Incidence of the western pine shoot borer, Eucosma sonomana Kearfott, and tree growth measurements from 5687 ponderosa pines, Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws., were recorded in the Calf Pen plantation Payette National Forest, ID. The percentage of trees infested by shoot borer generally increased as tree height increased.

Infestation of the tree’s leader usually resulted in reduced height growth especially where needle length was shortened in the leader. Height growth of infested leaders was less than uninfested leaders. This difference in height growth increased with the total height of the tree as measured in the previous year.

In this paper 12 new species and a new genus (Prochramesus) of scolytid beetles are described from Mexico, and one species is described from Honduras. Notes concerning geographical distributions of a few other Mexican species are included. The specimens taken in Mexico were all collected by the author while with the 1953 expedition of the Francis Huntington Snow Entomological Museum (University of Kansas, Lawrence). The new species represent the following genera: Pseudohylesinus (1), Phrixisoma (1), Leperisinus (1), Phloeosinus (1), Chaetophloeus (1), Renocis (1), Phloeotribus (1), Prochramesus (1), and Chramesus (4).

Pseudopterocomma canadensis, Chaitophorus nudus and Chaitophorus nodulosus are described as new. All three infest species of poplar in North America. The affinities of each are discussed.

Epinotia nanana (Tr.) has become increasingly important in recent years in Quebec as it has caused severe defoliation of ornamental spruce trees in the Berthierville area, Quebec. The insect has a one-year life cycle and overwinters in the larval stage, mainly in the fifth instar, in a mined needle. Damage is most noticeable in the spring. Fairly heavy mortality, probably due to unfavourable climatic conditions, occurs among overwintering larvae. The amount of control exerted by parasites is always low.

Pathogenicity of the microsporidium Nosema fumiferanae (Thomson) in the obliquebanded leafroller, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris), was evaluated in laboratory bio-assays. When consumed by first-, fourth-, or fifth-instar obliquebanded leafroller larvae, Nosema spores primarily infected the gut and Malpighian tubules. When 2000 spores per square millimetre diet surface were consumed by neonate, fourth-, or fifth-instar larvae, the N. fumiferanae caused 91, 24, and 5% mortality, respectively. Infection by N. fumiferanae had a delayed impact on the older larvae. Large numbers of spores were retained to the adult stage by obliquebanded leafrollers treated as fourth- or fifth-instar larvae.

The larvae of Dioryctria abietella (D. & S.) are among the most destructive pests of the cones of slash pine, Pinus elliottii Engelm., and longleaf pine, Pinus palustris Mill., in the Southern United States. Larval instar data have been particularly useful in laboratory insecticide screening tests where it is essential to use larvae of the same age. The following is a brief account of a test to determine the number of larval instars of D. abietella in Florida.

The crucifer flea beetle, Phyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is the most important pest of seedling canola, Brassica napus Linnaeus (Brassicaceae), in North America, yet effects of weather on its dispersal and flight activity are not completely understood. We investigated effects of ambient temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, atmospheric pressure, barometric flux, and precipitation on capture heights of P. cruciferae over four site-years in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. Capture heights increased with mean ambient temperatures for both generations of beetles, with 15°C determined as an estimated minimum temperature for flight. Although capture heights decreased with greater minimum relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure, and increased with greater mean wind speed, the contributions of these factors were determined to be minor relative to that of mean temperature. Results of the current study will contribute to more accurate predictions of the invasion of canola crops by P. cruciferae and contribute to improved integrated management of this important pest species.

During 1960, 534 organisms were collected from 32 nests. In order of decreasing numbers they were ants, bark lice, beetles, mites, sowbugs, springtails, spiders, snails, millipeds, harvestmen, hemipterous nymphs, biting midges, a slug, a damsel bug and a wasp. Observations on their distribution among the nests are included.

Various methods for recording the activity of insects have been reported (e.g. Park, 1935, 1937; Gunn, 1940; Hammond, 1953). In this type of investigation, three characteristics are desired in the method: a) the apparatus should be sufficiently sensitive for recording small movements in small insects; b) the portion of the apparatus in immediate contact with the insect should permit easy subjection of the organism to various environmental conditions; c) the apparatus should permit rapid and easy accumulation of data from a number of insects. Two methods have been developed in the present laboratory in attempts to meet as far as possible these desirable qualifications.

Nine new species and one subspecies of Palmanura from Mexico and Guatemala are described and illustrated: P. matildae, P. lindquisti, P. schusteri, P. lacandonicus, P. curta, P. pascuali, P. wilsoni, P. normae, P. colotlipa, and P. mirabilis longa. Besides the new taxa, new records and a key for the 12 known species of the genus are given. A brief discussion on the distribution and evolution of this and related genera is included.

Site fidelity and long-distance homing are known to occur in nesting female Hymenoptera. We report here on the site fidelity and homing ability in males of five species of scoliid wasps (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae), a group whose females do not make nests but are ectoparasitoids of scarabaeid beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea). The males of these wasp species patrol female emergence areas searching for mates. Based on mark-recapture data, we found that between 40% and 100% of marked males left the release area and travelled 50–800 m from the point of capture returning to their original patrol area. We discuss the adaptive significance of site fidelity and homing behaviour in Scoliidae, and propose hypotheses about the evolution of the homing behaviour in Hymenoptera. The homing ability of these primitive Aculeata may represent a case of convergent evolution with other Hymenoptera in which males patrol emergence areas in search of females. Additionally, this homing ability may serve as a preadaptation for the evolution of nest-provisioning and nesting habits in Hymenoptera.

That the Aphids in the sprine time are wingless, virgin females, is an opinion that has been carefully entertained by some of the most distinguished naturalists and physiologists in the world. Bonnet, Reaumur, Owen, Huxley, &c., have especially studied this interesting class of insects, and have given expression to the above opinion in their writings. But this, therw are strong reasons for asserting, must be taken in a restricted sense, so far, at any rate, as our own Aphidae are concerned.

Annual ice blocks erosion characterizes James Bay coastline. Within the sampled area, the estuarine Rupert Bay shores are flooded by fresh or brackish tides, and James Bay shores by saline water. Nineteen mosquito species were found in typical larval associations, related to the vegetation of their temporary shallow water breeding sites. In the tidal zone, Ae. implicatus is characteristic of fresh or brackish water marshes, while Ae. cantator and then Ae. dorsalis are dominant in the salt pitted marshes. In the supra-littoral zone Ae. punctor is characteristic of Salix Candida and S. pellita unit; at the foot of the supra-littoral slope, Ae. communis and Ae. pionips characterize the S. planifolia unit. An ecological map of a section of Rupert Bay illustrates where are located the typical littoral mosquito species. The ecological status of each mosquito species found in this area is also discussed, taking into account previous data from all the subarctic continental zones.