The signs of an Empusa muscae Cohn infection in dead flies were described over two centuries ago by de Geer (Kirby and Spence, 1826), who, however, attributed the cause to some factor other than a microorganism. Though the validity of the name Empusa has often been questioned, it is used in this paper following the suggestion by MacLeod (1956).

The following account deals with the transmission of E. muscae to species of Diptera under controlled laboratory conditions.

Trials to determine the extent of fruit protection given by spraying spores of Bacillus cereus Frankland and Frankland on apple trees exposed to natural attack from the codling moth, Carpocapsa pomonella (L.), were carried out in the experimental apple orchard of the Entomology Laboratory at Summerland, British Columbia. Heavy injury was expected there on trees not receiving commercial insecticide applications. Ten test and ten check trees were chosen at random. Check trees received no treatment of any kind. Test trees were treated with six sprays between May 26 and June 29, 1954, and five between August 5 and September 8, 1954.

Food habits and occurrence of the commoner species of coccinellids in peach orchards of the Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, are being investigated in connection with a study of the effects of pesticides on biological control agencies. Results of a study of Stethorus punctillum Weise have already been published (Putman, 1955). The present account deals with laboratory tests of feeding, mostly during June and July from 1952 to 1955, with prey of special economic importance in peach orchards.

Freeze-drying has become widely accepted as a means of concentrating and preserving substances without destroying biological activity, and is becoming increasingly important in various entomological and bacteriological studies. The methods and tvpes of apparatus used have been recently reviewed by Harris (1954). The apparatus described in this paper was developed at the Entomology Laboratory, Ottawa, for drying small quantities of insect tissue. It is sturdy and may be easily and cheaply constructed from readily available laboratory supplies with common machine-shop tools.

To produce an odor sensation, a substance must be volatile and its molecules must come into contact with the olfactory end organ, which may require some measure of lipoid solubility. This much is generally agreed, but beyond this there has been no accepted theom of the triggering process by which the odorous molecule initiates a discharge of the olfactory nerve. In part, this ignorance has been due to the lack of any secure correlation between the odors of substances and the chemical constitution or reactivity of the odorous molecules, or their physical shapes or electrical properties. A correlation of odor with molecular vibrational modes would be consistent with most of the facts of olfactory chemistry, but this hypothesis has failed to win general acceptance up till now because, (1) there has been no direct evidence of a correlation between odor and vibrational frequency, and, (2) there has been no suggestion of a mechanism whereby a molecular vibration could trigger a nervous discharge. Some evidence bearing on both these objections has recently been brought forward which is of considerable interest in relation to the problem of insect attractancy and repellency (7, 8, 9, 10, 11).

In September, 1955, crane flies reared from magsots, or “leather jackets”, collected from flower beds at North Easr Margaree, Cape Breton Island, were identified as of the Palaearctic species Tipule paludosa Mg. by J. R. Vockeroth, Entomology Division, Ottawa. This is probably the most injurious crane fly in Europe, where it is frequently reported in the literature as injuring grasses, cereals, beets, strawberries, hemp, flax, tobacco, and other crops. Further collecting has shown the species to be present in Murphy and Cranton sections, Inverness County, and Sydney, Cape Breton County, Cape Breton Island. It is doubtfully recorded from Newfoundland by Alexander (1942, pp. 260-261). These records constitute the only ones known in North America. T. paludosa was probably introduced in soil ballast dumped from ships on the shores of Cape Breton Island in the same manner as the exotic soil-inhabiting beetles referred to by Brown (1940).

Eggs of the ichneumonid endoparasite Pimpla turionellae (L.) were observed by Bronskill to develop and hatch in physiological saline solution. This raised the question whether the larvae could be reared on unnatural food. Early attempts (Simmonds, 1944) to rear ichneumonid ectoparasites on nutritive gelatin slopes and raw beef were unsuccessful. Heuristic attempts at Belleville have succeeded in raising a small number on such a food.

Mites of the family Phytoseiidae, most of which are at least partially predacious, have received considerable attention from fruit entomologists since Parrott et al. (1906, pp. 302-303) stated that they feed extensively on phytophagous mites. This has resulted in much interest in the taxonomic status of Phytoseiidae and several papers on this subject have appeared in recent years.

Four males of Aedes melanimon Dyar were collected in mosquito traps during flight studies on the prairie near Brooks, Alberta, in 1956. One of the specimens was taken on July 14, and two on July 24; the collection date of the fourth specimen is unrecorded. The determinations were made by Dr. J. R. Vockeroth, Entomology Division, Ottawa, from preparations of the genitalia. This is the first time that this species has been recorded from Canada; it was previously known only from the western United States. It is possible that females of this species have been collected in Canada but have not been recognized because of the similarity to A. dorsalis (Meig.). Barr (1955) and Richards (1956) have reviewed the specific status of Aedes melanimon Dyar and compared the morphology of this mosquito with that of other closely related species.

In July, 1952, during studies on the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), at Merivale, Ontario, a large-scale dispersal of the larvae was observed. A field of early potatoes consisting of seven 100-foot rows, which was to be used as a source of supply of the insect for plant resistance studies, had been artifically infested on June 30 by placing an overwintered adult on each plant. The beetles laid eggs in largc numbers and by the second week of July the plants were overpopulated wit11 larvae. By July 14 the plants were stripped of foliage and the larvae were forced to feed on the stalks. On the morning of July 16 the starving larvae began to leave the plants in large numbers. Almost all left on the one day, some of them travelling considerable distances.

On August 15, 1955, during studies on the ecology of caterpillars on cabbage near Carp, Ontario, two species of Lepidoptera were observed in unique association. A final-instar larva of the diamondback moth, Plutella maculipennis (Curt.), bore on its third abdominal tergite an egg of the imported cabbageworm, Pieris rapae (L.) (Fig. 1). The larva appeared to he unaffected by the presence of the egg and when brought into the laboratory spun its cocoon within 24 hours. The egg remained attached to the larval skin, becoming enclosed within the cacoon, and hatched during the prepupal period. The resultant larva tried to free itself from the cocoon for several hours and eventually died.

The seventh annual meeting of the Entomological Society of Canada was held jointly with the fifth annual meeting of the Entomological Society of Alberta at the Marquis Hotel, Lethbridge, from October 29 to 31. A total of 178 members and friends attended, including 14 from the United States and other countries and 10 wives. R. Glen, President, Entomological Society of Canada, presided. Addresses of welcome were given by C. W. Farstad, President, Entomological Society of Alberta; Mr. A. W. Shackleford, Mayor of the City of Lethbridge; Mr. H. Chester, Superintendent, Canada Experimental Farm, Lethbridge; and Dr. W. C. Broadfoot, Chief, Science Service Laboratory, Lethbridge. At the opening session, Dr. Glen gave a timely account of the complex relations of an entomological society to other scientific societies. Concerning co-ordinating bodies he discussed especially the roles of the International Council of Scientific Unions, the American Institute of Biological Sciences, and the Canadian Federation of Biological Societies, the last of which had been formed at Ottawa on October 11, 1957, with four member societies.