Eight species of the genus Piagetiella are discussed and illustrated. There are two new synonymies: P. africana (Bedford) (= Tetrophthalmus australis Bedford) and P. titan (Piaget) (= Tetrophthalmus subtitan Bedford). A key is given to the species.

Worldwide biological-control research has shown that the fungal entomopathogen Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) is an alternative to chemical insecticides for controlling grasshoppers and locusts. The pathogenicity of two recently discovered isolates of M. anisopliae var. anisopliae Driver and Milner from Canadian soil to the key grasshopper pest Melanoplus bivittatus (Say) and the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L., was determined by means of laboratory bioassays. Insects were fed a single dose of 105 conidia suspended in sunflower oil on food (a standard-size lettuce wafer). Subsequent feeding activity, movement, and mortality were assessed daily. The isolates were equally pathogenic, and similar in pathogenicity to the industry standard, Green Guard (M. anisopliae var. acridum Driver and Milner). Treatment with the three isolates resulted in 50% grasshopper mortality in 5–6 days and 90% mortality in 6–7 days.

This paper reviews the occurrence of the genus Chlorochroa Stål in Canada. It is shown that 10 species occur in this country, namely C. belfragii (Stål), C. faceta (Say), C. congrua Uhler, C. granulosa (Uhler), C. ligata (Say), C. opuntiae Esselbaugh, C. persimilis Horvath, C. rossiana Buxton and Thomas, C. uhleri (Stål), and C. viridicata (Walker). Chlorochroa sayi (Stål) does not occur in Canada. The published records of C. sayi as a pest of agricultural crops and ornamentals in Canada refer to C. uhleri.

A 4-year field cage study was conducted to determine what effects feeding of alfalfa plant bug, Adelphocoris lineolatus (Goeze), late in the season had on alfalfa seed yields. When zero, one, two, or four alfalfa plant bugs were placed in sleeve cages containing stems of alfalfa at the green pod stage of growth, there was a significant decrease in the number of pods per cage and per raceme, the number of healthy seeds, and the weight of seeds with two or four bugs per cage. Increasing the duration of infestation resulted in significant increases in the number of damaged seeds per cage. An insecticide field trial was conducted in north central Saskatchewan in 1988 to determine what effects the occurrence of plant bugs had on seed yields of alfalfa. Alfalfa plant bug, lygus bug (Lygus spp.), pea aphid [Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris)], and beneficial arthropod populations were monitored from 23 June to 1 September 1988. Seed yields were significantly greater in plots that were treated with trichlorfon in June and in June and August than in plots that were treated in August alone. The implications of a large alfalfa plant bug population late in the season to alfalfa seed production in the area are discussed.

Articulated sensilla occur on the pronotum of 100 species in 65 genera of membracids. The abundance of the sensilla and their universal occurrence in this group suggests that sensory reception is a significant function of the membracid pronotum. Bizarre forms of the pronotum may be a result of selection pressure to increase surface area.

The effectiveness of seven insect juvenile hormone analogs (JHAs) in disrupting metamorphosis of the eastern spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana Clemens, was determined by applying the compounds topically to early sixth-instar larvae and monitoring subsequent development. Fenoxycarb showed promising control potential, with an LC50 of 0.26 μg per insect. Relative lethal effectiveness, based on LC50 values, was Fenoxycarb > ZR9892 > ZR8487 > S-71639 > methoprene > ZR9582 > ZR10151. Some of the JHAs tested may be useful in an integrated spruce budworm control program.

The taxonomy of Merodon dobrogensis Bradescu, 1982 (Diptera: Syrphidae) species subgroup was reviewed. Multiple data sources (morphology, geometric morphometry of wings and surstylus, molecular data, and distributional data) were used to investigate the species subgroup in the manner of integrative taxonomy. Merodon dobrogensis Bradescu, 1982 and M. puniceus Vujić, Radenković, and Pérez-Bañón, 2011 are supported as distinct species belonging to the M. dobrogensis species complex within the M. dobrogensis species subgroup. Additionally, evidence is presented for the description of a new species, M. rojoi Radenković and Vujić new species, with a distribution in mainland Greece, the Greek island Euboea, and the Peloponnese. A short diagnosis is provided for the M. aureus species group, the M. dobrogensis species subgroup, and the newly defined M. dobrogensis species complex, in addition to a description of the new species, with drawings and photographs of adult morphology.

Forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria Hübner; Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) is a widely distributed defoliator that undergoes intermittent outbreaks. It overwinters as pharate larvae within egg bands, is univoltine, and experiences low winter temperatures in its northern range. Little is known about how low temperatures affect winter survival and cold tolerances, their cold tolerance strategy, or how cold tolerances may vary over time and among populations. We evaluated supercooling points (SCPs) from four populations of M. disstria eggs collected along a 552 km latitudinal gradient from southern Wisconsin to northern Minnesota, United States of America. To test for potential effects of winter environment, we also administered three overwintering regimes (Madison, Wisconsin; Cloquet, Minnesota; Ely, Minnesota). Supercooling points were recorded in November, February, and March of 2011–2012. Supercooling points varied with maternal source (egg band), time of winter season, population source, and overwintering treatment. Means ranged from −26.8 °C (±0.5 °C) to −40.3 °C (±0.3 °C), accordingly. In a separate laboratory experiment, 89% of pharate larvae held at −20 °C (18.3 °C above coolest mean SCP) survived, but none held at −45 °C (6.7 °C below lowest mean SCP) survived. This relatively high degree of cold tolerance in its overwintering stage, due to freeze avoidance, may partially explain survival patterns and limits of overwintering M. disstria in northern populations.

In the present paper, besides descriptions of a few species which appear to be undescribed, I offer some critical notes on certain statements made and conclusions arrived at by Dr. Jay Traver in the taxonomic portion of Needham's Biology of Mayflies. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the value of a work such as the above can only be ascertained by constant checking of the keys and descriptions in connection with the examination of typical or topotypical material.

A revision of the New World species of Paragus is presented. Seven Nearctic species (6 new) of the subgenus Paragus and 1 Holarctic species of the subgenus Pandasyopthalmus are recognized. Figures of the male terminalia and a distribution map are given for each species.

The spider fauna of three hayfields and their margins in Nova Scotia was sampled by means of pitfall traps from May to October, 1960. Eleven families were represented and comprised 35 genera and 55 species. Specimens of the genus Pardosa were trapped in greatest numbers.

Length 3.6-4 mm.; width 1.7-1.9 mm. Elongate oval, subequally narrowed in front and behind. Dorsum very dark brown, the anterior portion of the head pale brown, a median band extending across the pronotum sometimes slightly paler, elytra near basal and lateral margins sometimes very slightly paler; antennae reddish-yellow, the segments except the basal four each strongly infuscate except at base; legs and prothoracic venter reddish-yellow; remainder of venter black, shining.

Antipic, an electronic mosquito repeller, was evaluated in the field and in the laboratory. It was ineffective in repelling natural populations of mosquitoes (mostly Aedes spp.) in Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec.

Genetic divergence among populations of cone beetles, Conophthorus banksianae McPherson, C. coniperda (Schwarz), and C. resinosae Hopkins, was assessed by isozyme electrophoretic data. All but one of the eight loci examined were polymorphic, and one locus (Pgi) was sex-linked for C. coniperda. Genotype frequencies generally met Hardy-Weinberg expectations, and fixation index (FST) values indicated low-to-moderate genetic differences among conspecific populations. Fixed allele differences were detected at two loci, Pgi and Dia-2, which separated C. resinosae from C. coniperda, and thus confirmed their specific status established previously by morphological, karyological, and other biochemical characters. Electrophoretic data strongly suggested C. coniperda does not attack red pine cones, and C. resinosae does not attack white pine cones. No diagnostic loci were found to separate C. resinosae from C. banksianae. Phenetic clustering and pairwise comparisons of genetic distance coefficients indicated very little genetic divergence between C. resinosae and C. banksianae. These data were interpreted as failing to reject the null hypothesis that C. resinosae and C. banksianae are one species, an interpretation consistent with available taxonomic evidence from ecological, karyological, and other biochemical characters.

Cornicle length measuremetns of Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) nymphs reared in the laboratory were instar-specific and unaffected by rearing temperature. A multimodal analysis of cornicle lengths of field-collected aphids clearly detected four distribution peaks (i.e., instars) in five different field populations, and there was generaaly little overlap between successive instar distributions. However, third and fourth instars in the spring field sample could not be separated accurately due to the shorter cornicle length of nymphs that developed from overwintered eggs. Cornicle length proved to be a useful criterion for separating virginoparous A. pisum instars in samples collected in southern Wisconsin.

Field tests demonstrated the attractiveness of several compounds to the olive fly, Dacus oleae Gmel.; a correlation with far infrared absorption bands was derived; and dl-homocysteine thiolactone hydrochloride was tested because of its conformity with this pattern. Field tests confirmed the predicted attractiveness of this and a few other compounds, and also an anti-attractant property in menthol and in butyl butyrate.

Adults of the blueberry maggot, Rhagoletis mendax Curran, were captured on Pherocon® AM traps and on 8.5 cm tartar red dark sticky spheres from early July to mid-August in lowbush blueberry fields. Spheres captured significantly more (P < 0.05) adults than Pherocon AM traps deployed vertically and at 45 °angles, but did not capture significantly more adults than Pherocon traps deployed above the plants. Immature females were captured more frequently on Pherocon traps whereas mature females and males were captured more frequently on spheres.

The use of either type of trap to monitor adult prevalence to determine the time and need for control treatments appears feasible, but will require further study to provide reliable indexes of adult populations for predicting the need for treatments.

Three different soils – sand, loam and clay – at each of three moisture levels – saturated, intermediate, and dry – were offered to female Melanoplus sanguinipes as oviposition sites. When given a free choice the females preferred moist sand to all other oviposition sites and avoided soil that was completely dry. When no moist soil was available, coarse dry soil was preferred to fine dry soil, but the oviposition rate was reduced. The females would probe and dig at random into any of the soil offered but would withhold their eggs temporarily if the subsurface soil was not moist. Soil water pH appeared to have very little influence on the females' acceptance of an oviposition site as egg pods were deposited in soils with a range of pH from 3.0 to 11.6. It is suggested that although the absence of moisture in the soil may affect the distribution of egg-pods in the microhabitat and may reduce the rate of egg-pod production slightly, the temperature prevailing during the oviposition period is perhaps a more important factor in determining the number of egg-pods deposited.

Larvae, and male and female adults, of Paramideopsis susanae n. gen., n. sp. are described. The genus Paramideopsis is proposed and diagnosed based primarily upon the autapomorphic presence of 6 pairs of genital acetabula on plates flanking the gonopore in adults. Possible relationships between P. susanae and other Mideopsidae are discussed.

The Diptera occurring in various kinds of bird nests were investigated in the Japanese island of Hokkaido from 1985 to 1989. A total of 4623 Diptera, consisting of 23 species of eight families (Anthomyiidae, Fannidae, Muscidae, Calliphoridae, Heleomyzidae, Sphaeroceridae, Sepsidae, and Stratiomyiidae), was reared from 69 natural nests of 13 bird species of eight families (Strigidae, Picidae, Paridae, Sittidae, Sturnidae, Ploceidae, Laniidae, and Columbidae). Of 23 species of flies reared, 12 were new records from bird nests. An ectoparasite of birds, Protocalliphora maruyamensis Shinonaga and Kano, frequently emerged from the nests of hole-nesting birds of Paridae, Sturnidae, and Ploceidae, but it did not emerge from the nests of the hole-nesting birds Picoides major and P. minor of Picidae. The nests of Streptopelia orientalis yielded the most species of flies (12). Myospila meditabunda (Fabricius) and Mydaea urbana (Meigen), whose larvae are predacious, proved able to live in the bird nests. Among the scavengers, Potamia littoralis (R.-D.) was the most dominant and occurred in the nests of nine of 10 hole-nesting bird species. Sphaerocerid, sepsid, and stratiomid flies occurred in the nests of S. orientalis in which large quantities of bird feces had accumulated. The factors concerning the occurrence of flies in the nests are discussed.