Development of the European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch), in Nova Scotia was studied at three constant temperatures to construct a life table and establish the intrinsic rate of development. The threshold temperature for development was 10.6°C. The duration from the beginning of the egg stage to adult for females was 31.2, 20.5, and 14.0 days and for males 21.9, 19.6, and 12.8 days at 15°, 18°, and 21°C, respectively. The duration in degree-days above 10.6°C for females was 137.3, 151.7, and 145.2 and for males 128.0, 144.9, and 133.1 at the same three temperatures. The duration of the preoviposition period decreased, duration of the oviposition period remained constant, and the number of eggs laid increased with temperature. Life tables were constructed at 15°, 18°, and 21°C; the intrinsic rates of increase were 0.56,.092, and.134; net reproduction rates 10.06, 13.50, and 17.37; and mean generation times were 41.4, 28.3, and 21.3 days, respectively.

The subjective synonymies of Hylastes rufipes Eichhoff with Hylesinus opaculus Leconte and Hylastes salebrosus Eichhoff with Hylurgus scabripennis Zimmermann have been generally accepted (Eichhoff 1896; Wood 1979), but there has been disagreement about priority owing to differences in opinion about publication dates of Eichhoff's descriptions. Recently, Wood (1979) gave priority to Hylastes opaculus Leconte and Hylurgus scabripennis Zimmermann. This note reaffirms the priority of Eichhoff's names.

Responses were recorded of male spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.)) exposed to natural pheromone and a wide range of concentrations of synthetic pheromone in an all-glass wind tunnel equipped with a moving, patterned ceiling. The numbers of males wing-fanning and plume-following decreased with decreasing concentration of the pheromone plume. Speed of upwind flight with the ceiling stationary increased with decreasing concentration, but the durations of flight sustained by moving the ceiling were not significantly different under the different concentrations.

Males exposed to pheromone produced by calling females showed a higher incidence of plume-following, and flew significantly faster, than males exposed to a similar concentration of synthetic pheromone.

The three closely related species of Euxoa cutworm moths comprising the declarata group gave identical male antennal responses to synthetic C10 to C18 alkenyl derivatives. An extract and a solution of the volatile emissions from E. campestris females when fractionated by gas chromatography yielded a single EAG-active fraction whose elution corresponded to a C10 acetate. The active component was assigned (Z)-5-decenyl acetate based on its mass spectrum and capillary GC retention time and the EAG responses of campestris males to isomeric decenyl acetates. Field trials demonstrated (Z)-5-decenyl acetate attracted males of all three species although it was not as attractive as live females. Attraction was suppressed by (Z)-5-dodecenyl actate, (Z)-7-dodecenyl alcohol, and (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate.

We studied first and fourth instar larvae of Coccinella trifasciata L., C. Californica Mannerheim, C. undecimpunctata L., and Cycloneda polita Casey searching for Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) on alfalfa seedlings and for A. dirhodum (Walker) on oat seedlings, in the laboratory. Styles of search varied considerably, but each species of larva could capture aphids on each species of plant. Observed differences in relative abundance of the four species of adult coccinellid in alfalfa and oat fields are not related to the success of their larvae in finding aphids.

The fecundity, survivorship, and rate of development of the lupine aphid Macrosiphum albifrons Essig were determined and summarized into life tables from which the intrinsic rate of increase was computed. The life tables, using a time scale in days, were converted to a variable life table model using a physiological time scale based on an estimated thermal threshold of development of 3.59° (± 0.587°). A method of determining age and fecundity of adult aphids was developed from weight and embryo content. The use of intrinsic rate of increase and of the method of aging in field population dynamics are discussed.

A new species of the genus Quedius Stephens, Q. repens spec, nov., is described from Oregon. It belongs to the Limbifer-group and represents the third species of this species group known from the Pacific coast area.

Additional data on taxonomy, bionomics, and geographical distribution of many species are presented.

Two geographical biotypes (G and A) of Heliothis zea Boddie were identified in a constant temperature laboratory study. The G (Georgia) biotype was found to have a mean development rate 5 ± 1% faster and coefficient of variability 44 ± 9% higher than the comparable A (Arizona) biotype. Each geographical biotype was described by a biophysically based, nonlinear development function with an R2 equal to 0.995. At temperature ranging from 15.6° to 35.6°C, the adult emergence distributions transformed to a physiological age scale were shown statistically to be independent of temperature. They could be described by a “same shape” distribution function. The empirical same shape distribution for rate was not significantly different from a hypothetical normal distribution.

Two new species of Lygaeinae are described from Canada. Lygaeospilus brevipilus from British Columbia and Melanopleurus perplexus from Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. L. brevipilus is also recorded from Oregon. The record of M. perplexus in Canada represents an extension of the previously recorded range for the genus Melanopleurus. Revised keys to the species of Lygaeospilus and Melanopleurus are given.

In the course of my search for Miridae in Newfoundland in 1980, I collected a series of six bugs which proved to be the males of Myrmedobia exilis (Fallén), family Microphysidae. The specimens were collected by sweeping the ground cover on the east side of Gibbet Hill just west of the Information Centre (Signal Hill National Historic Park), St. John's, Newfoundland, 20 July 1980. The vegetation on the hill site consisted mainly of a dense, but short mat of heather (Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull) intermixed with moss, clumps of grasses, and a few herbaceous plants. Thus sweeping was right along the ground. Collecting at the Signal Hill site, and generally across Newfoundland was limited by wet weather and although I spent three nights at St. John's only minimal collecting was possible.

White spruce, Picea glauca (Moench) Voss, is a major commercial tree species used in reforestation programs throughout Canada, and seed requirements cannot be met in some years because of insect damage and the periodic nature of cone crops. The spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.), feeds on buds and cones of its hosts, causing a pronounced decrease in cone production (Schooley 1978). A current outbreak in northeastern Ontario poses a serious threat to white spruce seed supply from high value, managed seed production areas. Therefore, in 1979, we began an experiment to determine whether carbofuran, a systemic insecticide, could be used to protect buds and cones when applied to soil. We chose carbofuran because it has proved successful for control of some insects in seed orchards in the southeastern United States (DeBarr 1978)

Consider a predator which, when hungry, has a discovery rate (= search rate × probability of finding prey) of a prey per unit time. When satiated, its demand rate for prey is 1/T, where T is the time-interval between successive prey captures when the predator is surrounded by excess of prey. Both a and T may vary with temperature, etc. Let s(N) be the expression for prey survival rate, during an infinitesimal time-period dt, as a function of prey density N.

Vapour degreasing and cleaning of entomological specimens proved to be a viable alternative to standard methods. Defined change in colour upon degreasing clearly portrayed the effectiveness of this new technique.

Stephen S. Beare, Department of Zoology, University of Alberta, studied martens (Martes americana) in the Evelyn Creek area, Nisutlin River drainage, near the Canol Road, 60°47′; 133°15′ in 1980 and collected a marten flea and a woodchuck flea from them. In addition, he trapped other small mammals from 15 July to 28 September and collected 109 flea specimens of nine taxa from them.

Daily trapping of native elm bark beetles, Hylurgopinus rufipes (Eichh.), in central Ontario showed that the population is divided into fairly discrete overwintering adult and larval groups. Group proportions depend on the stage of development of the local beetle infestation and disease infection. Both beetles and disease are spread by mass movement of beetles, in late summer and fall, in search of living elm trees in which to feed and overwinter.

The genetic make-up of representative populations of five Choristoneura species was compared using starch gel electrophoresis. Species included C. occidentalis Freeman from Idaho, C. biennis Freeman from British Columbia, C. retiniana (Walsingham) (= C. viridis Freeman) from Oregon, C. lambertiana ponderosana Obraztsov from Colorado, and C. fumiferana (Clemens) from Maine. When variation at individual gene loci was examined, intraspecific variation was often as great, and sometimes greater, than interspecific variation and few significant differences were noted among the species. The highest levels of overall genetic similarity occurred among C. occidentalis, C. biennis, and C. retiniana. Relatively greater genetic distances were found between this group and C. lambertiana and C. fumiferana. C. fumiferana was most distantly related to all other groups. Genetic identity values fell within the range more commonly associated with conspecific populations rather than with separate species.

A review of the literature and application of the latest rules show that the justified emendation Paxylommatidae Foerster 1862 is the correct family-group name for Hybrizon Fallén 1813. Because Hybrizon lacks the chief apomorphy of braconids, fused metasomal terga II and III, and also lacks a major apomorphy of ichneumonids, loss of 1r-m and retention of 2r-m in the hindwing, it is placed in a separate family. Some unusual antennal sensilla are illustrated.

Seven larval instars were reliably detected for S. luggeri N. and M. by measuring the length of the postgena. Instars were less reliably separated by the length of the whole larva. The number of rows of posterior hooklets also separated all instars, but these were difficult to count. The presence of an egg-burster clearly identified the first instar, and separated cervical sclerites, the final instar. However, measurement of postgenal length remained the only practical and reliable method for identifying the remaining five instars.

Control of nothern corn rootworm, Diabrotica longicornis (Say), resulting from soil applications of carbofuran in southwestern Ontario varied considerably (Smith 1980). However, Ball and Su (1979) showed in laboratory studies that topical applications with sublethal doses of carbofuran increased the longevity and fecundity of western corn rootworm, D. virgifera LeConte, females. This is a report of effects of soil applications of carbofuran on northern rootworm egg populations in corn grown without rotation. The work was done in conjunction, with studies to determine the economic importance of larval populations on clay soil at two locations in southwestern Ontario. Details of methods of applying carbofuran and sampling rootworm eggs were described (Smith 1980).

Mature male Pseudohylesinus nebulosus (LeConte) walking on Douglas-fir logs were strongly arrested and stridulated at a female gallery or artificial galleries with female frass, but not at artificial galleries without frass. This response diminished after the female had accepted a male in the gallery. Mature males emitted distinctive chirps for stress, attraction, and rivalry, all of which were different from chirps of immature males, and pushed intruding males from the gallery. In contrast, reproductively immature adult males were only weakly arrested both at artificial galleries and those of feeding females, and were not aggressive toward other males. Only stress chirps of immature males were distinguishable from chirps in other contexts. These observations suggest that adult reproductive maturation includes development of close-range olfactory and acoustic signals and territorial behavior.