Alloxysta Förster, 1869 (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) type material of 19 nominal species deposited in the Canadian National Collection of Insects (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) and the United States National Museum of Natural History (Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America) were studied. Nine species are treated as valid: A. australiae (Ashmead, 1900), A. commensuratus Andrews, 1978, A. japonicus (Ashmead, 1904), A. lachni (Ashmead, 1885), A. longiventris Baker, 1896, A. minuscula Andrews, 1978, A. nothofagi Andrews, 1976, A. vandenboschi Andrews, 1978, and A. xanthopsis (Ashmead, 1896). The following synonymies are established: A. affinis (Baker, 1896) and A. quebeci Andrews, 1978 junior synonyms of A. castanea (Hartig, 1841); A. alaskensis Ashmead, 1902 and A. coniferensis Andrews, 1978 junior synonyms of A. macrophadna (Hartig, 1841); A. bicolor (Baker, 1896) and A. anthracina Andrews, 1978 junior synonyms of A. obscurata (Hartig, 1840); A. dicksoni Andrews, 1978 junior synonym of A. pilipennis (Hartig, 1840); and A. leguminosa (Weld, 1920), A. megourae (Ashmead, 1887), and A. rauchi Andrews, 1978 junior synonyms of A. brevis (Thomson, 1862). The type material of A. schlingeri Andrews, 1978 and A. halli Andrews, 1978 could not be found and we consider them as nomina dubia. Alloxysta vandenboschi Andrews is removed from synonymy with A. obscurata and considered a valid species. Comments on the type material are given. Complete redescriptions and images are presented for the valid species.

The Essex skipper, Thymelicus (Adopaea) lineola (Ochs.), is said to have been introduced from Europe to the area of London, Ontario, about 1910 but attracted Iittie attention until 1955 (MacNay, 1956). Since then it has been found over most of southern Ontario (MacNay, 1959) and presently is causing damage to fields of timothy, Phleum pratense L., near Priceville, Ontario. As the larvae eat the leaves of timothy and orchard grass, Dactylis glomerata L., this species is a potential pest of forage crops.

When given a choice of large, unparasitised sixth-instar larvae of the European pine shoot moth, Rhyacionia buoliana, and small sixth instars containing developing Orgilus obscurator, Hyssopus thymus selected the former. This discrimination does not exist when the host larvae are in the third or fourth instars. The size of the contained O. obscurator larva is related to this change in behaviour. H. thymus shows no cleptoparasitic tendencies and is recommended as a safe candidate for introduction where O. obscurator exists.

This technique was developed to discover whether a tyroglyphid mite, Tyrophagus castellanii Hirst, was feeding on moulds growing on a food medium rather than on the food medium itself. Later on the technique was also found satisfactory for obtaining, under controlled temperature and humidity conditions, individual development records for all stages of the life-cycle of the mite.

The European spruce sawfly, Diprion hercyniae (Htg.), was first found in Canada in 1930. An aerial survey in the following year showed that it was causing severe defoliation in an area of about 2,500 square miles in the Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec. In succeeding years it spread rapidly over wide areas in Eastern Canada (see, e.g., Baird 1937, Balch 1937). The work reported below was part of an attempt to control the sawfly by biotic agents.

Laboratory experiments at various constant temperatures indicate a theoretical threshold of about 40°F. for spinning of cocoons by eonymphal larvae of Neodiprion swainei Midd. As temperatures fall below 52.5°F. the increase in mortality and time required to spin is pronounced. The optimum temperature is estimated to be around 60°F. Field investigations for three consecutive years show a close correlation between rate of spinning and temperature. Temperature is considered as a prime factor influencing the spinning of cocoons and is possibly one of the more important factors governing the population dynamics of N. swainei in the Province of Quebec.

An aphid, Aphis barberae new species, is described from garden nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus L. and burdock, Arctium minus (Hill) Bernh. It differs from A. fabae Scopoli mainly in that it can not be cultured on faba bean, Vicia faba L.

Because Dioryctria amatella (Hulst) is a key pest in loblolly pine, Pinus taeda L. (Pinaceae), seed orchards in the southeastern United States, improved timing of insecticide applications would be valuable for its control. To time two fenvalerate (Pydrin® 2.4 EC) applications we tested four variations of a degree-day model that was developed to predicted when various proportions of D. amatella eggs would hatch during the spring generation. We compared reductions in Dioryctria spp. cone damage to unsprayed checks and a standard operational spray regime of four monthly applications of fenvalerate. In addition, we examined seeds from healthy cones to determine if sprays to control D. amatella also reduced seed damage caused by Leptoglossus corculus Say (Heteroptera: Coreidae) and Tetyra bipunctata (Herrich-Schäffer) (Heteroptera: Scutelleridae). Trials were conducted from 1984 to 1986 in two orchards in South Carolina and one in Alabama. Degree-day accumulations (threshold = 11 °C) were begun on the day when the cumulative number of male D. amatella equaled or exceeded five captured in 15 Pherocon 1C® traps baited with 100 μg of Z-11-hexadecenyl acetate. One application per year was insufficient to control D. amatella or reduced seed-bug damage. Two sprays based on D. amatella phenology significantly reduced coneworm and seed bug damage, and were as effective as four sprays applied monthly. None of the treatments reduce spring cone losses, which are primarily caused by Dioryctria merkeli Mutuura and Monroe. Several variations of the model performed well, but we suggest that the best, based on efficacy and ease of use, was when sprays were applied immediately after five males were caught (degree-day = 0) and again when the model predicted 50% of the spring generation eggs had hatched.

The use of artificial illumination in entomological studies is extensive. Incandescent and fluorescent lights are used in mass-rearing insects necessary for physiological and ecological studies, and in photoperiod-controlled as well as in electrophysiological experiments.

One of the main problems facing investigators in the interpretation of their results or in comparing these to preceding reports is the plethora of ways in which experimental conditions involving light are reported. Here are some examples: “The ants were kept under fluorescent light from 0800 to 2000 hours; light intensity on the ants was about 400 lux” (McCluskey 1965).

The Hippelates flies or eye gnats are dipterous insects of considerable interest to medical entomologists and public health workers because of their relation to the transmission of yaws and epidemic eye diseases, and because of their persistently annoying habits. The writer has been engaged in studies leading to the preparation of a comprehensive, illustrated monograph of the group in the western hemisphere, a work long needed because of the close similarity of the many species and the difficulty of proper determinations from the literature.

The first fully documented North American records of the Palearctic Ceutorhynchinae weevil species Amalorrhynchus melanarius (Stephens, 1831), Microplontus campestris (Gyllenhal, 1837), Pelenomus waltoni (Boheman, 1843), and Rhinoncus perpendicularis (Reiche, 1797) are presented. Characters providing for their recognition, as well as keys and habitus photographs facilitating their identification, are provided. It is likely that all four species have recently been introduced unintentionally by human activities.

The sex pheromone of the spruce seed moth, Cydia strobilella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), has not yet been identified, but several chemicals were found to be attractive to males (reviewed by Grant et al. 1989). E8-Dodecenyl acetate (E8-12:OAc) at 0.3-3.0 μg doses was the only effective attractant for males in field experiments in British Columbia, Ontario, and Newfoundland (Grant et al. 1989). Our objectives were to (i) confirm that female C. strobilella produce E8-12:OAc as a pheromone component, (ii) determine whether females produce additional pheromone components, and (iii) investigate the die1 periodicity of pheromonal communication.

An illustrated key to the last-instar larval cephalic structures of parasites reared from larvae of Spilonota ocellana (D. & S.), notes on habits of the parasites, and a description of their cocoons and pupae are given. Rearing techniques are described. The parasites reared are Gelis tenellus (Say), Hyposoter sp., Meteorus argyrotaeniae Johansen, Phanerotoma recurvariae Cush., Apanteles sp., Agathis dimidiator (Nees.), Euderus cushmani Cwfd., and Sympiesis bimaculatipennis (Grlt.).

Studies on the reproductive biology of the spruce budmoth, Zeiraphera canadensis Mut. & Free., were conducted in northern New Brunswick. Observations of adults under insectary conditions revealed that peak mating occurred around midnight, and that copulation lasted on average 4.3 h. The age of males and females at mating as well as their longevity is provided for both years. The pre-oviposition period was similar for both years, 6.1 and 6.3 days in 1984 and 1985, respectively. The oviposition period decreased from 6.1 days in 1984 to 4.4 days in 1985. The total fecundity was 32.9 eggs per female in 1984 and 21.8 eggs per female in 1985. The mean age-specific oviposition rate under 1984 field conditions is also presented. The importance of these results in determining the proper timing of adulticidal sprays against Z. canadensis is discussed.

For maturation feeding, the teneral adults of Pseudohylesinus nebulosus (LeConte) infest healthy twigs of Douglas-fir trees, where they excavate short, irregular galleries in the wood. Mechanically damaged twigs and smaller branches then break off, or a canker-like structure, vulnerable to further breakage, develops at the place of feeding. Some silvicultural and forest entomological implications are mentioned.

Crucifer flea beetle, Phyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze) and striped flea beetle, Phyllotreta striolata (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) are the most chronic and economically important flea beetle pests of cruciferous (Brassicaceae) crops in western Canada. There have been reports that populations of P. striolata are increasing in numbers and expanding their geographic range. Climate is the fundamental factor regulating the distribution and abundance of most insect species. Bioclimate simulation models of the two flea beetle species were developed to assess climatic factors influencing shifts in their geographic distribution and density. The results fostered a better understanding of how the two species responded to selected climate variables. Growing seasons with above average precipitation were predicted to favour the geographic distribution of P. striolata more than P. cruciferae. Both P. cruciferae and P. striolata were sensitive to temperature changes in the range of −2 °C to +2 °C. The ecoclimatic index (suitability index) for P. cruciferae increased with increasing temperatures, whereas the index for P. striolata declined with increasing temperatures. This study highlights the regions of the Prairies and Boreal Plains Ecozones that are most sensitive to shifts of the two populations and which may require changes in insecticidal seed treatments for effective control.

Philodromus praelustris Keyserling and P. cespiticolis Walckenaer have annual life cycles in the Niagara Peninsula. Females of P. praelustris produced up to 12 egg sacs containing a total of over 200 eggs in an insectary but the later eggs did not hatch. Fecundity of females in the orchards appeared to be considerably lower.

There was no experimental evidence that P. praelustris disperses by ballooning though some very young individuals probably do so. All stages disperse by bridging, i.e., by casting an air-borne loop of web that catches on distant objects.

P. praelustris perceives prey by contact or, over very short distances, by vision. Two species of ants were rejected as prey.

A hypothetical parasitoid mass rearing facility is used to unite principles from behavioral ecology and biological control. The key to the problem is variation in the tendency of solitary parasitoids to superparasitize. Superparasitism affects individual and population parasitoid productivity, though not necessarily to the same degree. Herein, the interest is in determining conditions that will maximize parasitoid population productivity when superparasitism varies. To accomplish this, a combination of graphical marginal analysis (to provide an economic context), dynamic optimization models (to determine individual parasitoid superparasitism tendency), and functional response models (to determine parasitoid population productivity) has been used. Marginal analysis shows that marginal returns decrease with an increase in the number of parasitoids released but that the slope of the marginal returns curve depends upon the sensitivity of superparasitism to environmental conditions. In addition, results show that parasitoid responses can be highly nonlinear and, as such, can greatly affect optimal numbers of parasitoids released in a nonintuitive manner. This behavioral ecology approach greatly increases efficiency and predictability of parasitoid production.

The terminology pertaining to the structure of the male genitalia of the Hymenoptera has been subject to much confusion. Several systems, many purely descriptive in nature, have previously been set forch. Others were based on the various concepts of the ontogeny of the male genitalia, or on the comparative morphology of the adults. The investigation reported here began as an attempt to synthesize the various terminolopies and to evolve a workable set of terms pertaining to the structure of the male genitalia of the megachilid bees. Accordingly, a study was conducted on the myology of the group with the thought that perhaps an understanding of the comparative musculature might be of value in determining the homologies of the insect genitalia. This paper reports the results of a phase of the investigation on the morphology of the male metasoma, the muscular mechanism of the male metasoma and genitalia, and the gross structure of the internal reproductive organs of Megachile (Phaenosarsus) fortis Cresson. A second portion of the study, pertaining to the comparative morphology of the male genitalia and associated sterna of the Mecgachilidae, will be published later.