the parasite's egg. The occurrence of parasite resistance by the larch sawfly in Minnesota and Wisconsin was observed in 1952 (2, 4).

Insects in the subfamily Ischnorhininae (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cercopidae), known as spittlebugs or froghoppers, are mainly distributed in the Neotropical region. A few genera include pest species of economic relevance, including Prosapia Fennah, 1949. Two new species from Mexico and Costa Rica are now described for this genus, and a key to species is proposed for the P. inferens (Walker, 1858) species group.

Campoletis pyralidis, a new species of ichneumon fly parasite on several species of Pyralidae in Canada, is described.

In compiling this check list, Dixa montana Brunetti and Dixa montana Garrett were found to be homonyms. With the permission of Mr. C. B. D. Garrett, D. montana Garrett is being changed to D. garretti to comply with Article 34 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

The genus Parapandemis is recorded from Canada, and P. borealis n. sp. is described from New Brunswick, Ontario, and Alberta.

The hemlock looper, Lambdina fiscellaria, is one of the most economically damaging defoliators of North American coniferous forests. Basic information on its reproductive biology is an essential prerequisite for understanding its population dynamics. Realized fecundity for the two major hemlock looper ecotypes varies along a latitudinal gradient in eastern Canada, but their daily oviposition patterns are similar. Mated females lay eggs after a short pre-oviposition period, with daily oviposition peaking in the first 3 days. Mated females lay significantly more eggs than unmated ones, the latter laying their eggs more evenly throughout their life. Eggs deposited early in the oviposition period are larger than those deposited near the end. This may influence over-winter survival of hemlock loopers and should be considered in studies to better understand the population dynamics and improve management of this defoliator.

The European species Perizoma alchemillata (L.), first collected in Newfoundland 22 July 1954, is now widely distributed throughout the island. Notes on its distribution, life-history, and ecology are provided. The adult moths and the male and female genitalia are illustrated to facilitate identification.

Stands of black spruce, Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P., in Northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan were defoliated by insects from 1954 to 1955 (Prentice and Hildahl, 1955). The defoliation was sufficient to show reddening of the tops from the ground as well as from aircraft at an elevation of 1,000 feet. Collections showed clearly that the most abundant species was the black-headed budworm, Acleris variana (Fern.); larvae could be found at all crown levels. Other species of insects were also common in the tops of trees with dense compact foliage such as often found in “club-tops” of black spruce. The reddening of foliage was not noticeable after the decline of the black-headed budworm populations in 1956, but the numbers of the other insects, which formed a “complex” of species, persisted at varying levels of abundance in the tops of black spruce.

Trachycrusus, gen.nov., and two included species, lescheni sp.nov. and striatulus sp.nov., are described and figured from eastern Peru. Morphologically the genus bridges the gap between the highly modified ceratocanthine genera such as Scarabatermes Howden and the more typical genera such as Astaenomoechus Martínez and Pereira.

The genus Lasiopleura Becker is peculiar in the family Chloropidae in the unusual development of the chaetotaxy of head and thorax. It is apparently an ancient group, with representatives in all the faunal regions. A number of generic names have been proposed, and a thorough study of the species of the world may show that some of them can be maintained, either as genera or as subgenera, though perhaps on different bases from those on which they were proposed. The group is especially rich in species in Australia and the South Pacific area.

Aleurodes graminicola, n. sp.

Egg.—Size, .25x.13 mm.; uniformly brownish in colour; unmarked; oblong, truncate at base; pedicel short, attached to one corner; eggs held nearly upright on leaf by short pedicel and truncated end.

Larva.—Length, .7 mm.; width, .3 mm.; oblong-elliptical in shape; colour, yellowish-white; eye spots reddish. There is a marginal fringe all around of white cottony waxen threads. No marginal rim, and but faint crenulation. In other respects, essentially as in pupa-case.

As far as we can determine there are no previous records of Strepsiptera parasitizing psyllids (Jensen 1957; Hodkinson 1974; Kinzelbach 1971). Here we record 3 separate examples.

A new species, Actium abitibiense Chandler et Paquin sp. nov., is described and is associated with old-growth boreal forests in western Quebec.

The first record of Dipalta serpentina Osten Sacken, 1877, preying on larvae of Myrmeleon immaculatus DeGeer, 1773, was by Smith (1934: 136-137), who stated that the fly larvae were “parasitic” on the antlion larvae. Cole and Schlinger (1969: 251) stated that the fly larva of this species “…is parasitic on the larvae of Myrmeleontidae.”

Although the fly larvae may prey upon the larvae of the antlion, we have established that they definitely prey upon the antlion pupae (Fig. 1). Judging from the emergence dates (early September 1988) of the flies, each had preyed upon an antlion pupa within its cocoon. Each antlion cocoon had one hole in it. An examination of the contents of each antlion cocoon revealed the cast skin of the antlion larva and the empty, clear skin of the antlion pupa. The pupal skins were not split open, which they would have been if the adult antlion had emerged. They were shrivelled, and looked much as if the contents had been sucked out.