Two new athetine beetles from eastern Canada are described and illustrated: Atheta (Metadimetrota) savardae Klimaszewski and Majka, sp. nov. (Nova Scotia, Quebec) and Atheta (Datomicra) acadiensis Klimaszewski and Majka, sp. nov. (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec). Their relationships to other closely related species are discussed, and new data on bionomics and distribution are provided. The new species are presented with a short diagnosis, description, colour habitus images, and black-and-white genital images.

The rate at which adult house flies, Musca domestica L. developed resistance to permethrin and dichlorvos, in response to two spray regimes, was studied on eight farms near Guelph, Ontario during 1980 and on four of these farms during 1981. These regimes were: continuous reliance on permethrin or permethrin alternated with dichlorvos throughout the spray season. Where sanitation was comparable, resistance to permethrin developed more rapidly in fly populations from the farms on the continuous permethrin regime than on the farm in which permethrin and dichlorvos had been alternated. Resistance to dichlorvos did not decline under the continuous regime while in the alternately selected flies resistance ratios dropped from 11 to 6 after 2 years. Frequent sanitation delayed the development of resistance in a population continuously selected with permethrin. Alternation of dissimilar insecticides appeared to be a viable means of delaying resistance in the field.

Seasonal abundance of Sitobion avenae (F.) and Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) was monitored in Nova Scotia winter wheat plots. Rhopalosiphum padi was the more common aphid species during "heading out." Winter wheat cultivars differed in their resistance to R. padi development; the highest reproductive rate was on ’Absolvent.’ The effect of chemicals used in intensive cereal management on R. padi and Coccinella septempunctata (L.) was assessed. Dimethoate and carbaryl caused similar high mortality to both insects, but pirimicarb was more toxic to the aphid than to its predator. Over a 2-year period, field plots that received regular pirimicarb treatments for selective aphid control early in the growing season showed a 9% increase in wheat yield, compared with the checks and plots that received carbaryl. Wheat yield increased 18% when pirimicarb was used later in the season; when applied in both periods, pirimicarb gave a total yield increase of nearly 30%. Late applications of carbaryl alone, or in combination with pirimicarb, increased yields by only 9% over the controls. Half of the yield increase (18% vs. 9%) with late season control by pirimicarb was lost with the addition of carbaryl, which minimized the C. septempunctata population for nonselective insect control. Rhopalosiphum padi numbers from June 20 to July 15 had the greatest impact on yield in these plots, and natural control agents including C. septempunctata accounted for a 9% increase in yield.

To determine the effect of larval crowding on induction of diapause in Monochamus alternatus alternatus Hope (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), newly hatched larvae were inoculated singly (density 1) or in pairs (density 2) on Pinus thunbergii Parlatore (Pinaceae) bolts and reared at 25 °C and 16 light:8 dark hour photoperiod. Adults emerged at density 1 and 2 between 75 and 139 days after the inoculation. About 150 days after larval inoculation, dissection of pine bolts indicated the incidence of larval diapause was greater at density 1 (0.536) than at density 2 (0.222), indicating inversely density-dependent induction of diapause. For both larval densities, the probability of entering diapause increased as bark surface area per larva (a proxy for per capita amount of food available) increased, showing that diapause induction can be explained by the amount of food available per larva. Adults that emerged at density 1 were heavier than those at density 2. When diapause and nondiapause insects occurred in the same pine bolts, six heavy adults had experienced diapause whereas three heavy adults had not, indicating that bark surface area affected the induction of diapause indirectly through larval interaction. The relationship between two different manners of density-dependent diapause induction and food supply is discussed.

Coloration of larval, pupal, and adult progeny of Choristoneura spp. collected from Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco and Abies concolor (Gord. & Glend.) Lindl. in south-central Oregon depended on the temperature at which the insects were reared. Sex and genetic background were also major sources of variation in coloration. Many of the characters which varied with temperature were thought to be of value in distinguishing C. occidentalis Freeman from C. retiniana (Walsingham). The association between a combination of larval characters and a combination of adult forewing maculations, though weak, allows a calculation of the probability that an adult belongs to a certain lineage defined by larval features. Individuals from mixed families were particularly difficult to categorize because of the variation encountered and the sensitivity of their appearance to rearing temperature. The biological significance of this variation and its implications to pest management are discussed.

The wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Norton, is the most important insect pest of dryland wheat, reducing both harvest efficiency and head weight. When wheat lodged (flattened) by C. cinctus is straight-cut, harvest efficiency is affected in three ways: (1) lodged stems are difficult to collect with the combine, so mature wheat is lost; (2) the combine has to operate more slowly to collect as many of the lodged stems as possible; and (3) there is increased risk of damage to the combine due to lowering of the combine header to recover lodged stems. An alternative harvest method is to swath the wheat before lodging occurs and place it in windrows prior to combining. When swathing is used, harvest efficiency is not affected by the C. cinctus infestation level; however, this type of harvesting is more expensive and labor-intensive than straight- cutting. Thus, swathing should be used only when the crop is heavily infested by C. cinctus, while straight-cutting should be used when the level of C. cinctus infestation is lower. Adapting harvesting practices to the C. cinctus infestation level requires a sampling plan that can reliably and cost-effectively predict the infestation level in a given field. In this study, we (i) evaluate the relationship between sampling effort along field edges and precision of the estimated average infestation level in 6 wheat fields, and (ii) generate a Gaussian regression analysis of the infestation level up to 200 m into 18 wheat fields using two variables, distance from the edge and average infestation level at the edge, as explanatory variables. We conclude that little additional precision for estimates of infestation level is gained by collecting more than 10 samples along field edges. We also conclude that the average C. cinctus infestation level along field edges can be used successfully to predict infestation levels up to 200 m into winter wheat fields. The proposed sampling should be implemented about one month before harvest to provide growers with enough time to make logistical preparations for harvest.

Rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) are recognised as important components of agroecosystems and are best known for their contribution to biological control as predators of arthropod pests. Unfortunately, knowledge of their bionomics in North American agroecosystems is sparse. Therefore, soybean-hedgerow agroecosystems in Ontario, Canada, were surveyed in 2009–2010 to identify common, widespread members of the assemblage and characterise their seasonal activity patterns. The potential for refuge habitat in adjacent hedgerows was assessed outside of the growing season. The rove beetle assemblage of soybeans during the growing season was found to be a less diverse subset of that found in surrounding hedgerow areas, especially with respect to native species. Both native and non-native species were common (>1% activity density). Based on literature records, most common species were predaceous, univoltine, and adult overwintering. Most common species exhibited the highest activity density midway through the growing season and all were detected in hedgerow habitats outside the growing season. Comparisons with the staphylinid fauna of other North American agroecosystems revealed several common species to dominate assemblages under a wide variety of conditions. This research provides a framework for future agroecological studies of this poorly understood, but abundant and diverse, assemblage of beetles.

Eight species of the siphonine genus Actia Robineau-Desvoidy are recognized in the Nearctic Region, including four that are new: A. dasymyia sp.nov. (type-locality 21 mi. east Tuktoyaktuk, North West Territories, Canada), A. dimorpha sp.nov. (type-locality Sapelo Island, Georgia, USA), A. radialis sp.nov. (type-locality Gatineau Park, Quebec, Canada), and A. sternalis sp.nov. (type-locality mi. 51 Dempster Highway, Yukon, Canada). Adults of the eight species are keyed, described, illustrated (heads, wings, and male terminalia), and their distributions mapped. The species are arranged into three species groups: the autumnalis-group with Nearctic members A. autumnalis (Townsend), A. rufescens (Greene), A. diffidens Curran, and A. dimorpha sp.nov.; the lamia-group with Nearctic members A. interrupta Curran, A. dasymyia sp.nov., and A. radialis sp.nov.; and the crassicornis-group with the single Nearctic member A. sternalis sp.nov. Nearctic Actia are inferred to be of relatively recent origin because only the A. autumnalis/A. rufescens species pair seems to have speciated within the Nearctic Region. Actia autumnalis/A. rufescens, A. diffidens, and A. dimorpha are each hypothesized to have their closest phylogenetic affinities with Neotropical species, and A. sternalis, A. interrupta, A. dasymyia, and questionably A. radialis are each hypothesized to have their closest affinities with Palearctic species.

Parasites of Acrobasis spp. found in the Ottawa, Ont., area are separated by using characters of the parasite remains left in the host cases from which the parasites emerged. Characteristics of the cephalic structures, spiracles and skins of final-instar larvae of 28 species of parasites are described and illustrated in this paper; one species was described and illustrated in an earlier paper (Finlayson 1962); and one species is described from the literature. A record of all known species of Acrobasis parasitized by the species treated in this paper is tabulated.

Thymelicus lineola, a univoltine grass-eating skipper introduced into southern Ontario from the Palearctic prior to 1910, is spreading rapidly and extensively in North America, moving outward in all directions from its origin. Its present distribution (doubtless inadequately known) includes parts of Michigan, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and Connecticut; Edmundston, New Brunswick; all of southern Ontario northeast to Ottawa, plus Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, and Fort William; and Terrace, British Columbia. (The last record may stem from an independent introduction from Eurasia.) Dispersal and colonization are probably much aided (unwittingly) by man. Range expansion often seems to involve a sequence of events (associated with founding of initially small colonies that rather quickly reach high population densities) that may promote rapid evolutionary differentiation of populations.

The object of this paper is to summarize some of the latest research work that has been done concerning the amino acids in insects and especially the research work in which I have collaborated.

The Amino Acid Molecule

An amino acid is an organic compound which contains a grouping with gcidic properties. Such a grouping in organic compounds is the carboxyl group.

The seasonal history of Dryocoetes confusus Sw., in trunks of Abies lasiocarpa (Hook) Nutt., as found under cage conditions at Stanley, B.C., during the two years 1929 and 1930 is summarized in the following statement.

In the laboratory 90.7% of both sexes of moths of the pale western cutworm, Agrotis orthogonia Morrison, emerged from pupae between noon and midnight; almost half emerged between 2 and 4 p.m. Mating, evidenced by spermatophores in the bursa copulatrix, occurred almost always at night, within 3 days of emergence, and at temperatures between 5 and 35 °C. Most females mated only once. Multiple matings, with a maximum of 3 times, occurred in less than 20% of females. Males mated with a maximum of three females. Eggs developed during the pupal stage and were ready for fertilization when the moths emerged. Oviposition began on the first or second day after mating, peaked soon after, and continued until just prior to death of females. Maximum oviposition by one female was 564 eggs, with means from 90 to 342. Oviposition occurred at all temperatures from 5 to 35 °C. with an optimum between 10 and 25 °C. More eggs were laid in the dark or in subdued light than in continuous bright light. Females when unfed could oviposit but when fed water or sugar solutions they laid more eggs. Longevity varied directly with feeding and inversely with temperature. Mean longevity of moths fed honey solution in the laboratory was 12 days for both sexes. A diurnal rhythm of oviposition occurred with distinct peaks; 80% or more of the eggs were laid between noon and early evening. Rhythm of oviposition was apparently initiated by light and could be reversed by reciprocal light regimens but was maintained in continuous dark or light. The maximum distance flown on a flight mill was 14.7 miles for males and 3.5 miles for females. Speed varied from less than 1 to almost 3 m.p.h.

Lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait., V. myrtilloides Michx.) growers often use colonies of the European honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) to supplement native bee populations for pollination. Native bee fauna is thought to be insufficient in number and too unpredictable, in terms of numbers, from year to year to be relied on for adequate crop pollination (Kevan and LaBerge 1978; Mackenzie and Winston 1984; Mohr and Kevan 1987; Kevan 1988; Eck 1988).

During the summers of 1949 and 1950, studies on the biology of mosquitoes were carried out at Whitehorse, Y.T.

At Whitehorse, the principal area under study centred about the Royal Canadian Air Force Station. Some additional collections were made along the Northwest Staging Route, at Fort St. John and Fort Nelson, B.C., and WatsonLake, Y.T.

The winter moth, Operophtera brumata (Linn.), was not known to occur in North America until 1949, when it was first reported from the south shore of Nova Scotia by Hawholdt and Cuming (2) and Smith (4). By that time this introduced species was well established. It is suspected that the winter moth in association with the fall cankerworm, Alsophila pometaria (Harr.), has been causing considerable defoliation of deciduous tree species in the region since the early 1930's (2). The habits and stages of the winter moth have been described briefly by Smith (S), who also has indicated the important differences between the winter moth and the fall cankerworm (4).

Several predator–prey models are examined to assess the generality of Volterra’s contention that an external mortality imposed simultaneously on both predators and prey results in a decrease in predators and an increase in prey equilibrium numbers. The models indicate that this phenomenon occurs mainly as a result of the lack of predator crowding. If predator crowding occurs, a strong functional response of predators to prey density, or light prey mortality relative to predator mortality, is required for Volterra’s phenomenon to occur. In increasing populations away from equilibrium, numerical results indicate conditions for Volterra’s phenomenon to occur.

Under laboratory conditions, Corticeus glaber (LeConte) and C. parallelus (Melsheimer) adults were facultative predators of southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann, eggs and first and second instar larvae. Southern pine beetle frass and blue stain fungus, Ceratocystis minor (Hedgecock) Hunt were also suitable for survival for both species of Corticeus. Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) phloem was not utilized as a food source by either species. Corticeus spp. larvae were predators of D. frontalis eggs.

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.

Development time for the parasite Nasonia vitripennis (Walk.) was shorter on young pupae (less than 48 hours old at 24.5 ± 0.5 °C) than on older pupae of the house fly, Musca domestica L. This was primarily because of intrinsic differences between young and old house-fly pupae as hosts. Though less important, two other conditions in young hosts favoured a shorter mean development period for N. vitripennis: first, the smaller proportion of very small parasites, which mature more slowly than the larger ones; and, second, the greater number of parasite larvae per host, which is associated with more rapid development in this species.