A revision of the hydrophilid subfamily Sphaeridiinae (Coleoptera) is presented including a historical review, a discussion of diagnostic characters and techniques, and some conclusive remarks, mostly on the zoogeography of this group in North America.Thirteen genera and 62 species are recognized. Three genera, one subgenus, 12 species, and one subspecies are described as new. Sphaeridiolinus Menozzi, 1921, is placed in synonymy with Sphaeridium Fabricius, 1775; Ercycon Rey, 1885, and Paraliocercyon Ganglbauer, 1904, are placed in synonymy with Cercyon Leach, 1817. On the specific level, Phaenonotum dubium Sharp, 1882, is placed in synonymy with Ph. exstriatum (Say, 1837); Sphaeridium quadrimaculatum Herbst, 1783, marginatum Fabricius, 1787, daltoni Stephens, 1829, semistriatum Laporte, 1840, testaceum Heer, 1841, humerale Westhoff, 1881, nigrum Csiki, 1953, and pulchrum Csiki, 1953, with S. bipustulatum Fabricius, 1781; Sphaeridium striolatum Heer, 1841, pictum Ménétries, 1832, marginatum Normand, 1933, nigerrimum Reitter, 1909, inhumerale Csiki, 1953, and confluens EndrÖdy-Younga, 1967, with S. scarabaeoides (Linné, 1758); Cercyon testaceus Blatchley, 1923, with C. praetextatus (Say, 1825); Cercyon fulvipennis Mannerheim, 1852, with C. limbatus Mannerheim, 1843; Cercyon mulsanti Ganglbauer, 1904, with C. quisquilius (Linné, 1761); Cercyon impunctatus Kuwert, 1890, and janssoni Nyholm, 1952, with C. unipunctatus (Linné, 1758); Cercyon incrematus Notman, 1920, with C. lateralis (Marsham, 1802); Cercyon erythropterus Mulsant, 1840, discoidalis J. Sahlberg, 1913, basillaris Notman, 1920, and bifenestratellus EndrÖdy-Younga, 1967, with C. haemorrhoidalis (Fabricius, 1775); Cercyon rufipennis Csiki, 1953, with C. impressus (Sturm, 1807); Cercyon rubripennis Kuwert, 1890, with C. melanocephalus (Linné, 1758); Cercyon separandus Rey, 1885, and pictithorax Gridelli, 1926, with C. terminants (Marsham, 1802); Cercyon binotatus Stephens, 1829, and ruficollis Schilsky, 1888, with C. litoralis (Gyllenhal, 1808); Cercyon falli Winters, 1944 (nomen nudum), with C. analis (Paykull, 1798); Cybocephalus unicolor Motschulsky, 1845, with Cercyon adumbratus Mannerheim, 1843; Cryptopleurum cerei Schwarz, 1899, with C. impressum Sharp, 1882.Neotypes are designated for Cercyon praetextatus (Say), C. occallatus (Say), and C. minusculus Melsh. Lectotypes are designated for Dactylosternum advectum Horn, D. cacti (LeC.), Oosternum costatum Sharp, Cercyon roseni Knisch, C. opacellus Fall, C. pubescens LeC., C. kulzeri Knisch, C. nevadanus Knisch, C. floridanus Horn, C. testaceus Blatch., C. limbatus Mannh., C. fulvipennis Mannh., C. variegatus Sharp, C. indistinctus Horn, C. adumbratus Mannh., C. fimbriatus Mannh., C. luniger Mannh., C. maculatus Melsh., Genyon navicularis (Zimm.), Megasternum posticatum Mannh., Cryptopleurum impressum Sharp, C. cerei Schw., and C. subtile Sharp.Keys to tribes, genera, and species are provided. The tribes and genera are described; each species is described and illustrated, and all available bionomic and distributional data are presented; distributional records are mapped.

The species and genera of the family Trogositidae in America north of Mexico are revised. Two subfamilies are recognized: Peltinae and Trogositinae. The Peltinae include: Calitys Thomson (2 species), Eronyxa Reitter (3 species), Ostoma Laicharting (3 species), Grynocharis Thomson (2 species), Lophocateres Olliff (1 species), and Thymalus Latreille (1 species). The Trogositinae include: Nemosoma Latreille (5 species), Cylidrella Sharp (1 species), Corticotomus Sharp (6 species), Euschaefferia Leng (2 species), Airora Reitter (3 species), Temnochila Westwood (10 species), and Tenebroides Piller and Mitterpacher (18 species). Pseudocotomus Schaeffer is placed in synonymy with Euschaefferia Leng and Parafilumis Casey with Corticotomus Sharp. New species are Temnochila omolopha from Arizona and New Mexico and Temnochila rhyssa from California and Idaho. Synonymies, keys, descriptions, collecting and locality data, and illustrations are included. A checklist places all the species and genera in the proposed classification. Interpretation of relationships of the genera and species is included. The North American taxa are associated with the trogositid taxa from other parts of the world, and with groups within the other families of Cleroidea. Relationships among the taxa are postulated. The inclusion of peltines and trogositines in a single family is upheld.

Springs include a great variety of habitats, because many possible geological and ecological conditions intersect in any given spring.Available information on the arthropod fauna shows that springs contain a limited number of species of diverse origins, including groundwater, stream, and water-film inhabitants. There is a substantial number of spring-specialist species, many of them in distinctive genera, reflecting many independent invasions of spring habitats by various groups and subgroups of aquatic arthropods. Most of this diversity is present in cold water springs, though smaller numbers of distinctive elements occur in hot or in saline springs. The specialists of coldwater springs tend to show adaptations such as cold stenothermy and limited dispersal, but different species possess different suites of adaptations to the habitat, reflecting their evolutionary history and biology.Faunal differences among springs result from geographical differences (many species, though not as many genera, differ between eastern and western Canada), but within a given region reflect the variety of habitats and microhabitats that exists. Such variety means that except in very broad terms it is not possible to establish workable “definitions” for the range of spring types. Rather, we recommend that biologists adopt a few key descriptors, based on source geometry, water supply, temperature, chemistry, and persistence, to provide useful information about the sites in which they collect. The term “spring” should be used conservatively, to apply only to the area immediately around the point of groundwater issue, because conditions change rapidly farther away from this point.Some needs for the inventory (and protection) of springs and for more extensive sampling are summarized. Further taxonomic studies are required in several characteristic groups. Ecological work on the specialized species confined to springs is likely to be especially instructive.

Thermal springs are characterized by year-round high temperatures and a total-dissolved-solids concentration that is generally higher than that of surface waters. Insects appear to encounter few constraints from the water chemistry of most thermal springs, but considerable constraint from the high water temperature. Indeed, because no insect lives above 50 °C and very few above 40 °C, few thermal springs offer favorable conditions for insects in the actual boil itself. Thermal spring insects live in the stream at some distance from the source, and they may be defined as living in habitats having temperature regimens that are influenced by geothermy in the sense that they are warmer than they otherwise would be. An annual mean water temperature that is 5 °C above the annual mean air temperature of the region can be used to define the downstream limit of geothermal influence.Thermal springs around the world have similar insect faunas; only four orders (Diptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Odonata) are commonly represented, and each of these only by a handful of genera. Furthermore, the fauna of any one thermal spring is characterized by very few species, and the higher the temperature the lower the species richness. Both temperature and water chemistry may exclude certain species, and even whole orders, from thermal springs, these factors acting either directly, alone or in concert, or indirectly through competitive interactions. Even moderately warmed systems can significantly affect insect growth rates, and seasonal regulation of adult emergence through diapause is a common strategy of temperate-zone thermal spring insects.Thermal springs present many advantages to the ecologist, such as long-term habitat constancy, temperature stability, and taxonomic simplicity. They provide field laboratories for the study of temperature-related phenomena as well as the opportunity to explore a range of questions in biogeography and evolutionary biology. The challenge is to form the questions and select the systems critically.

Protozoa known to infect Acrididae include certain Amoebida (Phylum Rhizopoda), Eugregarinida, Neogregarinida (Phylum Apicomplexa) and at least one species from the Phylum Ciliophora, but are mainly Microsporida (Phylum Microspora). Among the Microsporida, Nosema locustae Canning has been the most common subject of large-scale field testing as a potential microbial control of grasshoppers and locusts. Although there have been demonstrations of significant impacts of Protozoa such as Nosema spp. on survival, development, reproduction and feeding of grasshoppers and locusts, these candidates have not met the requirements for fast-acting control of Acrididae. However, recently discovered and as yet undiscovered Microspora and other Protozoa may offer reliable non-chemical control of grasshoppers and locusts. Research on candidates such as Nosema locustae has not been wasted effort; at a minimum, research invested toward development of methods of formulation, application, assessment and ecological fate of these potential microbial control agents has provided useful information needed to prepare for the eventuality of discovery of more fast-acting protozoa, and has contributed to development of field methods required for testing of other microbial agents. With improvements in understanding of insect behavioral and physiological responses, satisfactory short-term efficacy (perhaps resulting from combined formulations with behavioral modifiers or stressors) may allow N. locustae, N. cuneatum Henry, N. acridophagus Henry or Johenrea locustae Lange et al. to also serve a role in limiting acridid abundance and activity, either as an agent of biological control in sites requiring special care, or within a rangeland IPM context.

Microbial control agents offer a method of pest control using organisms that are a natural component of the environment and are usually much more selective than chemical pesticides. Furthermore, they can usually be integrated with other methods of control, and may provide prolonged control by establishment within the host population. However, microbial control agents also possess properties that can pose human and environmental risks depending on the nature of the pathogen and its pattern of use. We present an overview of issues concerning the safety and registration of microbial control agents with emphasis on pathogens of locusts and grasshoppers. The potential safety issues and other consequences of concern from the deployment of microorganisms for pest control are: (1) pathogenicity to non-target organisms, (2) toxigenicity to non-target organisms, (3) competitive displacement of microorganisms, and (4) allergenicity. Inundative control methods pose unique risks because the pathogens must be produced in large quantities, stored, transported, and applied, usually in concentrations much higher than would normally ever occur naturally. The overriding concern in introducing an exotic agent is the risk to non-target beneficial organisms, because once the agent becomes established, it will in most situations be impossible to eradicate. However, if indigenous organisms are used, there is relatively little risk of irreversible, long-term detrimental effects. A synopsis of safety testing results of some of the more promising microbial control agents for grasshoppers and locusts and an evaluation of their potential hazards are presented. Safety to vertebrates is evaluated by a tiered series of laboratory test requirements. Assessments on hazards to non-target invertebrates are based principally on results of laboratory bioassays. Safety tests should be chosen with regard to the biological characteristics of the agent and should not impose standards that are more stringent than those imposed on other forms of pest control. Regulatory oversight should assure the integrity of the environment and safety of the public, while at the same time not unduly hampering the development, registration, and use of more sustainable pest control methods.

The major topographic features and river courses of the mid-Appalachian Mountains are geologically ancient. Small rheocrenes are numerous in carbonate valleys with macroinvertebrate assemblages typically dominated by peracaridans and sometimes gastropods, with subordinate abundances of bivalves, triclads, and insects. Springs were approximately rank ordered by temporal persistence, using size, catchment area, proximity to base level, and bedrock permeability factors as criteria. A 38-m2 rheocrene, Ell Spring, was sampled seasonally over a 2-year period for distribution and abundances of taxa. Physicochemical factors and rank order of ordinal abundances were stable the 1st year, but less so the 2nd year after a watercress cover was removed. Ell Spring is divided into nine distinct habitat patches. Some species distributions are strongly associated with patches and others are broader. Regionally, heterozygosity and allele frequency patterns of Gammarus minus (Amphipoda) are conditioned by latitude, indicative of the effects of Pleistocene glaciation, and by distance to regional master streams. These factors do not detectably influence the ordinal composition of macroinvertebrate assemblages. However overall invertebrate abundances and the ratio of non-insect orders (which are presumably less rapid colonists) to insect orders are greater in long-persisting than in frequently disturbed springs. The species assemblages of disturbed springs may be influenced by recent history as well as by water chemistry, substratum, and other equilibrium factors.

North American members of the genus Plateumaris Thomson, 1859, are revised; 17 species are recognized and 23 taxonomic changes are made in their classification. Plateumaris balli and P. schaefferi are described as new species. Names elevated from subspecies to species rank are P. robusta (Schaeffer) and P. frosti (Schaeffer); P. aurifera (LeConte) is revalidated, removed from junior synonymy with P. wallisi (Schaeffer); Donacia idola Hatch is considered a junior subjective synonym of P. dubia (Schaeffer); D. pyritosa LeConte is considered a junior subjective synonym of P. pusilla (Say); an altered species concept is transferred to P. flavipes (Kirby), with D. wallisi Schaeffer as a new junior subjective synonym, and P. flavipes of authors is correctly named P. shoemakeri (Schaeffer); D. longicollis Schaeffer and D. vermiculata Schaeffer are considered new junior subjective synonyms of P. neomexicana (Schaeffer); D. flavipennis Mannerheim is considered a junior subjective synonym of P. germari (Mannerheim); D. rufa Say (not D. rufa of authors) is transferred to Plateumaris from Donacia, with an altered species concept applied to it, and D. affinis Kirby, D. sulcicollis Lacordaire, D. chalcea Lacordaire, D. kirbyi Lacordaire, and D. jucunda LeConte are considered new junior subjective synonyms of P. rufa (Say). The taxon previously considered D. nitida Germar (sensu Schaeffer) is redescribed as P. schaefferi; P. nitida (Germar) is a valid, different species, with D. emarginata Kirby, D. juncina Couper, and D. pacifica Schaeffer considered new junior subjective synonyms of P. nitida. Neotypes are designated for Donacia pusilla Say, Donacia rufa Say, Donacia metallica Ahrens and Donacia nana Melsheimer; lectotypes are designated for all other names, where necessary.Among Palaearctic taxa, Plateumaris morimotoi Kimoto and P. hirashimai Kimoto are considered new junior subjective synonyms of P. weisei Duvivier, and P. sachalinensis Medvedev, P. orientalis Shavrov and Donacia mongolica Semenov are considered probable junior subjective synonyms of P. weisei; P. sulcifrons Weise and P. affinis (Kunze) and its synonyms are considered new junior subjective synonyms of P. rustica (Kunze); P. caucasica Zaitsev is considered a probable junior subjective synonym of P. roscida Weise; P. discolor (Panzer) (and its synonyms) and P. lacordairii (Perris) are considered junior subjective synonyms of P. sericea (L.); new P. obsoleta Jacobson and P. socia Chen are considered probable junior subjective synonyms of P. sericea.Based on phylogenetic analysis, five species groups are recognized, the P. braccata group (two species), P. rufa group (five species), P. pusilla group (eight species), P. shoemakeri group (four species), and P. nitida group (seven species). The current subgeneric classification of Plateumaris is rejected. Characters hitherto used for subgenera of Plateumaris are shown to be either plesiomorphic or widely distributed among unrelated taxa; the relatively minor structural differences do not merit use of a subgeneric classification. Juliusina Reitter is a junior objective synonym of Plateumaris Thomson.Based on fossil and chorological data, the geographic history of donaciines in general and of Plateumaris in particular is deduced to be so old as to obscure correlations of more recent phylogenetic divergences with specific geologic events. The geographic history of even the most highly derived donaciine groups extends well into the Cretaceous. Therefore, explanations are speculative beyond the generality that donaciines have a long geologic history.

The paper discusses the nature and origins of the present-day insect faunas of Greenland, Iceland, and the Faeroes in relation to those of North America and Europe. The markedly warm-adapted faunas of the Early Tertiary were modified or eliminated as the climate cooled from the Oligocene onward to the Pleistocene glaciations. The Wisconsinan glaciation peaked about 20 000 years ago, and then gave way rapidly to the arctic and cool temperate climates of the present, and the North Atlantic islands thus became habitable again but separated by wide expanses of northern seas. At most only a few strongly arctic-adapted species could have persisted through the Pleistocene and no land bridges from the continents have existed since the Early Miocene, 20 million years ago.Southern Greenland, Iceland, and the Faeroes have been colonized across sea passages from the adjacent continents, mainly by air but partly by sea, during the postglacial period (ca. 10 000 years). The faunas are all young, with no endemic species among about 2000 in all; the faunas are not arctic but distinctly subarctic, mainly of the High and Low Boreal life zones, and derived from these life zones of North America or Europe. The naturally established faunas are small or very small, less than 14% of the corresponding continental faunas, and are obviously disharmonic, with some groups absent across the North Atlantic, e.g. Culicidae, Tabanidae, Tachinidae, Papilionoidea, aculeate Hymenoptera (except Bombus sp.). This indicates a severe "sweepstakes" route. The lack of Tachinidae is noteworthy because their hosts are plentiful, and indicates dispersal by air, with adult Tachinidae, unlike adult Lepidoptera, unable to make the journey; dispersal by a land bridge would offer parasites and hosts an equal opportunity. Aerial transport is indicated also by the high proportion of migrant species (of Lepidoptera) in the island faunas, and the arrival in Surtsey (a new volcanic island) of almost 25% of the Icelandic fauna in 12 years. The Surtsey observations suggest that the Icelandic fauna is preadapted to aerial dispersal, by selection during its journey from Europe.The fauna of southern Greenland is derived partly from boreal America and partly from boreal Europe. The North American moiety becomes vestigial in Iceland and the Faeroes and does not reach Europe. Iceland and the Faeroes have been populated from northwestern Europe, especially Britain and Scandinavia. A few species extend to southern Greenland and thence, or even directly, reach North America, and have thus completed a post-glacial traverse of the North Atlantic.The fauna of North Greenland differs fundamentally from all the above. It is a high arctic fauna, nearly identical with the high arctic fauna in Canada, and thus complete, not disharmonie, though very small by virtue of its high arctic nature. It has encountered no "sweepstakes" dispersal. North Greenland is separated from High Arctic Canada only by a narrow channel which permits winter dispersal by wind across unbroken sea ice. Biologically, North Greenland is part of the North American High Arctic, and although certain species (e.g. mosquitoes and butterflies) may extend somewhat into southern Greenland, it has not contributed to the basic faunas of the North Atlantic islands.Among other problems, the extreme variability in wing pattern of many Lepidoptera in Iceland, the Faeroes, and Shetland is also commented on.

Only one isolate of Metarhizium flavoviride Gams and Roszypal group 3 has been isolated from a field-infected acridid in Australia. This is isolate FI985 (ARSEF 324) obtained from a spur-throated locust, Austracris guttulosa (Walker), near Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1979. In terms of conidial size and shape as well as phialide morphology, FI985 is intermediate between Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin and M. flavoviride. It has been compared with other group 3 isolates using RAPDs and sequence analysis of the ITS region and found to be very similar. However the analysis shows that these group 3 isolates are genetically closer to M. anisopliae than to M. flavoviride sensu stricto. Laboratory bioassays have shown that FI985 is virulent for five species of acridid pests in Australia. Comparative bioassays with other isolates of Metarhizium, including other group 3 isolates from Africa and Asia, have not yet revealed any isolate more virulent than FI985. This isolate is amenable to mass-production on rice and has been formulated in oil as a mycoinsecticide. The results from six field tests, mostly against wingless grasshopper, Phaulacridium vittatum (SjÖstedt), using doses of 2–7 × 1012 conidia per hectare and plot sizes up to 50 ha are summarized. These trials (with the exception of the first against the Australian plague locust) have given high levels of disease-related mortality in caged samples of the target collected within 3 days of spraying. In the four trials with wingless grasshopper, population reductions were detected 10–30 days after application; however these reductions were much less than suggested by cage samples as a result of movement of the target acridids. In contrast, positive control plots sprayed with fenitrothion gave a very high initial kill (>90% in 1 day) but were then more rapidly reinvaded. Consequently, 3–4 weeks after spraying the density in the plots treated with chemical insecticide and those treated with mycoinsecticide were similar. Further field trials are needed especially against the Australian plague locust and evaluating lower doses. The results obtained to date show that a mycoinsecticide based on FI985 is likely to be effective over a wide range of target acridids and weather conditions.

Fifty-one species or species complexes of black flies are recorded from Alberta representing the following genera: Cnephia Enderlein (1), Ectemnia Enderlein (2), Gymnopais Stone (1), Mayacnephia Wygodzinsky and Coscarón (1), Metacnephia Crosskey (3), Prosimulium Roubaud (12), Simulium Latreille (29), Stegopterna Enderlein (1), and Twinnia Stone and Jamnback (1). An annotated list summarizes what is known about the bionomics and distribution of each species in the province, including notes on their medical and veterinary importance, where applicable. Illustrated keys to the larvae and pupae of Alberta genera and species are provided. Also included in the keys are 3 species that may occur in the province (one of these in the genus Greniera Doby and David), but whose presence has yet to be verified. A review of some structural characters used for the identification of immature stages of black flies is given. Notes on nomenclature of some characters are also provided. A total of 188 figures, including detailed distribution maps for each species in Alberta, are given.

Leaves of the neem tree, Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (Meliaceae), have been used for centuries in India to protect stored grain from insect attack. Recent concern for the effects of synthetic insecticides on the environment and human health has provided the impetus for a reappraisal of the utility of neem derivatives as botanical crop protectants. Neem and its active principle, the limonoid azadirachtin, have several properties that are highly desirable for a natural insecticide. Azadirachtin is the most potent natural insect antifeedant discovered to date, suppressing insect feeding at concentrations of less than 1 part per million. Azadirachtin is also a potent insect growth regulator, which acts by disrupting molting and development, and interfering with reproduction in adult insects. These actions have been observed in over 90% of the more than 200 species of pest insects tested to date. Neem also has systemic action in some plants which could prove extremely valuable against stem- and root-feeding pests that are difficult to control. Finally, neem is essentially non-toxic to vertebrates, and in fact has a long history of medicinal use in southeast Asia.In the present paper we review our research aimed at developing a neem-based insecticide for use against pests of Canadian agriculture. We document the potent antifeedant action of azadirachtin in laboratory bioassays against the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner, and the variegated cutworm, Peridroma saucia Hübner, and the molt-disrupting action of the compound in the migratory grasshopper, Melanoplus sanguinipes Fab., and the large milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus Dallas. Both antifeedant and insect growth regulatory activities of various samples of neem seed oil are shown to be correlated to azadirachtin concentrations in the oils. Field trials of an experimental neem insecticide conducted against pests of crucifers, corn, and potato in British Columbia, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island, respectively, indicate that the neem insecticide provides pest control as effective as or better than pyrethrum, the current botanical insecticide of choice for organic growers. The commercial prospectus for neem insecticides in Canada is discussed in light of our results.

A provisional cladistic analysis of the species groups of Gonatocerus Nees is presented, based on 24 characters. Six species groups are defined, but only the four Nearctic ones are described. The species groups proposed are the ater, deficiens, litoralis, membraciphagus, straeleni, and sulphuripes groups. The ater group is divided into the morrilli, ater (s.s.), and bucculentus subgroups. Keys are provided to distinguish the species groups, and females of the sulphuripes- and ater-group species. Twenty-four species are recognized in the sulphuripes and ater groups for America north of Mexico. Eight species are recognized in the sulphuripes group, of which californicus, koebelei, maga, mexicanus, rivalis, and utahensis are redescribed. Two species, floridensis and lissonotus, are described as new. One new synonymy is proposed: titillatus is considered a junior synonym of utahensis. Sixteen species are recognized in the ater group, of which ashmeadi, capitatus, dolichocerus, fasciatus, latipennis, morrilli, novifasciatus, ovicenatus, and triguttatus are redescribed. Seven species, bucculentus, enicmophilus, flagellatus, impar, incomptus, inexpectatus, and inflatiscapus, are described as new. Two new synonymies are proposed: maximus is considered a junior synonym of latipennis, and marilandicus a junior synonym of dolichocerus. Lectotypes are designated for ashmeadi, capitatus, koebelei, mexicanus, morrilli, ovicenatus, triguttatus, and utahensis.

A revision of the staphylinid subfamily Xantholininae (Coleoptera) of America north of Mexico is presented including a historical review, a discussion of diagnostic characters and techniques, and some conclusive remarks, mostly on the zoogeography of this group in North America.Twenty-eight genera and 105 species are recognized. Six genera and 47 species are described as new, one new name is proposed for a species in the genus Oxybleptes, and new combinations are proposed for 25 species.Nematolinus Casey, 1906, and Oligolinus Casey, 1906, are placed in synonymy with Lithocharodes Sharp, 1876; Leiolinus Casey, 1906, with Hesperolinus Casey, 1906; Paraphallus Bordoni, 1972, with Xantholinus Dejean, 1821, and Phalacrolinus Coiffait, 1972, is placed in synonymy with Hypnogyra Casey, 1906. On the specific level, Platyprosopus texanus Moore, 1963, is placed in synonymy with P. mexicanus Sharp, 1887; Diochus brevipennis Casey, 1906, D. thoracicus Casey, 1906, and D. pallidiceps Casey, 1906, with D. schaumi Kraatz, 1860; Baptolinus fraternus Casey, 1906, with Atrecus punctiventris (Fall, 1901); Nudobius nubipennis Casey, 1906, and Gyrophypnus gilvipennis Casey, 1906, with Nudobius cephalus (Say, 1834); Nudobius limbalis, Casey, 1906, N. corticalis Casey, 1906, and N. debilis Casey, 1906, with N. pugetanus Casey, 1906; Nudobius phoenicis Casey, 1906, with N. arizonicus Casey, 1906; Nudobius elegantulus Casey, 1906, with N. luridipennis Casey, 1906; Leptacinus nigritulus LeConte, 1880, with L. pusillus (Stephens, 1833); Lithocharodes pallidus Casey, 1906, with L. nigripennis (LeConte, 1863); Hesperolinus angustus Casey, 1906, and H. pomonae Casey, 1906, with Linohesperus nanus (LeConte, 1880); Hesperolinus bicolor Casey, 1906, with Linohesperus brunnescens (LeConte, 1880); Stictolinus aequalis Casey, 1906, with S. grandiceps (LeConte, 1863); Stictolinus scolopaceus Casey, 1906, with S. flavipes (LeConte, 1863); Leiolinus tarsalis Casey, 1906, and L. uteanus Casey, 1906, with Hesperolinus parcus (LeConte, 1863); Xantholinus nitidicollis Reitter, 1908, and X. scoticus Joy, 1913, with Gyrohypnus angustatus Stephens, 1832; Xantholinus temporalis LeConte, 1880, and X. floridae Duvivier, 1883, with Neohypnus attenuatus Erichson, 1839; Gyrohypnus bipartitus Casey, 1906, and G. infumatus Casey, 1906, with Neohypnus dimidiatus (LeConte, 1880); Gyrohypnus oregonus Casey, 1906, and G. protractus Casey, 1906, with Neohypnus obscurus (Erichson, 1839); Gyrohypnus macilentus Casey, 1906, with Neohypnus hamatus (Say, 1834); Gyrohypnus mollinus Casey, 1906, with Neohypnus pusillus (Sachse, 1852); Gyrohypnus fucosus Casey, 1884, with Neohypnus fusciceps (LeConte, 1880); Xantholinus aequalis Fauvel, 1898, with X. linearis (Olivier, 1794); Xantholinus miguelensis Méquignon, 1942, and Xestolinus oregonus Fender, 1946, with X. longiventris Heer, 1839; Hypnogyra vernicata Casey, 1906, with H. gularis (LeConte, 1880); Xestolinus oviceps Casey, 1906, X. frontalis Hatch, 1957, and Xantholinus indianensis Blatchley, 1910, with Xestolinus abdominalis Casey, 1906.Neotypes are designated for Nudobius cephalus (Say), Neohypnus hamatus (Say), and Neohypnus pusillus (Sachse).Lectotypes are designated for Platyprosopus mexicanus Sharp, Diochus schaumi Kr., D. brevipennis Csy., D. thoracicus Csy., D. pallidiceps Csy., Atrecus americanus (Csy.), A. punctiventris (Fall), A. fraternus (Csy.), A. quadripennis (Csy.), Parothius californicus (Mannh.), Thyreocephalus nigerrimus (Sharp), Nudobius palliatus (Melsh.), N. nubipennis Csy., N. pugetanus Csy., N. limbalis Csy., N. corticalis Csy., N. debilis Csy., N. arizonicus Csy., N. phoenicis Csy., N. luridipennis Csy., N. elegantulus Csy., Leptacinus nigritulus LeC., L. seriatus LeC., Stenistoderus rubripennis (LeC.), Lithocharodes ruficollis (LeC.), L. pallidus Csy., L. longicollis (LeC.), Habrolinus tahoensis Csy., Linohesperus piceus (Csy.), L. borealis (Csy.), L. alticola (Csy.), L. angustus (Csy.), L. pomonae (Csy.), L. brunnescens (LeC.), L. bicolor (Csy.), Stictolinus grandiceps (LeC.), S. aequalis Csy., S. flavipes (LeC.), S. scolopaceus Csy., S. franciscanus Csy., Hesperolinus parcus (LeC.), Gyrohypnus obsidianus (Melsh.), Neohypnus attenuatus (Er.), N. temporalis (LeC.), N. dimidiatus (LeC.), N. infumatus (Csy.), N. bipartitus (Csy.), N. picipennis (LeC.), N. sanguinipennis (LeC.), N. obscurus (Er.), N. oregonus (Csy.), N. protractus (Csy.), N. macilentus (Csy.), N. lustrans (Csy.), N. mollinus (Csy.), N. fragilis (Csy.), N. linearis (Blatchley), N. fusciceps (LeC.), N. melanops (Csy.), N. emmesus (Grav.), N. sanguinolentus (Melsh.), N. luteiventris (Csy.), Hypnogyra vernicata Csy., H. micans Csy., Xestolinus abdominalis Csy., X. oviceps Csy., and X. indianensis (Blatchley).Keys to tribes, genera, and species are provided. The tribes and genera are described; each species is described and illustrated, all available bionomic and distributional data are presented and distributional records are mapped.

This paper reviews and summarizes preliminary data on the taxonomy, distribution, and ecology of oribatid mites of Canadian peatlands, primarily those of eastern Canada. This fauna is a heterogenous assemblage comprising 71 species in 49 genera and 34 families, found in four main types of habitats: aquatic, mesic, xeric, and epigeal. About half of the oribatid fauna of peatlands, and most aquatic species, are restricted in distribution to the Nearctic. Oribatid taxa known or suspected to be parthenogenetic are much better represented in peatlands than in the general Canadian fauna. Data on the feeding habits of odonate larvae in Newfoundland bog pools, based on gut content analysis, show that oribatid mites, in particular species of Limnozetes Hull and Hydrozetes Berlese, are common prey of species of Aeshna Fabricius, Leucorrhina Brittinger, and Libellula L. A synopsis of available data suggests that assemblages of Limnozetes species may be useful in characterizing peatlands.

This paper reviews the interactions of vertebrates and invertebrates in peatlands and marshes to assess current knowledge and future research needs. Living organisms may interact through a number of direct trophic and nutrient pathways and a variety of non-trophic, habitat-dependent relationships. Freshwater marshes and peatlands are dynamic aquatic environments and organisms that occupy these areas must be adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions. The avian community illustrates the main interactions of invertebrates and vertebrates in peatlands and marshes. Waterfowl, along with fish and furbearers, are the most economically important vertebrates using these habitats. Each of these groups has important trophic and habitat links to the invertebrates within wetlands.The most common interaction between vertebrates and invertebrates is the use of invertebrates as food by vertebrates. Few studies, however, have dealt with trophic dynamics or secondary production within wetlands. Waterfowl, fish, and many other wetland vertebrates, during all or part of their life cycles, regularly feed on invertebrates. Some invertebrates are vectors of disease and parasites to vertebrates. Vertebrates can directly affect the structural substrate that invertebrates depend on as habitat through consumption of macrophytes or through the use of living and dead plant material in the construction of houses and nests. Conversely, herbivorous invertebrates may directly affect the survival and distribution of macrophytes in wetlands. Macrophyte distribution, in turn, is an important factor in determining vertebrate use of wetlands. The general lack of both taxonomic and ecological information on invertebrates in wetlands is the main hindrance to future elucidation of vertebrate–invertebrate interactions in these environments. Development of invertebrate sampling techniques suitable for wetland habitats also is necessary. More specific research needs must be met to develop a better understanding of the structure and function of these dynamic systems.