In 1969, Robert E. Gregg collected five species of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in three Subarctic localities near the town of Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, which he documented in a 1972 publication in The Canadian Entomologist. To determine whether there have been any additions to the local fauna – as might be predicted to occur in response to a warming climate and increased traffic to the Port of Churchill in the intervening 40 years – we re-collected ants from the same localities in 2012. We identified the ants we collected from Gregg’s sampling sites using both traditional morphological preparations and DNA barcoding. In addition, we examined specimens from Gregg’s initial collection that are accessioned at the Field Museum of Natural History (Chicago, Illinois, United States of America). Using this integrative approach we report seven species present at the same sites Gregg sampled 40 years earlier. We conclude that the apparent increase is likely not due to any arrivals from more southerly distributed ants, but to the increased resolution provided by DNA barcodes to resident species complexes with a complicated history. We provide a brief synopsis of these results and their taxonomic context.

Some time ago Prof. C. F. Baker sent me a lot of small bees collected by Dr. R. E. Kunzé at phoenix, Arizona, May 12, 1897, “on willows and various low herbs.” I have examined these with interest, as they belong to genera not recorded from that region; they prove to be as follows:

(1.) Perdita salicis, Ckll., 1896.–♂. ♀. Very many specimens.

(2.) Prosapis messilae, Ckll., 1896.–A few, mostly males.

(3.) Halictus meliloti, Ckll., 1895.–One ♀.

(4.) Halictus pseudotegularis, Ckll., 1896.–On April 12, 1897, I took at flowers of Sisymbrium, in Messila, N. M., a single Halictus which differed decidedly from Illinois H. tegularis, but, to my surprise, almost agreed with the Mexican H. pseudotegularis, except that the wings were clear. Now, among the Arizona bees I find examples of pseudotegularis with slightly dusky wings, as in the type, of that species; the second submarginal cell is noticeably smaller than in tegularis, and receives the recurrent nervure further from its end.

Predators of the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumijerana (Clem.), include both invertebrates and vertebrates (Jennings and Crawford 1985). Birds are the best known and most extensively studied vertebrate predators, but because of their arboreal and omnivorous feeding habits, the deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus (Bangs), and the red squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus (Bangs), often are implicated as potential predators of budworm larvae and pupae (Morris et al. 1958; Morris 1963; Otvos 1981; Welsh 1983). In laboratory feeding trials, W.F. Chesire estimated that red squirrels had a mean food capacity of 600–700 mature larvae or pupae of the spruce budworm per day (Morris 1963). R.T. Mitchell examined the stomach contents of 25 red squirrels collected during a major spruce budworm outbreak in northern Maine (Dowden et al. 1953); he found that spruce budworms made up 51% of their total food. On the basis of these results, Dowden et al. (1953) estimated that a red squirrel could eat 400–500 larvae per day.

A new species of Aroga (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is described, and characters separating it from Aroga trialbamaculella (Chambers) and Aroga epigaeella (Chambers) are given.

In the previous paper I explained the sense in which this term is used, and nothing further in the way of definition need be said on that head.

Genus Crocota Hbn.

1816—Verzeichniss; Samml. Eur. Schm., III., 254.

This genus is in a sad state. It is almost impossible to identify species satisfactorily, and yet new species are constantly described. The matter has been further confused by Mr. Grote's persistent refusal to refer to Mr. Reakirt's species, for without referring them positively as synonyms to any species, he says he cannot believe that they refer to species different from those recognized by him, and therefore he ignores them altogether.

Preparatory to a revision of the Nearctic Hemerobiidæ I present descriptions of a few new species of Hemerobius. A few of the names have been used already elsewhere, but without description. Outline figures of the male genitalia will be given in the forthcoming revision.

Hemerobius transversus, n. sp.—Face shining black, vertex and antennæ pale yellowish; thorax pale, a black stripe across front part of the mesothorax; abdomen brownish; legs pale yellowish. Wings with the margins faintly but broadly clouded with brown; the gradate series marked with dark brown, and a brown band between the first and second first.

The migratory instinct, common to so many species of birds, and even of mammalia, is also exhibited by many species of insects. In the case of birds and animals it has mostly to do with variations of climate, or the necessity of suitably providing for the raising of their young; in the case of insects the causes of migrations are not so evident, and observation is required in order to decide the point, if, indeed, it can be decided at all.

Soiled white. Antennal depression, a dot on each ocellus, a pair of large round spots on the vertex, an angular spot behind each eye, the basal angles of the scutellum, the tergum and disc of the pleural pieces, black; the elytra whitish hyaline generally with fuscous nervures. Length about 6 mm.

Rev. Cyrus Thomas, in his Acrididæ of North America, page 132, says: “There are no permanent characters by which to distinguish alcoholic specimens of Œdipoda corallipes, Haldemanii, paradoxa and rugosa from each other.” He therefore considers them the same. Probably Œ. discoidea might be considered as another as another variety of the same. This much named grasshopper is abundant in Nebraska from the middle of June to about the middle of August.

Twenty-four species of winter stonefly, 8 Taeniopterygidae, and 16 Capniidae, are known from southern Québec; three species, Allocapnia indianae Ricker, A. rickeri Frison, and Taeniopteryx maura (Pictet), are new Québec records. An analysis of the geographical distributions indicates four faunal elements: 6 ubiquitous species occurring over most of the northeastern part of the continent, 4 boreal species, 4 Appalachian species, and 10 species originating from the Mississippi Valley. Except perhaps for Capnia vernalis and C. manitoba, most seem to have survived the glaciations in eastern refugia and have migrated back into Québec along the slopes of the Appalachians. Characteristic species associations can be recognized. In small slow and eutrophic streams of the upper St. Lawrence Valley and the lower Ottawa Valley, Allocapnia granulata and A. vivipara predominate; in the small spring-fed streams of the same area, small populations of A. recta can develop. In highland water courses, a clear zonation is established: headwater streams usually harbour no species; in small streams, capniids, particularly A. illinoensis, Paracapnia angulata and the ubiquitous A. pygmaea, dominate; in larger streams, more capniids are added, such as A. minima, A. pechumani, and P. opis, together with the taeniopterygid T. burksi; in rivers, taeniopterygids abound (T. nivalis, T. parvula, and Oemopteryx glacialis), while the capniids become rarer, A. minima and A. pygmaea. In large lowland rivers, only A. minima and O. glacialis still survive. On the North Shore, boreal elements, such as C. vernalis, Utacapnia labradora, and Taenionema atlanticum, are added or substituted in midsized streams, while in the Eastern Townships, this is true of the Appalachian species A. maria, A. rickeri, and T. maura.

As if the apple tree with its sixty or more insect enemies were not sufficiently afflicted, a distant relative of the Canker-worm has been making itself so notorious in Georgia, as to give apprehension of the total destruction of apple orchards in the locality infested. The insect complained of is Eugonia subsignaria Pack., a measuring worm which at times has been a veritable nuisance upon shade trees in New York and Philadelphia.

In pursuance of my duties as a Special Agent of the Census Office (in the fruit interest), and through subsequent correspondence, the following facts were obtained from Mr. Adam Davenport, of Fannin County, in the State named. In his first communication, received some months since, it is stated that the worm made its appearance upon Rich Mountain, a spur of the Blue Ridge, about four years ago, attacking forest and fruit trees; and that it had since spread over a large area, doing great damage. Apple trees in June last were as destitute of leaves as in mid-winter, the fruit growing to the size of marbles and falling off.

Exentera apriliana, Grote.—Aweme, IV, 30, to V, 21; Beulah. Thirteen specimens. This is a particularly interesting caputre. Grote's descripiton is remarkably brief, and his generic description, occurring on the same page, is misleading on account of an error. He states: “Hind wings 7-veined, 5 wanting.” I know of no Tortricid genus in which 5 is absent; frequently 3 and 4 are coincident or stalked for their entire length, but even this is not the case in any one of these specimens; 3 and 4 are stalked from a quarter to a half.

The new Catalogue of the Lepidoptera of North America which I have prepared has been issued as Bulletin No.52 of the United States National Museum. It comprises 740 pages. The edition is being distributed by the Smithsonian Institution, without charge. Those not receiving the publications of the National Museum regularly, and who are interested enough in entomology so that this publication would be of practical use to them, will be cheerfully recommended by me to receive a copy, on making application to the undersigned.

For the purpose of determining whether foxtail midges occurred in Canada and if so their range, a survey of places where meadow foxtail grass, Alope curus pratensis L. was known to be grown was made in the spring of 1934. This survey followed a request for information upon the point by Dr. L. E. Kirk, Dominion Agrostologist, on behalf of Dr. R. O. Whyte, Chief Officer of the Imperial Bureau of Plant Genetics; Herbage Plants, Aberystwyth, Great Britain. Dr. Whyte is interested in discovering areas free from foxtail midges which might bme used for the production of meadow foxtail seed. The location of stands of the grass were secured through Dr. Kirk and co-operation in making observations was sought and readily obtained from various people living in the vicinity of these stands in Canada.

(In 1889 and 1890, Mr. William Sheraton, of Wycliffe College, Toronto, collected some Odonata at Pictou, Nova Scotia, for me. At the end of the collecting season of 1889, he sent me a letter containing his field notes on the specimens captured. These observations are so interesting, in my opinion, that any publication in which they appear ought also to bear Mr.Sheraton's name as joint author. He has kindly acceded to my wish in this respect, although modestly protesting that his part has “been only such as any child could have done.” All notes in the present paper concerning localities, habits and dates are to be credited to Mr. Sheraton,while I am responsible for the determinations and the few bibliographical notes.)

Adults of Gryllus rubens Scudder, G. firmus Scudder, and G. ovisopis Walker were collected for 4 years from plots disked annually on one of six dates and from undisturbed plots to examine effects of date of soil disturbance on field cricket populations. Adults of the two field-inhabiting species, G. rubens and G. firmus, were most numerous from plots disked in February or April and least numerous from the plots disked in October and from the undisturbed (control) plots. Adults of G. ovisopis, a species that normally inhabits forests, were most numerous from the undisturbed plots and least numerous from the plots disked in August.

Allied to precationis and ,gamma. It differs by the distinct yellow shaded geminate t. p. line having but a single acute tooth at vein 2 ; the line running more outwardly at this point, and being othewise even throughout. Also by the shape of the metallic spot ; this is open, silver bordered, running outwardly obliquely from the median vein to the t. p. line at vein 2, sub-triangulate, the bordering lines fusing outwardly to a point, forming an oblique uneven V. The median space below and beyond the metallic mark is shaded longitudinally with obscure chalceous.