The results reported in this paper are part of a study of the biology and control of black flies in the forests of Eastern Canada conducted on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, near Baie Comeau, Quebec, during 1954, 1955, and 1956. Reference to this study is made in a review by Peterson and Wolfe (1958). The identification and biology of the black flies of this region has been reported on by Wolfe and Peterson (1959) who also describe the topography of the region. The important feature of this rugged area is an abundance of fast-flowing streams which provide highly suitable environments for the development of black-fly populations.

The following taxa are described as new: Pronomis n. gen., type-species Pyrausta delicatalis South, also containing Pyrausta profusalis Warren; Pronomis flavicolor n. sp., Taiwan; Nomis albopedalis tomariensis n. subsp., Kuriles; Nomis brunnealis n. sp., Japan and China; Gynenomis n. gen., type-species Pyrausta sericealis Wileman; Gynenomis mindanaoensis n. sp., Philippine Is., Paranomis n. gen., type-species Paranomis denticosta n. sp., Yuennan Prov., China; Paranomis nodicosta n. sp., Shensi Prov., China; Paranomis sidemialis n. sp., Manchuria; Paranomis moupinensis n. sp., Szechwan Prov., China; Oronomis n. gen., type-species Pyrausta xanthothysana Hampson.

A description of the previously unknown larva of Coenagrion interrogatum (Hagen) is presented. In addition, information on larval habitat and the flight period of the adult is documented.

An epizootic of Entomophtora sp. was observed in a population of Cinara curvipes Patch. of an exceptional density in a young stand of Abies balsamea L. (Mill.). The presence of Entomophtora and the epizootic were determined in the field by observing resting spores with a portable mini-microscope and by estimating the number of dead or liquefied aphids.

The fungus attacked most of the aphids. Among the few living females observed in October, only those that did not contain resting spores were able to reach the ground for protection. Observations conducted in the same stand the following year indicated that the epizootic of Entomophtora sp. was responsible for the reduction of C. curvipes in the observed stand.

At the meeting (of February 3rd) of the Academy of Science, of St. Louis, Mo. (President Gray in the chair), Mr. Trelease exhibited several specimens, about three feet square, of a curious silk tapestry, taken from the ceiling of a corn-storing loft in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, by Dr. Francis Eschauzier, stating that he was informed that the larger specimen had been cut from a continuous sheet over twenty yards wide and about four times as long. The specimens, of a nearly white colour, and of much the appearance and feeling of a soft tanned piece of sheepskin, were shown to be composed of myriads of fine silken threads, crossing and recrossing at every conceivable angle, and so producing a seemingly homogeneous texture.

The rise and decline of two infestations of Aphis barberae Robinson on the thistle Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop, are described. The larger infestation consisted of 122 colonies in an area 8 m in diameter and produced many alatae before declining. The second infestation consisted of 12 colonies and produced no alatae. Each infestation appeared to arise from a single central colony and spread when alate and apterous aphids travelled short distances to adjacent plants. The growth patterns indicate that each infestation represented a single clone. Both infestations declined rapidly due largely to predation and became locally extinct early in the summer.

Some interesting developments recently have taken place with reference to the systematic status and distribution of the mint flea beetle, as we know it in America, which tend to clear up the origin of the pest in this country.

This beautiful and well known European insect is now for the first time discovered in this country. I quote Mr. Sainton's description from Ins. Brit., v. 3, p. 187. “Head yellowish white. Face and palpi white. Antennæ white, annulate with fuscous. Anterior wings white, sometimes suffused with golden, with an oblique golden fascia from the base of the costa.

Winthemia occidentis Rhn. was introduced into Newfoundland to strengthen the parasite complex of the eastern hemlock looper. This tachinid has two emergence periods, one in the fall, the other in the following spring. A method was developed for rearing overwintering tachinid larvae to the adult stage. The best rearing results were obtained when the larvae were stored outdoors in jars of peat moss for the fall and winter period and removed to controlled temperature and humidity conditions in the spring, to complete development.

In rearranging and briefly investigating the species of Lina and some allied genera in our collection, assisted by additional material kindly sent me by Messrs. Carr of Alberta, Hopping of British Columbia, Frost of Massachusetts, and Notman and Shoemaker of New York, the following notes were made, which in some cases correct a few misidentifications or add to the recorded distribution of some species.

Although the live weights of the successive stages of some of the old world Acrididae are known (Bodenheimer, 1929; Key, 1936; Duarte, 1938; Husain, et al., 1946; Davey, 1954; Richards and Waloff, 1954), this information has been obtained only for Melanoplus bilituratus (Wlk.) among the grasshopper species of Western Canada (Smith, 1958). In addition to the establishment of growth curves, weight data are useful for computing the biomass of acridid fauna in any situation. As data accumulate to permit the development of a generalized relationship of food consumed to body weight, (e.g. Davey, 1954; Misra, 1956; Gangwere, 1958; Smith, 1958; Putnam, unpublished data), live weight could become a useful quantity for estimating the damage potential of any acridid population.

Stator vachelliae new species is described from Texas, Mexico, El Salvador, and Venezuela and S. mexicanus new species is described from San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Stator usticolor (Sharp) and S. semicolon (Sharp) NEW COMBINATIONS have been determined as belonging to the sordidus complex. The following rearing records are recorded: S. vachelliae and S. subaeneus (Schaeffer) from Acacia farnesiana and S. mexicanus from Acacia cornigera.

The predaceous mirid Deraeocoris nebulosus (Uhler) is found on more than 50 species of ornamental trees and shrubs where it feeds on several important pest species (Wheeler et al. 1975). It is a common mite and aphid predator in commercial apple orchards in Virginia (Parrella et al. 1978). Wheeler et al. (1975) described the nymphal stages and biology, but made no mention of the egg or oviposition site. We describe the egg and oviposition site which we discovered while studying various predators of the European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch), in Virginia apple orchards. Eggs and oviposition sites of other predaceous mirids associated with apple have been described (Kullenberg 1942; Collyer 1952, 1953; Sanford 1964; Horsburgh and Asquith 1968, 1970).

The alate virginopara of Gharesia polunini Stroyan is described from Carex mertensii Prescott in British Columbia. Morphological variation in the apterous morph is discussed. The taxonomic status of the genus Gharesia Stroyan is considered.

Catinathrips kainos O’Neill and Frankliniella vaccinii Morgan overwinter as adults in the soil and first appear on lowbush blueberry plants in mid- to late May. C. kainos was the predominant species on the plants in the spring in six Maine locations. The peak of nymphal abundance occurred in mid-July. It is believed that C. kainos migrates into the soil to complete development while F. vaccinii becomes an adult on the blueberry plant before migrating into the soil. F. vaccinii adults were found to be much more numerous on the plants in late July and August than C. kainos. Although only a few C. kainos males and no F. vaccinii males were noted in the spring, a 3:4 ratio of male to female F. vaccinii adults was present on the plants in August and about the same adult ratio of C. kainos was discovered in the soil in mid-August. The depth at which C. kainos winters in the soil appeared to be centered at 2.5–3.5 in.

The following new taxa are described: Limbobotys n. gen., type-species Botys limbolalis Moore; L. hainanensis n. sp., Hainan; L. foochowensis n. sp., Foochow; Nephelobotys n. gen., type-species Pionea nephelistalis Hampson; Circobotys malaisei n. sp., N. Burma; Vittabotys n. gen., type-species V. mediomaculalis n. sp., Kwangtung and Fukien.

Observation of ecdysis in one male and three females of the spider Philodroms rufus Walckenaer (family Thomisidae) has revealed a hitherto unreported source of food for newly molted spiders. After hanging suspended from their exuvia by the spinnerets for a few minutes, the spiders suddenly flexed their legs and ran quickly from base to tip of each exuvial leg, pressing their mouthparts along the limbs. On reaching the tip of each tarsus the spiders bit the old cuticle, allowing a column of colorless liquid that extended through the distitarsus and basitarsus and part way up the tibia to be withdrawn steadily and rapidly. One of the spiders drew the liquid from only four of the exuvial legs, while the others drew from all eight. Having fed, the spiders were immediately capable of normal activity.

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.