Hemolymph proteins of the Douglas-fir cone moth, Barbara colfaxiana (Kft.), in the year of pupation (year P) and the next year (year P + 1) were studied by visual examination and analysis of digitized images of isoelectric focussing patterns. Differences in these proteins between light and dark individuals in year P and P + 1 were not related to dormancy duration but reflected the extent of pharate-adult development. Hormone applications were more effective in changing hemolymph proteins of light insects than those of dark ones. Changes in the hemolymph proteins of light insects in year P + 1 were not very obvious by visual examination of gels but were readily detectable by digital image analysis and showed that development occurred in these insects through June-September leading to visible pigmentation differences observable in relation to dormancy commitments of these insects.

Carbon dioxide increased by 9-fold on the average the number of Tabanus quinquevittatus Wiedemann females collected in canopy traps without affecting parity rates, prevalence of sperm and fructose, and stage of terminal follicle development within nullipars, pars, or both groups together. Results were consistent whether the 2 years were pooled or considered separately.

Laverna argentimaculella, n. sp.

Imago: Antennœ dark brown, slightly paler on under side. Palpi pale silvery, terminal joint in strong light appearing minutely ringed with dark blue. Head and face smooth, the former dark blue above, face pale golden-metallic, in the ♂ usually darker than in the ♀, in the latter often with bluish tinge. Thorax dark blue with metallic reflections. Fore wings with a generally “shaggy” appearance, beautifully variegated in dark and light blue and rich bronzy brown, with more or less conspicuous, irregular, appressed, silvery spots, that, at the base of the apical third, form an irregularly margined fascia, broader and more brilliant in the ♂ than in the ♀. Upon the cell, especially of the ♂, are two prominent tufts, bluish silvery at base, shading to brown, and near the outer margin two still larger tufts, almost connected, forming a ridge across the wing. Just before the fringes is an indefinitely angular, silvery streak, the apex directed outward. The pattern of coloration is so variable that it is difficult to exactly characterize it. Hind wings and abdomen rich bronzy brown, the former with pale brown fringes. Legs brown, annulate on tibiæ with two broad and on tarsi with three narrow white bands. Alar expanse, 8 mn.; length, 4 mm. A beautiful species and probably rare.

Since so much has been written upon the habits of our ordinary Leaf-cutting Bee, it would seem presumptuous for me to offer anything further in connection there with. But a few facts which came to my notice recently are sufficiently interesting and important to merit publication.

During the latter part of June, 1873, several cells, a half dozen in number, were sent to me by a friend, who had accidentally brought them to light while digging underneath the shade of a Spiræ corymbosa.

The full-grown larva of Pristiphora acidovalva Wong, a newly recognized sawfly on willow, is described and the occurrence of the species in Ontario is discussed.

A new species of Acropsilus from the Solomon Islands is described, and a key provided for the four known species of the genus.

Diastictis benigna, n. sp.

Expands 23 mm. Palpi rather long, heavy, drooping, blue-gray; front, thorax and abdomen blue-gray, the latter whitish lined posteriorly on segments. Fore wings bluish-gray, lightest on middle field, mixed with some black scales; basal line faint or obsolete, marked by a black spot on costa; middle line beginning with black spot at costa, then through black lengthened discal spot, then obsolete; outer line with black spot at costa, otherwise obsolete; outer field darker towards margin, with a large brown submarginal shading between 3 and 5. Hind wings even, smooth, blue-gray. Beneath dark bluidh fuscous on all wings, becoming blackish along outer margins; costa of fore wings speckled with black and gray.

In the first week of July my attention was drawn by my friend, Mr. Joshua Thomson, of Levis, to a strange sight, The plum trees in his grounds were infested with myriads of a new species of Torymus, as many as thirty of the insects appearing on one plum. I never witnessed anything in my entomological pursuits more remarkable. The brilliant little creatures could be seen in the act of depositing their eggs; their ovipositors thrust deep into the fruit. Some of the plums attacked showed signs of a previous attack of the Curculio, but most of them did not. Whether the larvæ of the species feed on the flesh and juices of the plum or attack the grubs of the Curcuiio, I cannot say, for I was unable to follow the life-history of the species.

The Iowa Insect Survey has, for more than ten years, been studying the seasonal and geographic distribution of Iowa insects. The records are card indexed and come from various sources, chief of which is the survey collection made up by frequent collecting trips covering the entire state. In this way at least some preliminary work has been done in each of the 99 counties of Iowa. Many of these counties have been rather thoroughly worked for special groups.

Orthezia Californica, sp. n.—Female about 4½ mm. long3½ mm. broad, and 2 mm. high. Body flat, very firm, and covered with thick lamellæ of a light brown colour. Margin beset with broad wax lamellæ, which grow larger caudad, ending in two, which form a shield-like process. There are three shield-like lamellæ on the anteriro part of teh dorsum; candad of these is a deep carina, formed by two rows of lamellæ running parallel and ending at the caudal shield-like process.

EGG—Conoidal, depressed at top, flat at base, shaped generally like the eggs of Argynnis ( Idalia, Cybele, &c.), but taller in proportion to its breadth than in the species named, with the sides less rounded ; marked by about 20 prominent, vertical, straight ribs, half of which extend from base to summit, forming around the depression a serrated rim, the rest ending irregularly at two fifths to four fifths the distance from base, the shorter ones occasionally joining the others ; marked horizontally by numerous prominent stræ. Duration of this stage from 5 to 12 days, according to the season.

Three specimens of a species of leafhopper new to the Niagara Peninsula were collected during 1956 along the wooded bank of Niagara River below Queenston, Ontario; they were identified by Mrs. C. J. Williams, Entomology Division, Ottawa, as Orientus ishidae (Mat.) and are in the Canadian National Collection. According to Oman (1949), this is an introduced Japanese species which lives on willow and is widely distributed. Presumably Oman's statement is based on collections made in the United States as Mrs. Williams stated (in litt.) that this was the first record from Canada.

The Palaearctic ten-spotted lady beetle, Adalia decempunctata (Linnaeus), has been confirmed as established in North America, based on morphological characters and DNA barcodes. Its distribution currently appears limited to the Avalon Peninsula of the island of Newfoundland, Canada. Several characters, including the colour of the mesepimera, frons, labrum, antennal club, mouthparts, and legs, are reliable for discriminating among this species and the native, Holarctic two-spotted lady beetle, Adalia bipunctata (Linnaeus), in Newfoundland. An identification key to the two species is provided.

In a laboratory experiment on the decision rule underlying the avoidance of flower revisitation by foraging bumble bees (Bombus impatiens), artificial flowers were arranged in two rows. For each flower visited, the choice was either to travel straight ahead onto a flower in the same row or to change direction and choose a flower in the other row. The distance between rows was manipulated to be smaller than, equal to, or greater than the distance between flowers in the same row. When the distances between adjacent flowers within a row and between rows were equal, a significant tendency to travel straight ahead was observed. This tendency was sensitive to changes in distance between rows, even when the distances between rows far exceeded the distance between flowers within a row. The tendency was abolished when the distance between rows was smaller than the distance between flowers within a row. A significant alternation of the bumble bee between rows (zigzag path) was observed in only one condition: when not only the distance between rows was much smaller than the distance between flowers in the same row, but also when the rows were staggered such that the bee could alternate between rows while still travelling in an almost straight line. These results show that the two variables of distance and angle are integrated, and that the choices made by bumble bees do not reflect a simple rule. Future research on tradeoffs is suggested.