Many species in the genus Andrena have been described from one sex only. During studies of this genus in Ontario, the authors have associated the males of four species with the appropriate females. The males of Andrena (Trachandrena) alleghaniensis Viereck, A. (Leucandrena) chippewaensis Mitchell, A. (Conandrena) rufosignata Cockerell and A. (Gonandrena) dreisbachi Mitchell, all previously unknown, are described in this paper.

Testing arthropods for their ability to transmit plant viruses depends on a satisfactory means of confining test specimens on plant hosts while excluding all other arthropods. This can be difficult with small, active insects such as the Thysanoptera. Screen or cloth capable of confining them must be of such fine mesh that adequate ventilation is prevented and condensation becomes a problem.

The Pseudichnea complex involves the genera Ambitus, new genus, Ampleris, new genus, Sirpa, new genus, and Pseudichnea Schenkling. Ambitus includes one species, A. anticus Opitz, new species. Ampleris includes A. achira Opitz, new species, A. angustata Opitz, new species, A. cava Opitz, new species, A. orosi Opitz, new species, A. primitura Opitz, new species,A. rufocapilla Opitz, new species, and A. buenavista Opitz, new species.Pseudichnea includes P. acia Opitz, new species, P. arima Opitz, new species, P. eliminata Schenkling, and P. gracila Opitz, new species. Sirpa includes S. cauda Opitz, new species, S. flavoapiculis Opitz, new species, and S. skelleyi Opitz, new species. Morphological observations, particularly those based on mouthpart structure, suggest that these beetles are predatory. Their leg construction, especially development of the tarsal pads and ungues, suggest that they are lignicolous beetles that inhabit the woody components of arboreal vegetation, a niche in which they presumably pursue bark-beetle prey. Besides descriptions, this treatise includes a key to genera and species, 72 line drawings, eight electron micrographs, 16 habitus illustrations, and two distribution maps.

Some years ago Mr. J. M. Espin, of Guantanamo, Cuba, sent to Dr. L. O. Howard for names some parasitic Hymenopetera, among which I indicated a new genus, but which I neglected to describe. As Mr. Espin has rcently written about it aand desires its early description, I submit the following:

Neslinoceras, new genus.

During the last three years considerable time has been devoted to the development of a technique for rearing larvae of the European corn borer, Pyrausta nubilalis Hubn., in quantity. This work nas necessary for the breeding of parasites working on the first instars of the borer, such as, Microgaster tibialis Nees which has been reared successfully during the last two years, Eulimneria crassifemur Thom., Macrocentrus gifuensis Ashm., and Apanteles thompsoni Lyle, work with the last three species being still in the experimental stage. Though large numbers of larvae can be produced by employing the methods outlined in this paper further experiments are in progress with a view to reducing the larval mortality, particularly in the second and third instars.

The “List of the Coleoptera of the Southern California Islands—” published by the senior author in 1897 (Can. Ent. 29, 1897, 233-244) was the result of more or less sporadic collecting upon the Channel Islands by several parties, few of them trained collectors of insects.

One of the most popular families among the Coleoptera to the student and collector is that of the Cicindelidœ. Generally bright coloured and handsomely marked, quick to take flight and rapid runners, it requires some skill and considerable patience to become a successful hunter of the “tiger” beetle. Their capture is generally attended with considerable personal discomfort, as their favourite haunt is the muddy bank of a stream, the hot sand bar or dune, or the burning flat of a salt marsh, from which the noon-tide breezes on a July or August day seem to remind one of the temperature of the home of the evil-doer in the hereafter. It is in the hottest part of the day from 10 a. m. to 3 p. m., that most species of this family appear in the open.

In 1984 and 1985 a total of 51 mummies of the genus Therioaphis sp. (Hornoptera: Aphididae) were collected on alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., in several localities in southern Manitoba: Glenlea, Oakbank, Rosenort, St. Adolphe, and Ste. Agathe [status of North American species of Therioaphis is uncertain; some workers regard Therioaphis on alfalfa and those on clover as different species, whereas others regard those found on alfalfa as merely strains of the species from clover (A.G. Robinson, personal comrnunication)]. The mummies were held in gelatin capsules at 20°C and a 16L:8D cycle, and 44 parasite adults that emerged were identified. Two primary parasites pecies. Praon exsolelurn (Nees) and Binodoxys sp. (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae), were recorded (Table 1). Cocoons from which adults of P. exsoleturn emerged were formed between the mummy and the substratum, whereas cocoons of the two Binodoxys specimens were inside the mummies. The three secondary parasite species (Table 1) emerged only from the hosts with external cocoons and presumably had developed on P. exsoleturn. Each of the seven hosts from which no parasites emerged had an external cocoon which contained a decomposed parasite larva, either P. exsoletum or one of the secondary species.

It cannot be disputed that in any attempt to control populations of useful or harmful insects a knowledge of their ecology is of prime importance. In view of the significance of the various relationships between man and insects it follows that insect ecology should be a vigorous and strongly supported phase of entomology. It is the purpose of this discussion to consider briefly the present status of insect ecology and its relationship to ecology in general, and particularly to call attention to those characteristics of insect life that would seem to justify special treatment of insects from an ecological standpoint.

Hœmatopinus columbianus, N. sp.

Head longer than broad, semicircular in front, wider and more depressed behind the antennæ, rostrum projecting; antennæ located in front of the middle of the head, the first joint large, deeply set in the border of the head, second joint the longest, third, fourth and fifth nearly equal, fifth slightly smaller; a strong bristle is borne on the postero-lateral angle. The pronotum is short, rather narrow, and the sternal plate is very broadly ovate, almost circular, but the sides posteriorly tapering slightly and the posterior border obtusely rounded or subtruncate. The second and third pairs of legs are nearly equal and considerably larger than the anterior pair, and their tarsal claws are broad and blunt or obtuse at tip.

Thelaxes albipes is described. It is the second species known to occur in North America and is easily distinguished by its very pale tarsi.

Two subspecies of Agabus seriatus (Say) are recognized, A. s. seriatus from Manitoba eastward and southward, and A. s. intersectus (Crotch) from Manitoba west to British Columbia and south to New Mexico. A. pandurus, allied to brevicollis Leconte, and A. vandykei, allied to verisimilis Brown, are described from California.