In 1889, Westwood, in the Synopsis of the then known Mantidæ, prefixed to his Revisio insectorum familiæ Mantidorum, credits to North America, north of Mexico, nine species belonging to five genera,— Gonatista, Oligonyx, Thesprotia, Mantis, and Stagmomantis. several species were overlooked by him, and in reality up to the present time twenty-three nominal species have been at different times credited to this region and referred to ten genera,—Ameles, Empusa, Phasmomantis, Stagmatoptera, and Theoclytes, besides the foregoing. Several of the species, however, have been erroneously credited to this country, such as Empusa gongylodes and Mantis gemmata, both of which are East Indian. Several of the names, moreover, are synonyms of others, so that the number of species these references represent is speedily reduced more than one-half. All of these but Mantis Wheeleri Thom., Phasmomantis sumichrasti Sauss., and Oligonyx Uhleri Stal, I have seen, and to them can add several more not before recognized in the region in question, six of them being apparently hitherto undescribed, together with one genus. The total number of species is fifteen or sixteen, and of genera, eleven, only three of the genera—Litaneutria, Stagmomantis, and Oligonyx—having more than one species; undoubtedly more forms will be found in the West and South.

The oak leaf shredder, Croesia semipurpurana (Kearfott), has been a particularly persistent pest of red oak, Quercus rubra, in southern Ontario for several years. It is capable of completely defoliating mature trees leading either to increased susceptibility to disease or mortality. In 1980 about 800 ha in southern Ontario required spraying with Orthenem insecticide (Howse and McDowall 1980). The development of a sex pheromone lure for the oak leaf shredder would be valuable for survey purposes, post-insecticidal spray analysis of adult survival in treated plots, and for potential direct control by means of the disruption technique. Recently mixtures of (E)-11-tetradecenal (E11-14:AL) and Z11-14:AL in the ratios of 80:20 to 90:lO were found to be attractive to male moths (Weatherston et al. 1978). A local outbreak of oak leaf shredder in Sault Ste. Marie afforded an opportunity to determine the insect's response to modifications of the aldehyde blend in order to improve the efficiency of pheromone trapping of this species.

An assemblage of 24 grasshopper species inhabited a mixed grass prairie site near Livermore, Colorado. Ten species were gomphocerines, 9 melanoplines, and 5 locustines; the gomphocerines represented ca. 80% of total density, melanoplines 15%, and locustines 5%. Grass feeders, gomphocerines and most locustines, made up 85% of total density. The dominant species was Ageneotettix deorum which contributed 52% of the grasshopper density in 1981 and 37% in 1982. The grasshopper population was at outbreak density both years, 60/m2 in 1981 and 36/m2 in 1982. The pasture had never been treated with insecticide or herbicide. The Shannon-Wiener index of ca. 2.00 indicated a high grasshopper diversity.

The Phyllophaga schizorhina (Bates) species group is revised, and the following new species are described from specimens collected in Mexico, Guatamala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and Ecuador: P. changuenasp. nov., P. onoreanasp. nov., P. solisianasp. nov., P. schizorhinoidessp. nov., P. borucasp. nov., P. izabalanasp. nov., P. canoanasp. nov., P. chortianasp. nov., P. zarcoanasp. nov., P. chiblacanasp. nov., P. javepacuanasp. nov., P. ocozocuanasp. nov., P. chimoxtilasp. nov., P. cholanasp. nov., P. tuxtlecasp. nov., P. zaragozanasp. nov., P. matacapanasp. nov., P. catemacoanasp. nov., P. atratoidessp. nov., P. humboldtianasp. nov., P. comaltepecanasp. nov., P. dsaimanasp. nov., P. quianasp. nov., P. yoloxanasp. nov., and P. pseudoatrasp. nov.Phyllophaga schizorhina and P. nigrita are recorded for first time from Costa Rica. A key is provided for males of the 38 species. Diagnostic structures of all species are illustrated and distribution maps are provided.

The impacts of the pyrethroid PP321 on the mite fauna in an apple orchard were studied at the Smithfield Experimental Farm of Agriculture Canada, Ontario, from 1988 to 1989. Two predacious mites, the phytoseiid Amblyseius fallacis (Garman) and the stigmaeid Zetzellia mali (Ewing), were affected by pyrethroid applications. The highest numbers of predators were found in untreated trees, and the lowest numbers were found in the trees treated with the higher rate of the pyrethroid (P < 0.05). Zetzellia mali has roughly the same susceptibility to PP321 as does A. fallacis. Two species of tetranychid phytophagous mites, the European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch), and the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, were positively associated with pyrethroid applications. Significantly higher numbers of these mites were found in the pyrethroid-treated trees than in untreated ones (P < 0.05). Another phytophagous mite, the apple rust mite, Aculus schlechtendali (Nalepa) (Eriophyidae), was strongly suppressed by PP321 applications. Lower rate applications of the pyrethroid allowed more predators to survive, and resulted in lower abundances of tetranychid mites than did the higher rate. Therefore, reduced rates of pyrethroids may prove to be compatible with integrated control of spider mites in apple orchards.

Four species of the spider family Amaurobiidae introduced to North America are described and figured. They are Ixeuticus martius (Simon), Metaltella simoni (Keyserling), Amaurobius similis (Blackwall), and Amaurobius ferox (Walckenaer). Callobius hokkaido n. sp. from Japan is described and figured.

The genus Cuerna Melichar as represented in Canada is reviewed. Cuerna costalis (Fabr.) is recorded for the first time. Seven new species of Cuerna are described from the Prairie Provinces and British Columbia: cuesta, fenestella, inflata, nielsoni, pseudoalba, reducta, and xyla. The identities of C. striata (Walker), C. lugens (Walker), and C. septentrionalis (Walker) are determined. All the species are described and illustrated, and a key is provided to the species-groups and species from Canada.

Mortality of grasshopper eggs on the Canadian prairies is brought about by many factors, including winter temperatures. Although several authors (Parker 1930; Pickford 1966, 1976; Riegert 1967) have reported that winter temperatures can affect the mortality of grasshopper eggs, no quantitative data have been presented. This note reports the relationship between low temperatures and grasshopper egg mortality

The larvae of Culicoides denningi F. & P. may be unique among Ceratopogonidae in that they appear to be restricted to rivers. In the South Saskatchewan River the larvae overwinter in the sand across the entire river bed. Several weeks after the ice breaks up in the spring the larvae swim to shore to pupate. Man and livestock near the river are sometimes severely attacked.

Since 1970 the increasing level of Colorado potato beetle infestation in southwestern Ontario has necessitated foliage sprays or planting treatments with systemic insecticides. Spray tower tests of many insecticides against eggs, larvae, and adults indicated that the best overall materials would be carbofuran, azinphos-methyl, and chlorfenvinphos.

At planting time furrow treatments with granular carbofuran, disulfoton, or phorate demonstrated good control of all potato pests until the end of June. After that time only the carbofuran and phorate treatments gave protection against a heavy second generation of potato beetles. Yields were related to the degree of pest control.

It is important that the species of leafhoppers of the genus Macropsis that feed on fruit trees should be readily identifiable, as at least one of them transmits the plant virus that produces the symptoms known as peach yellows and little peach. There has been some confusion between the Prunus-feeding species because it is frequently not possible to name adult specimens on external characters alone, and the male genitalia, which usually provide reliable specific characters, have not been illustrated or adequately described. Moreover, there is a form in this group whose status, as a species or as a variety, has been uncertain; and there is established in British Columbia a Rubus-feeding species that has not been recorded previously from North America.

Sarcophagid larvae were occasionally found in pitcher-plant (Sarracenia purpurea L.) leaves from mid-June until early September during 1982–1984, in bogs located at The Pas (53°50′N, 101°15′W) and Patricia Beach (50°25′N, 96°36′W), Manitoba, and Kenora, Ontario (49°47′N, 94°29′W). Larvae were collected primarily from “new” leaves (current year's growth), but also from “old” leaves (leaves from the previous summer which retain water throughout the current season). Only one sarcophagid larva was found per leaf.

Internal cone temperatures recorded in the mornings and in the afternoons demonstrated marked differences between sunny and shaded sites. Analysis of variance confirmed differences between treatment as highly significant. High and low cone temperatures coincided with high and low ground temperatures. The average correlation coefficient relating cone and ground temperatures was highly significant, while that for cone temperatures and cone size was non-significant.

Heavy insect mortality occurred in cones exposed to direct solar radiation but mortality remained relatively low in the cones left in the shade. The greatest high-temperature mortality occurred during summer between late June and early August.

Field studies were conducted in which adult white pine weevils, Pissodes strobi (Peck), were confined on the leaders of six different conifer species and various parameters of weevil attack were recorded. Eastern white pine, Pinus strobus, the preferred native host, was the most susceptible to attack and the most suitable for brood production. All white pine leaders on which 3 or 6 male–female pairs of weevils were confined were killed, and mean numbers of emerging brood adults per leader were 26.0 and 37.3, respectively. Some leaders of the other species of pine and of spruce, Picea spp., were also killed, but brood production from them was very low. White spruce, P. glauca, leaders proved to be the least suitable for production of brood because no adult progeny emerged, even from leaders that had been killed.

Sample concentrating chromatography is a technique designed for trace analysis of organic compounds without the conventional concentration procedures such as nitrogen blowing or vacuum distillation. This method is uniquely suited for quantification of single insect pheromone production. Depending on temperature, gypsy moth females produced from 2.4 to 4.0 μg of sex pheromone (7,8-epoxy-2-methyloctadecane) per day.

Syneches Walker from Fiji is revised, including the description of two new species: S. bezziisp. nov. and S. insolitussp. nov. A lectotype is designated for S. pullus Bezzi and a key to the five recognized species is provided. Epiceia Walker, Harpamerus Bigot syn. nov., and Parahybos Kertész syn. nov. are considered congeneric with Syneches; all species affected by these changes are listed, including the following new replacement names: S. meijereinom. nov. and S. yanginom. nov.

A reduviid predator, Pristhesancus papuensis Stål, was introduced into South. Carolina from Australia in 1979. Its life history is described. Under laboratory conditions, the average number of eggs per mass was 80. Mean incubation time was 15.6 days at 27 °C. Females deposited an average of 568 eggs in 7.7 masses during their adult lifespan of 124 days. Average male longevity was significantly less (93 days) than that of females (124 days). A preoviposition period of 33.5 days was required, and a single mating was sufficient to insure fertilization during the egg-laying period. Developmental time was determined for each immature stage at 27 °C. Five immature stages and adults are described and illustrated.