A key is given for 13 species and two subspecies of the genus Nearctaphis in North America, including all species formerly in the genus Roepkea. The hosts, life histories, and forms for all species are poorly known and more collecting and host transfer experiments are urgently required.

Adults of the blueberry maggot, Rhagoletis mendax Curran, were captured on Pherocon® AM traps and on 8.5 cm tartar red dark sticky spheres from early July to mid-August in lowbush blueberry fields. Spheres captured significantly more (P < 0.05) adults than Pherocon AM traps deployed vertically and at 45 °angles, but did not capture significantly more adults than Pherocon traps deployed above the plants. Immature females were captured more frequently on Pherocon traps whereas mature females and males were captured more frequently on spheres.

The use of either type of trap to monitor adult prevalence to determine the time and need for control treatments appears feasible, but will require further study to provide reliable indexes of adult populations for predicting the need for treatments.

Plantings of Ceanothus griseus L. (also Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. griseus L.) were invaded by a rare leaf miner, Tischeria immaculata (Braun). Adults appeared at the beginning of May and most flew between 1750 and 2400 h. Mating and egg laying started immediately and females laid an average of 35 eggs (range: 15–48). Eggs measured 0.12 mm by 0.08 mm, were translucent, and hatched to minute larvae which did not feed until 24 h after hatch. Larvae reared at different temperatures and moisture regimes performed best at 21 °C and 70% relative humidity. Frass was ejected through the oval trap door constructed at the initiation of the larval mine. Pupation took place anywhere within the mine but the adult emerged through a crescentic exit hole at the end of the mine.The principal enemy was a eulophid, Pnigalio flavipes Ashmead. Various species of spiders and a bird, Junco hyemalis L., preyed on adults. Emerging adults were also trapped and killed in spittle-bug froth.

Cypermethrin was tested at nine dosages from 2 to 72 g AI/ha and at five temperatures from 15 °to 35 °C against second-instar nymphs of a non-diapause strain of the migratory grasshopper, Melanoplus sanguinipes (Fab.). At lower dosages, mortality increased with increasing temperatures from 15 °to 30 °C and then leveled off. At dosages of 12 g AI/ha or higher, mortality increased slightly with increasing temperature from 15 °to 20 °C, then declined at higher temperatures. Cypermethrin was about 2.2 times less toxic (LD50) at 35 °C than at 15 °or 20 °C and 70% of this reduction in toxicity occurred above 25 °C. Thus, the toxicity of cypermethrin was negatively correlated with temperature above 20 °C for nymphs of the migratory grasshopper.

In laboratory and field studies with the codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), TH 6043 and TH 6044, experimental benzoylphenyl urea chitin-synthesis inhibitors, were as effective as diflubenzuron in reducing egg hatch and subsequent larval entry when eggs were deposited on previously treated fruits or foliage. All three compounds exhibited extended residual activity, with significant reductions in egg hatch occurring over a 19-week period. TH 6045 exhibited little activity against codling moth. All compounds tested were relatively ineffective in reducing egg hatch or subsequent larval entry when they were applied topically to deposited eggs, except for the red ring stage of development which was slightly affected.

Females of Microctonus vittatae Mues., Microctonus punctulatae Loan and Wylie, and Townesilitus psylliodis Loan oviposited and survived in only some of the species of crucifer-infesting flea beetles that they encounter on rapeseed. M. vittatae oviposited readily in Phyllotreta striolata (F.), less often in Phyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze) and Phyllotreta pusilla Horn, and rarely in Psylliodes punctulata Melsh.; the progeny matured in P. striolata, P. cruciferae, and P. pusilla. M. punctulatae oviposited readily in P. punctulata and P. pusilla, occasionally in P. striolata, but never in P. cruciferae; the progeny matured only in P. punctulata and P. pusilla. Females of T. psylliodis oviposited readily in P. punctulata, rarely in P. pusilla and P. striolata, but never in P. cruciferae; parasite progeny matured only in P. punctulata.

Although Plutella porrectella (L.) is similar in appearance to the diamondback moth, P. xylostella (L.), several aspects of its biology are quite different from its more common relative. P. porrectella completed two generations per year and overwintered as an early-instar larva within apical buds of dame's rocket, Hesperis matronalis (L.). Four instars were observed in larvae reared in the laboratory. An average of 30 days was required for completion of one generation at 25 °C. This species does not seem to be an alternative host for parasites of the diamondback moth as only a single parasitic wasp, Itoplectis conquisitor (Say), was reared from 228 larvae collected in the field.

Foliage of Douglas-fir and grand fir bearing egg masses of the western spruce budworm, Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman, was collected from sites in Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. Later, 4154 of these egg masses were examined in the laboratory. The average number of eggs per mass was 47.5 ± 10.65 (range 23–58). The number of eggs in a mass increased as defoliation of current foliage increased from none to moderate. The average number of eggs per linear millimeter of a single row ranged among sites from 1.24 ± 0.02 to 2.43 ± 0.21. The average number of eggs per linear millimeter of a row was highest (1.99) among the sites studied in Idaho, and lowest (1.58) among the sites studied in Oregon.

Long term daily feeding in individual adult males and females of Periplaneta americana (L.) was quantified using a standardized diet. There was considerable variation among days, probably related to digestive processes with a period greater than 1 day. Female feeding was correlated with the reproductive cycle, most feeding occurring during the first few days after depositing an oötheca. Females differed with respect to the length of their reproductive cycles, and the amount of food that was accumulated prior to producing an oötheca. Females with high feeding rates produced oöthecae at a faster rate, but they were less efficient at converting food into oöthecal biomass than females that ate more slowly. A decrease in temperature from 25 °C to 20 °C more than doubled the length of the reproductive cycle, but the amount of food accumulated during inter-ovipositional intervals and the size of the oöthecae were not affected.

The use of Hoechst (33258) stain in quantifying spermatozoa contained in the spermatheca and spermatophore of the decorated cricket, Gryllodes supplicans (Walker) (Orthoptera: Gryllidae), is described. The technique was used to estimate the number of sperm remaining in spermatophores removed from females at various times after females had mated.

The suitability of four indigenous species (Descurainia pinnata (Walt.) Britt., D. richardsonii (Sweet) O.E. Schulz, Lepidium densiflorum Schrad., and Rorippa palustris (L.) Besser) and one introduced species (Erysimum cheiranthoides L.) of Cruciferae as host plants for the larvae of the red turnip beetle, Entomoscelis americana Brown, was tested in the laboratory using excised true leaves as food and Brassica napus L. and D. sophia (L.) Webb as control treatments. R. palustris was a suitable food plant. D. pinnata, D. richardsonii, E. cheiranthoides, and L. densiflorum were marginally suitable. Of the four indigenous species, R. palustris probably is the only one that normally is a host plant of the larvae in nature.

Samples of the Douglas-fir bark beetle, Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopk., taken from two different segments of the infested bole were different in gallery production, egg deposition, and yolk deposition. The same two groups were distinguished by comparing fat body cell nuclei taken before the onset of the reproductive period. Techniques for comparing nuclei involved creation and analysis of digital images of nuclei. These groups were indistinguishable from each other, at that stage, by any other known method. The two groups differed in total absorbance of Fuelgen-stained nuclei (DNA content) and nuclear area. Significance of these findings is discussed in relation to early detection of reproduction-related quality differences and population dynamics of bark beetles.

Mixtures of the juvenile hormone analogue (JHA) methoprene and each of three benzoylphenylureas (BPUs) were fed to sixth-instar western spruce budworm, Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman. The BPUs tested were diflubenzuron, BAY SIR 8514 (N-[(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]carbamoyl-2-chlorobenzamide), and EL-127063 (N-[[[5-(4-bromphenyl)-6-metnyl-2-pyrazinyl]amino]carbonyl]-2-chlorobenzamide). Mixtures consisted of JHA:BPU combined in 1:9 proportions. Ingestion of methoprene combined with BAY SIR 8514 or diflubenzuron resulted in significantly lower mortality than expected under a simple model of uncorrelated, independent action. Ingestion of the mixture of methoprene and EL-127063, however, resulted in significantly enhanced toxicity over the upper response range (> 50% mortality).

Mites of the genus Trisetacus from North America are revised, and a key is presented for the 22 species recognized. A diagnosis and a review of host and distributional data are presented for each of these species. A comprehensive review of all nominate species and subspecies is included to facilitate appropriate usage of available names.

Species of Ceratozetes Berlese (Ceratozetidae) of Canada and Alaska are revised. Four new species, Ceratozetes watertonensis, C. borealis, C. oresbios and C. pacificus are proposed, C. gracilis cuspidatus Jacot is elevated to specific status and redescribed, and C. gracilis (Michael), C. peritus Grandjean, C. kananaskis Mitchell, C. virginicus (Banks), C. mediocris Berlese, and C. thienemanni Willmann are redescribed. Immatures of C. borealis and C. pacificus are described and those of C. peritus, C. kananaskis, C. mediocris, C. gracilis, C. virginicus and C. thienemanni are redescribed. Ceratozetes jeweli Rockett and Woodring is synonymized with C. virginicus. A key to species from Canada and Alaska is given.

An intense forest fire destroyed a spruce (Picea spp.) stand in Agassiz Provincial Forest, Manitoba in May 1981. From 1 week following the fire, throughout the summer of 1981 and of 1982, carabid beetles were collected by pitfall trapping and standardized searches at weekly intervals. In all, 241 beetles of 24 species were collected. Agonum obsoletum Say and A. quadripunctatum De Geer were found; both species are known to be attracted to fires. A. quadripunctatum reproduced in the site in 1981 but there is no evidence that it did so in 1982. A. obsoletum was found in the study site only during the first 3 weeks after the fire. Evidence is presented to show that Harpalus laticeps LeConte is a characteristic species of forests after fire.

The North American species of the genera Arpedium Erichson, and Eucnecosum Reitter are revised. Five species are recognized, the holarctic species E. brachypterum (Gravenhorst), E. tenue (LeConte) and E. brunnescens (J. Sahlberg), the transcontinental boreal species A. cribratum Fauvel and the eastern United States species A. schwarzi Fauvel.

Lectotypes are designated for E. brachypterum, A. cribratum, A. angulare Fauvel (= A. cribratum), and A. schwarzi. The following new synonymy is established, Arpedium norvegicum var. sallasi Munster and Eucnecosum meybohmi Lohse (= E. tenue) and Arpedium angulare Fauvel and A. columbiense Hatch (= A. cribratum). All genera and species are described and illustrated with scanning electron photomicrographs and line drawings, four maps showing the North American distribution of each species are provided, and keys are presented to aid in the identification of all the species as well as the European species Arpedium quadrum (Gravenhorst). All available records and biological data for the species are summarized.

The use of the generic name Eucnecosum Reitter is discussed and the transfer of brachypterum, tenue, and brunnescens from Arpedium to this genus by Lohse is confirmed.

Fir engraver and Douglas-fir beetle numbers were monitored during and after an outbreak of the Douglas-fir tussock moth. The population behavior of the two species of bark beetles was similar. Number of emerged offspring/female was highest during the years of defoliation and declined afterward. Total number of beetle attacks peaked 1 to 2 years after defoliation ended and then declined. During and 1 year after defoliation, beetles generally infested trees that had greater than 90% defoliation. After this time infestations were not as strongly associated with heavily defoliated trees. Life tables were constructed for beetles within trees and for beetles per area of forest land. Key mortality factors acting on beetles within trees occurred during the larval and pupal stages. Mortality during adult dispersal was a key factor when beetle density per area of land was considered. Although beetle offspring emerging per dm2 of bark surface was relatively low in defoliated trees, defoliation appeared to reduce host resistance which enabled beetles to successfully attack at lower densities, reducing intraspecific competition, and resulting in increased emergence of offspring/female parent.

Cypermethrin and carbaryl, as both aqueous sprays and bran baits, were tested in the field as crop protection measures against third-instar grasshopper populations infesting bromegrass and alfalfa–bromegrass pastures. Application of 15 g cypermethrin/ha as a spray reduced the grasshopper populations by 97% within 120 h; 700 g carbaryl/ha as spray reduced the populations by 90% during the same period of time after application. Neither insecticide applied on bran bait sufficiently reduced populations to be useful as crop protection measures against grasshoppers.

In Quebec commercial apple orchards, spider populations are shown to have been depressed numerically by current pest management practices. Hunting species appeared to be more sensitive to insecticides than web-building species. There were large differences in spider distribution among orchards and years, although some consistent patterns were observed. Specimens from the following families were captured: Theridiidae, Linyphiidae, Lycosidae, Araneidae, Erigonidae, Clubionidae, Tetragnathidae, Dictynidae, Salticidae, Philodromidae, and Thomisidae. In orchards treated only for scab control or with only a single insecticide application for apple maggot control, spiders attained their maximal numbers in August. With two treatments for apple maggot control, spiders attained their maximal numbers towards the end of September.