Within the next few years those of us who have been directly concerned with the first appearance of termites in the Province of Ontario will either have forgotten some of the earlier details of this introduction or wiil have passed beyond the field of such earthly considerations. The present paper has been wrinen so that those who mav be interested in the earlv history of the introduction of termites into Ontario in the years that lie ahead wll have at least one authoritative paper upon which to hase their studies or investigations.

We describe aspects of the life history of Erynnis propertius (Scudder and Burgess) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) by examining several populations over multiple years. We focused on peripheral populations of this species because they are isolated, are threatened by habitat loss, and may play an important role in driving poleward range expansion under increasing regional temperature. Our findings show that the annual larval growth rate does not vary directly with temperature, adult flight phenology and the timing of key resources respond to average daytime temperatures in spring, and population-density patterns among sites are robust over years across a broad region near the species' northern range limit. In addition, we provide descriptions of all larval instars for this species. This fundamental information about the biology, timing, and abundance of this species will facilitate further experimental study and improved assessment of its conservation status.

In a recent paper by Dr. J. G. Meyers (1929) entitled “Faculative Blood-Sucking in Phytophagous Hemiptera” an excellent summary of our knowledge of this interesting phenomenon is given. The above cited paper, and others listed in the bibliography at the conclusion of the present paper, recalled to mind certain experiences and observations made in collecting these insects during the past few years.

Study of lonchaeid material reared from cones of various coniferous trees in North America revealed five previously undescribed species of the genus Earomyia Zett. The composite nature of cone-infesting lonchaeidae has not been understood and at least four of the species treated here have been considered as a single species (Keen, 1938, 1952). Much of the material studied, particularly that reared by various Forest Insect Investigations officers of the United States Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine (bearing Hopkins U.S. numbers), has been misidentified as Earomyia viridana (Mg.) (Keen, op. cit.), Lonchaea albitarsis Zett., L. rufitarsis Macq., L. polita Say, and others.

Extensive stands of young tamarack throughout the forested areas of the Prairie Provinces are currently menaced by the depredations of this serious defoliator. Owing to the importance of the insect, this paper was prepared with the object of: (1) reviewing briefly available information concerning the present outbreak in the Prairie Provinces, (2) clarifying some of the main issues frequently raised, and (3) describing the investigations in progress in the Prairie Region.

The present paper brings together the latest knowledge on the species of Lyctocoris Hahn, Tetraphleps Fieber, and Elatophilus Reuter, in the Nearctic region. New synonymy and new combinations are listed, and distinguishing characters of the genera are presented. Five new species are described to make available the names for a forthcoming paper on Anthocoridae in the Pacific Northwest (Anderson, in press).

The varied interpretations by numerous biologists, of the role of predation in population dynamics have been critically reviewed by Holling (1959) and by Huffaker and Kennett (1956). They conclude that the processes of predation may serve to regulate prey density and disagree with generalizations that minimize the role of predation. This role has been a subject of considerable interest in recent years, notable contributions being the laboratory investigations of Collyer (1958) and Huffaker (1958), and the field studics of Holling (1959).

Seven indigenous and four introduced species of aphids occur on ferns (Polypodiaceae) in North America. A new species, Macrosiphum cystopteris, is described, and Macrosiphum sleesmani Pepper is designated as type of a new genus Papulaphis.

Tinocallis Matsumura is a small group of aphids that is mainly associated with the Ulmaceae. Eight species are known, as follows: Tinocallis ulmiparvifoliae Matsumura, T. platani (Kaltenbach), T. saltans (Nevsky), T. zelkovae Dzhibladze, T. zelkowae (Takahashi), T. ulmifolii (Monell), T. caryaefoliae (Davis), and T. kahawaluokalani (Kirkaldy). All are redescribed and an illustrated key is offered.

Large and small strains of the rice weevil Sitophilus oryza (L.) (Calandra oryzae (L.) of authors following European usage) have been reported from several localities (Birch, 1944 in Australia; Kiritani, 1956 in Japan; Kono, 1955 in Nepal; Richards 1944 in Britain; and Utida, 1958, in Canada, Japan and U.S.A.). Birch and Richards both seem to have considered it probable that the two strains were separate species: but they did not make the separation. Floyd and Newsom (1960), after careful work on both strains found in the U.S. and reared in the laboratory on a variety of materials, decided that the small strain could be validly made a separate species, thus agreeing with Takahashi who, according to Floyd and Newsom (1960), had elevated this strain to species rank as Calandra sasakii. In conformity with modern North American usage Floyd and Newsom refer to this small species as Sitophilus sasakii (Tak.). In addition to differences in size, they found differences in the male and female genitalia, interstrain sterility and various ecological differences. There were also differences in pronotal markings as had been, according to Kono (1953), noted by Takahashi (1928). Kono states “…the adult of the large strain has pits dotted densely on the central part of the pronotum, the small strain does not, and, furthermore the shape and size of the pits differ distinctly”.

The sawfly Diprion hercyniae (Htg.) prefers the old to the new growth of its preferred food plant, Picea glauca (Moench) Voss. The similarity between the responses by the sawfly and those by one of its parasites, the tachinid Drino bohemica Mesn., and the significance of this similarity are discussed.

The distribution of Douglas-fir tussock moth, Orgyia pseudotsugata (McD.), cocoons was studied within and between the crowns of white fir, Abies concolor ((Gord. and Glend.) Lindl.), at six locations in the central Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. The within tree, between tree, and between plot distribution of cocoons in the crown, categorized by sex, mortality (including parasitization), and stage (larva or pupa) were analyzed. Only cocoons containing female pupae varied in their distribution within the tree and they were concentrated in the bottom third of the live crown but their densities at any one level bore little relation to those in the other levels within the crown. Cocoon density varied significantly between plots and between trees within plots. Total parasitism did not vary significantly between plots. The variable within tree distribution of cocoons containing female pupae and their increased percentage parasitism relative to those containing male pupae, suggested that the live crown should be stratified. A sample unit consisting of two branches selected from the midpoint of each of the three crown levels (total: 6 branches) sampled approximately 5% of the live crown of white fir. The relation between the number of sample trees and mean cocoon density at three levels of precision is provided.

The relationship between body size and age in two species of Collembola, Folsomia Candida and Xenylla grisea, was studied in three temperature regimes. Power curves were used to describe length as a function of age for each species-temperature combination. Growth parameters (slopes of the log-log curves) and length at hatch (log intercepts) were compared by multiple regression. There was a strong non-linear effect of temperature on growth in the range normally encountered.

Using Dyar’s Law the number of larval stages in the life cycle of the European skipper, Thymelicus lineola, was determined in Quebec (1974, 1975, 1976), Ontario (1976), and Prince Edward Island (1976). In all regions five larval stages were observed, as in Europe, and not six as previously reported in Ontario. Apparently in this latter case an erroneous interpretation of the significant differences existing between the sexes (relating to head capsule width and developmental time) resulted in male and female fifth stage larvae being considered as fifth and sixth stages respectively.

Predispersal seed predation of Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. (Asteraceae) by Orellia ruficauda (Fabr.) (Diptera: Tephritidae) occurs in about 20–85% of the seed heads and the proportion of damaged seeds per attacked head averages 20–80% depending on geographical location and sampling date. Microscopic studies of damaged seeds were performed. Although the impact of this seed predator is not severe, it may be an important factor in the population regulation of the weed.

In Manitoba, first-stage larvae of Microctonus vittatae Mues. overwinter in diapausing adults of two rape-infesting chrysomelids, Phyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze) and Phyllotreta striolata (F.). The parasite larvae resume their development in May after the hosts have finished overwintering, and mature parasite larvae emerge and spin cocoons from which adults emerge late in May and during June. Usually there are four parasite generations each year; most of the larvae in the first three generations are non-diapausing, whereas most first-stage larvae of the fourth generation develop briefly and then enter diapause in September or October and overwinter. Early attempts to propagate M. vittatae for laboratory studies were unsuccessful because most of the immature parasites either died or entered diapause. Preliminary tests suggested that, as in some other parasite species (Saunders 1965; McNeil and Rabb 1973; Anderson and Kaya 1974), the photoperiod at which the parasites were propagated influenced the incidence of diapause. The following three experiments examined this hypothesis and attempted to identify rearing conditions that would prevent diapause or limit its incidence in M. vittatae.

The food value of two synthetic diets for the fly larva Agria housei inverted between two temperatures, 15 °C and 30 °C. The balance of nutrients, particularly effected by the amino acid and lipid mixtures, glucose, thiamine HCl, and calcium pantothenate, was varied in the design of the two diets so that the rate of larval development axenically on one diet was superior to that on the other diet at 30 °C, but inferior to that on the other diet at 15 °C, relatively; for in any case the rate was slower at 15 °C. Differences between the rates on the diets within each given temperature were statistically significant.

The following notes and descriptions concern the feeding habits, distribution, and other characters of several species and presumed subspecies of Cerambycidae, Chrysomelidae, and Bruchidae.

Xylotrechus annosus emotus n. subsp.

Occurring in British Columbia, Washington, and California; differing from annosus annosus (Say) in having the pale areas of the elytra larger and more numerous; the pattern of the elytra therefore much more conspicuous than in annosus annosus, which is restricted regions east of the Rocky Mountains.

Apollophanes O. Pickard-Cambridge 1898 (= Pelloctanes Schick 1965, syn. n.) includes 10 species, namely, A. punctipes (O. Pickard-Cambridge) 1891 [= A. distinctus (O. Pickard-Cambridge) 1899, syn. n. = A. maculatipes (O. Pickard-Cambridge) 1893, syn. n. = A. arizonensis Gertsch 1933, syn. n. = A. mexicanus Gertsch 1933, syn. n. = A. similalis Gertsch 1933, syn. n.], A. texanus Banks 1904 [= A. francesca Lowrie and Gertsch 1955, syn. n.], A. longipes (O. Pickard-Cambridge) 1896, comb, n., A. margareta Lowrie and Gertsch 1955, A. caribaeus sp. n., A. punctatus (Bryant) 1948, comb, n., A. indistinctus Gertsch 1933, A crispus sp. n., A. erectus sp. n., and A. aztecanus sp. n. A. bryanti Gertsch 1933 and A. paraguensis Gertsch 1933 from South America are placed in the genus Cleocnemis Simon. Definitions, diagnoses, illustrations, range maps, and a key to species are provided.