Recognition of the potential of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin as a control agent of grasshoppers and locusts occurred as early as 1936, in South Africa. Field testing of B. bassiana as an inundative control agent of grasshoppers and locusts has been facilitated by development of a solid substrate method for mass-production of the fungus and has resulted in the registration of a strain against grasshoppers in the United States. In some, but not all field trials, application has resulted in substantial reductions in grasshopper populations. Numerous environmental constraints, including temperature and ultraviolet (UV) radiation, may limit field efficacy of the fungus. Laboratory studies suggest that low humidity does not limit the ability of the fungus to initiate disease. Sunlight is the major cause of mortality of conidia on leaf surfaces. The incorporation of UVB protectants in formulations can increase conidial survival; however, these have not yet been evaluated for their effects on field efficacy of B. bassiana against insects. Thermoregulation by grasshoppers has been implicated in resistance to mycosis. Results of laboratory studies indicate that grasshoppers infected with B. bassiana preferentially seek temperatures between 40 and 42 °C and these temperatures are inhibitory to disease development. In field-cage trials, a higher prevalence and more rapid development of disease were observed in grasshoppers placed in shaded cages than in grasshoppers placed in cages exposed to full sunlight. In laboratory experiments simulating grasshopper thermoregulation during daylight periods, application of both Metarhizium flavoviride Gams and Rozsypal and B. bassiana simultaneously resulted in a final prevalence of disease that was greater than M. flavoviride alone in the hot temperature environment, and equal to B. bassiana alone in the cool temperature environment. Incorporation of sublethal levels of Dimilin with conidia of B. bassiana increased efficacy of the fungus against grasshoppers in laboratory and field trials. Once environmental constraints are better quantified, it may be possible to overcome them through improved formulation, strain selection, genetic or phenotypic manipulation, and inoculum targeting. Ultimately, success of B. bassiana as a microbial control agent will depend on our ability to overcome environmental and other constraints and/or to predict its efficacy under various environmental conditions.

Pseudaletia unipuncta (Haw.) males, experimentally deprived of hairpencils (male-specific scent organs), were less acceptable to females than were intact males. The degree to which females discriminated against males lacking hairpencils depended on the experimental protocol. When females were placed with males before scotophase onset, they tended to evade repeatedly and/or terminate genital contact with hairpencil-less males before eventually copulating, although this tendency was not statistically significant. When males were introduced after females had initiated calling, females refused hairpencil-less males significantly more often than intact ones. The incidence of copulation by hairpencil-less males was also lower than that of intact males, significantly so in one of the two populations tested. Neither copulation duration nor the dimensions of the cuticular portion of the spermatophore were correlated with the presence of hairpencils. Yet in all cases, females that mated with hairpencil-less males were more fecund and laid more fertile eggs than those mated to intact males. Hairpencil eversion could not be seen during courtship, nor did females show any obvious change in calling behaviour in response to scent from a freshly excised hairpencil. However, gas chromatographic analysis of hairpencils showed a decrease in titre of two scent components, acetic acid and benzaldehyde, just before the moment of genital contact between male and female, indicating that the pheromone was released at this time. These results suggest that P. unipuncta male pheromone facilitates female acceptance of males. The hypothesis that male pheromone carries information about the quality of a courting male is discussed in relation to recent work on arctiids, nymphalids, pierids and pyralids. An appendix of lepidopteran species possessing male scent structures is included.

Genera and previously described species of Nearctic Scythrididae are revised for the first time, based on the study of adult structures. About 90 percent of the Nearctic fauna known in collections consists of undescribed species. The supraspecific taxa treated in this work encompass less than half of the Nearctic species diversity. Only six new species are described, all within the largest and structurally most diverse genus. The status of all nominal species is revised. Valid species are redescribed and their features illustrated. General problems in the systematics of the Scythrididae are discussed. A description of adult features of the family Scythrididae is providad. Extra-limital genera are briefly reviewed. A key to the Nearctic genera and informal supraspecific lineages is provided.Six genera, including three new, are treated: Areniscythris Powell, 1976, Arotrura Walsingham, 1888, Asymmetrura gen. nov., Neoscythris gen. nov., Rhamphura gen. nov., and Scythris s. str. Hübner, [1825]. Areniscythris includes a single described species, Areniscythris brachypteris Powell, but is defined more broadly to account for a number of undescribed species. Arotrura is divided into nine informal species groups with the following included species: Arotrura atascosa sp. nov., Arotrura balli sp. nov., Arotrura divaricata (Braun) comb, nov., Arotrura eburnea Walsingham, Arotrura formidabilis sp. nov., Arotrura hymenata sp. nov., Arotrura longissima sp. nov., Arotrura oxyplecta (Meyrick) comb, nov., Arotrura powelli sp. nov., and Arotrura sponsella (Busck) comb. nov. Asymmetrura includes: Asymmetrura albilineata (Walsingham) comb. nov., Asymmetrura graminivorella (Braun) comb. nov., Asymmetrura impositella (Zeller) comb. nov. and type species, Asymmetrura matutella (Clemens) comb, nov., Asymmetrura reducta (Braun) comb, nov., and Asymmetrura scintillifera (Braun) comb. nov. Neoscythris includes: Neoscythris confinis (Braun) comb, nov., Neoscythris euthia (Walsingham) comb. nov., Neoscythris fissirostris (Meyrick) comb. nov. and type species, and Neoscythris planipenella (Chambers) comb. nov. Rhamphura includes: Rhamphura altisierrae (Keifer) comb, nov., Rhamphura ochristriata (Walsingham) comb. nov. and type species, Rhamphura perspicillella (Walsingham) comb. nov., Rhamphura suffusa (Walsingham) comb. nov., and the extra-limital Rhamphura immunis (Meyrick) comb. nov. from Peru. Scythris s. str. includes: Scythris immaculatella (Chambers) rev. stat., Scythris limbella (Fabricius), Scythris mixaula Meyrick, Scythris trivinctella (Zeller), and Scythris ypsilon Braun. A further eight species are phylogenetically distinct from Scythris s. str. but provisionally are only assigned to five informal monophyletic lineages until their cladistic relationships are more firmly established. These are: the Scythris basilaris lineage including Scythris basilaris (Zeller), Scythris eboracensis (Zeller), and Scythris fuscicomella (Clemens); the Scythris interrupta lineage including Scythris interrupta Braun; the Scythris inspersella lineage including Scythris inspersella (Hübner) and Scythris noricella (Zeller); the Scythris anthracina lineage including Scythris anthracina Braun; and the Scythris charon lineage including Scythris charon Meyrick. Three species are incertae sedis: Scythris inornatella (Chambers) comb, nov., Scythrispilosella (Zeller), and Scythris piratica Meyrick.Coleophora albacostella Chambers and Coleophora inornatella Chambers are transferred from the Coleophoridae. Scythris arizoniella (Kearfott) is transferred to the Coleophoridae [Coleophora arizoniella (Kearfott) comb. nov.].The following new synonymy is proposed: Colinita Busck, 1907 = Arotrura Walsingham, 1888; Gelechia aterrimella Walker, 1864 and Scythris epilobiella McDunnough, 1942 = Scythris inspersella [Hübner, (1817)]; Scythris magnatella Busck, 1904 = Scythris noricella (Zeller, 1843); Scythris pacifica McDunnough, 1927 = Scythris immaculatella (Chambers, 1875); Coleophora albacostella Chambers, 1875 and Scythris hemidictyas Meyrick, 1928 = Neoscythris planipenella (Chambers, 1875).A cladistic definition of the family is presented for the first time. The monophyly of the Scythrididae is supported by the following synapomorphies: very narrow ductus bursae, broad ductus seminalis anastomosed with the oviduct and the corpus bursae, lack of signum, unique shape of the apophyses of the metathoracic furca, tarsomeres 1–4 with two subapical spurs, aedeagus ankylosed, and origin of forewing veins R4 and R5 on a common stalk with R4 extended to the costa and R5 to the termen. Relationships of the Scythrididae within the Gelechioidea are discussed. Based on the cladistic analysis of 52 structural characters, phylogenetic relationships of supraspecific taxa are inferred. Two cladograms, one for the genera and one for the species groups of Arotrura, are presented and used in deriving the classification.

Ninety-five species of aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera are recorded from the Prairie Provinces of Canada, representing the following families: Belostomatidae 3, Corixidae 41, Gelastocoridae 1, Gerridae 8, Hebridae 2, Hydrometridae 1, Mesoveliidae 1, Nepidae 2, Notonectidae 6, Pleidae 1, Saldidae 26, and Veliidae 3. Also included are data on distribution, habits, and biological information. Keys to families, genera, and species are given, with 138 illustrations.

Individual meteorological factors, particularly temperature and wind, directly influence the dispersal of arthropods, as do weather systems — formation and movement of air masses, cold and warm fronts, and air flows associated with topographical features such as mountains, valleys, bodies of water. Models have been recently developed that simulate the effects of many of these systems on airborne dispersal of insects. Also, some attention has recently been directed toward the behaviour of arthropods during weather conducive to dispersal. Clearly, both winged and wingless forms of arthropods respond to certain stimuli for dispersal and behave specifically to enhance the potential for migration. Recent progress toward understanding the interplay between insect movement and mesoscale weather is particularly relevant to pest management.

Adaptations and attributes of gall-inducing cynipid wasps are reviewed to emphasize that differences in life cycles and anatomical features of their galls are just as useful for systematic purposes as are structural differences in the adult insects themselves. The extent to which cynipid wasps have specialized is illustrated by the genus Diplolepis, all species of which are restricted to native and introduced roses and induce structurally distinct galls. Various aspects of Diplolepis biology including life cycles, host specificity, and gall development and anatomy are reviewed. The biologies of two species of Diplolepis that commonly co-exist in the same habitat in central Ontario are then examined in detail. Diplolepis polita (Ashmead) induces a single-chambered gall on the leaves of Rosa acicularis Lindl. whereas Diplolepis spinosa (Ashmead) induces a multi-chambered gall on the stems of Rosa blanda Ait. Differences in life cycles, distribution, host and organ specificity, oviposition, gall initiation and development, along with differences in the communities of parasitoids and inquilines attracted to the galls, confirm the existence of distinct species and allow some speculation on their ecological and phylogenetic relationships.

The groundplan structure and homologies of the mesothoracic pleurosternum of Hymenoptera are postulated using the subcoxal theory of the origin of the pterothoracic pleura of insects, and the cryptosternite theory of an invaginated sternum in most holometabolous insects, based on a comparison of the skeletomusculature of Xyelidae (Hymenoptera) and Raphidiidae (Neuroptera). The following are hypothesized for Hymenoptera: (1) the mesosternum is invaginated except for the prepectus, which is a detached remnant of the presternum; (2) lines that delineate ventral regions on the mesepisternum of many Symphyta are secondarily evolved sulci and arc not pleurosternal sutures; (3) a basalar cleft and an anepisternum are present in the groundplan structure; (4) in Hymenoptera other than Xyelidae the basalar cleft and anapleural cleft intersect so the anepisternum is detached as a separate sclerite, the postspiracular sclerite; (5) the pre-episternum is enlarged secondarily at the expense of the katepisternum, resulting in the paracoxal suture and a narrow katepisternum closely paralleling the posteroventral margin of the episternum anterior to the mesocoxa; (6) the mesepimeron is not divided into an anepimeron and katepimeron by a paracoxal suture but in some taxa is divided secondarily into an upper and lower mesepimeron by marks that delineate the line of confluence between different sets of muscles; and (7) the trochantin is absent from the groundplan structure. Postulated homologies support the hypothesis that Xyelidae represent the basal lineage of Hymenoptera but do not support the hypothesis that the rest of Hymenopera had a biphyletic origin from Xyelidae. The study exemplifies the positive feedback relationship between morphology and systematics and demonstrates the necessity of systematics and phylogenctic hypotheses for testing hypotheses of homology derived through comparative morphology. Schematic figures illustrate the subcoxal theory of pleuron origin and the postulated groundplan of the hymenopteran mesopleuron; mesothoracic muscles that were studied to help homologize pleurosternal features between Xyelidae and Raphidiidae are tabulated and skeletomusculature is documented by scanning electron photomicrographs.

This work is a continuation of that already published on the larvae of the Olethreutidae (now considered to be a subfamily, the Olethreutinae), and is to be used in association with the latter, since no larval characters as yet known separate the two subfamilies. Over 100 species of the North American Tortricinae are discussed, the late-instar larvae of 97 of these are described, and morphological characters of most of them illustrated. Many of them are well-known economic pests such as the spruce and pine budworms, the black-headed budworm, the omnivorous leaf tier, etc. Keys to tribes, genera, species groups and species are provided. The inadequacies of a taxonomic classification based solely upon adult characters are also demonstrated in an examination of the larvae of the genus Archips as presently established.

The late-instar larvae of about 185 species of the North American Olethreutidae are described and most of them illustrated. Included in these are many pests, such as Grapholitha molesta, Carpocapsa pomonella, and Spilonota ocellana on fruit trees, Paralobesia viteana on grapes, Ancylis comptana fragariae on strawberries, Laspeyresia nigricana in pea pods, Laspeyresia caryana in hickory and pecan nuts, Taniva albolineana in spruce needles, and species of Rhyacionia and Petrova on pines. Keys to species groups and to individual species are provided. Of the diagnostic and specialized characters listed, the most useful include the setae, the spinneret, and the shape of the larva, especially of its head and anal shield. The main characters are given for the postulated ancestral larva and for the highly developed larva. Most of the species groups are arranged according to the suggested phylogenetic relationship of their larvae, emphasizing the necessity of a revision of the family. Larvae of some genera previously difficult to classify, such as Pseudogalleria and Hystricophora, indicate the relationship of those genera to other groups; conversely, lack of relationship is clearly shown in other instances, e.g., between Carpocapsa pomonella and Carpocapsa saltitans, and between the two species Epiblema culminana and E. suffusana and other members of the genus Epiblema.

A revision of the hydrophilid subfamily Helophorinae (Coleoptera), containing the single genus Helophorus Fabricius 1775, is presented, including an historical review, a discussion of diagnostic characters and techniques, and an attempt at a phylogenetic reconstruction of the major lineages of the Nearctic Helophorus.Forty-one species are recognized; 9 species and 1 subspecies are described as new.Atractohelophorus Kuweit 1886 is placed in synonymy with Rhopalelophorus Kuwert 1886, and Megahelophorus Kuwert 1886 with Helophorus Fabricius 1775. On the specific level H. ventralis Motschulsky 1860 and H. obsoletesulcatus Motschulsky 1860 are placed in synonymy with H. lineatus Say 1823.A neotype is designated for H. lineatus Say.Lectotypes are designated for H. oblongus LeC., H. fortis LeC., H. regularis Sharp, H. lacustris LeC., and H. alternatus LeC.The genus Helophorus is described and the nomenclatorial and taxpnomic problems surrounding it are discussed in detail. Keys to subgenera and species are provided. Each subgenus is described; each species is described and illustrated, all available bionomic and distributional data are presented, and distributional records are mapped.

The 183 species of Lepidoptera recorded from Bermuda are discussed with respect to their world distribution, origin, long-range dispersal capability, host plants, nomenclature, and the circumstances of their occurrence in Bermuda; most are illustrated. Fifty-nine species are reported from Bermuda for the first time; Oenobotys invinacealis Ferguson (Pyralidae) and Tetanolita mynesalis inaequalis Ferguson (Noctuidae) are described as new. Four new genus–species combinations and four new synonymies are proposed.The Bermuda islands have a distressed fauna dominated by introduced pest species and migrants from the North American mainland and Caribbean Region. About 125 of the 183 recorded species are thought to be established residents; the remainder are assumed to be vagrants. Of approximately 50 resident species identified as probably indigenous, 11 species and three subspecies are endemic, and one of these, Semiothisa ochrifascia (Warren), is believed extinct.All Bermudian Lepidoptera are of American origin except the few introduced Old World species that are nearly cosmopolitan. Like Norfolk Island, Australia, Bermuda has a supersaturated lepidopterous fauna — more recorded species than its land area might support, which can be explained only by a high incidence of migrants and transients. This migratory component is explained relative to long-range movements of the same or congeneric species elsewhere; and hypotheses are proposed concerning the natural history of long-range dispersal in eastern North America and the ability of these moths to reach Bermuda. From a list of 113 species of Lepidoptera identified as frequent south–north migrants on the mainland, 76 are recorded from Bermuda. These include 38 of the 40 best-known cutworm moths of the eastern United States. It is argued that such moths reach Bermuda repeatedly without man's assistance and must regularly travel similar distances in North America.

The species of the genus Sepedophilus (Staphylinidae: Tachyporinae) of America north of Mexico are revised. Thirty species are recognized. Thirteen new species are described: wickhami from the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada; brachypterus, frosti, micans, ctenidialis, and kiteleyi from eastern North America; beckeri from the southcentral United States; and hermani, smetanai, stephani, arizonensis, coronadensis, and velox from the southwestern United States. The following species names are placed in synonymy: knoxii LeConte and carissimus Hatch (= littoreus Linnaeus); imbricatus Casey, limuloides Casey, and elongatus Blatchley (= testaceus Fabricius); corticola Casey (= cinctulus Erichson); virginiae Casey (= velocipes Casey); and subtilis Casey (= debilis Casey). The species cinctulus Erichson and bisignatus Horn, formerly considered as synonyms of opicus Say and bipustulatus Fabricius respectively are recognized as valid species. The Palearctic species marshami Stephens is reported for the first time from the Nearctic region. The usage of the generic group names Sepedophilus Gistel, Conurus Stephens, Conosoma Kraatz, and Conosomus Motschulsky is discussed. The North American species are divided into 12 species groups based on an examination of the Nearctic, Neotropical, and Palearctic faunas. The distribution of each species is mapped, and the male and female eighth abdominal sternites and tergites, the male genitalia and other diagnostic characters, are illustrated. A neotype is designated for Tachyporus opicus Say, and lectotypes are designated when necessary for all the North American species of Sepedophilus described by Gravenhorst, Erichson, LeConte, Horn, and Casey. A diagnostic key for all the species except S. heathi Wasmann is given. A brief discussion of the nomenclatural history of the genus, of collecting techniques, and of the major diagnostic characters is included.

Trials on the use of Metarhizium flavoviride Gams and Roszypal conidia in oil-based formulation for the control of grasshoppers, particularly Hieroglyphus daganensis Krauss, in Malanville, north Benin, are described. Preliminary work examined sprayer types, application rate, and time of application. In a trial on 4-ha plots with three replicates, M. flavoviride mycoinsecticide application to H. daganensis nymphs resulted in field population reductions of 70% after 14 days. In samples incubated in cages, mortality was higher in the samples taken 3 or 7 days after application than in the sample taken immediately after application, indicating the possibility of residual pick-up compared with direct spray impact in this environment. Significant mortality was still being observed in samples collected 37 days after application; to investigate this further, a method for bioassaying the spore load in the field was developed and used to monitor the spore load in the field. The possibility that the results indicate the occurrence of secondary infections resulting from horizontal transmission of M. flavoviride is discussed.

The Stenochironomus complex contains all those species which exhibit the highly modified, mining larval form previously recognized as typical of only the genus Stenochironomus Kieffer: larvae with a dorsoventrally compressed head capsule, expanded thoracic segments and a long, flaccid abdomen. The complex includes members of Xestochironomus Sublette & Wirth (New World), Harrisius Freeman (Australian Region), Stenochironomus (cosmopolitan) and two larval forms, one from New Zealand and the other from Africa.This revision provides analysis of 12 species of Xestochironomus (five new), four species of Harrisius, and 54 species of Neotropical and Holarctic Stenochironomus (32 new named species, two new species not named, and four new combinations: S. innocuus (Williston), S. semifumosus (Edwards), S. longilobatus (Tokunaga) and S. gracilivalva (Kieffer)). Of these species, the pupae and fourth instar larvae are described for two species of Xestochironomus, Harrisius pallidus Freeman and 24 of the named species of Stenochironomus. Descriptions, diagnoses, keys, and distribution maps are provided for all species in each available stage. Stenochironomus taeniapennis (Coquillett, 1901), S. zonopterus (Mitchell, 1908), and S. exquisitus (Mitchell, 1908) are newly recognized as junior synonyms of S. hilaris (Walker, 1848).A cladistic analysis of all these species suggests that the Stenochironomus complex is monophyletic. The African larval form is the sister group of all other members; Xestochironomus is the sister group of Harrisius, the New Zealand larval form and Stenochironomus; and Stenochironomus is the sister group of Harrisius plus the New Zealand larval form. These relationships suggest possible southern continental affinities. Stenochironomus is composed of two monophyletic species groups, the subgenus Stenochironomus s. str. with species whose larvae mine wood and the new subgenus Petalopholeus (type-species, S. cinctus Townes) with species whose larvae mine leaves.Cladistic patterns show that Caribbean species are related to other New World species, and that North American species are related to Neotropical or Palaearctic species.Larval food type and ecological differences are analyzed using cladistic relationships. The plesiotypic habitat for species of the Stenochironomus complex is running waters.The phylogenetic relationships of Stenochironomus species and their mite parasites are compared and show little congruence.

The relationship of nematodes and nematomorphs with grasshoppers and locusts is reviewed, emphasizing the actual or potential role of these parasitoids in microbial management. There are records of mermithids parasitizing grasshoppers worldwide, and they are considered important biological control agents in some grassland ecosystems of Europe, North and South America, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and Australia. Nematomorphs, although widely distributed, are uncommon parasitoids of grasshoppers, and their dependence on free-standing water for host infection and apparent host specificity are considered drawbacks to their use in biological control programmes. The ascaridids, spirarids, and acanthocephalans are parasites of birds and mammals, and may use grasshoppers as intermediate hosts. They have been shown to debilitate grasshopper hosts in laboratory studies, but their primary role as parasites of vertebrates precludes any consideration as biological control agents. Rhabditids do not naturally parasitize grasshoppers, but recent advances in mass-culturing techniques have given them a potential role as bioinsecticides for the control of grasshoppers. Quantitative data on the effects of nematodes and nematomorphs on agricultural pests, including grasshoppers and locusts, are generally lacking. However, there is evidence that some, particularly mermithids, are important in the population dynamics of grasshoppers and locusts. Keys to the identification of the various 'worms' found in grasshoppers and locusts are provided, including keys to the species of mermithids.

New technology allows the rapid mapping of point or polygon variables, the correlation of maps, and the use of maps as variables in computer models. An illustration is the use of map correlation to investigate how changes in abundance of adult grasshoppers relate to rainfall in Alberta: maps of monthly rainfall, monthly hours of sunlight and annual grasshopper counts (8391 survey records) from a 5-year period were contoured and correlated. The methods of smoothing are described. Correlograms of Moran's I over distance show spatial autocorrelation of grasshopper abundance on a geographic scale. The grasshopper counts were autocorrelated to 20–30 km on most maps, and the relationship of correlograms to contour mapping is discussed. Quotient maps were produced: each population–abundance map was divided by the map from the previous year, and the results were correlated with monthly rainfall maps. There was significant association between areas of increase and levels of rainfall. Population tended to decline in areas of above-average rainfall. A simple model enabled a forecast of grasshopper distribution from the previous year's grasshopper population, monthly rainfall maps, and sunlight hours during the previous August.

This paper reviews and summarizes information on the systematics, distribution, life history, and ecology of water mites in spring habitats in Canada, primarily on the basis of new data. The fauna comprises over 115 species, representing 57 genera and 25 families, in three ecological groups adapted for living in helocrenes, rheocrenes, and limnocrenes, respectively, though many species are able to exploit more than one type of spring habitat. The evolution of adaptations in water mites for living in spring habitats is discussed within the context of new hypotheses on the origins and zoogeography of spring-inhabiting taxa. A synopsis of available data suggests that knowledge of the species composition and structure of water mite communities can be used to characterize springs, and to assess and monitor the impact of environmental changes on these habitats. Inadequacies in the current database on Canadian species are identified, specifically uncertain species identities, incomplete zoogeographic data, inconsistent definition of spring habitats, and inadequate collecting techniques. Future studies are proposed to encourage research designed to overcome these inadequacies, and improve understanding of the biological roles of water mites inhabiting springs.