Over 50 species of Cerambycidae have been reared on artificial diet, 17 of them from the egg. The method, which is described, has proved useful in reducing rearing time in the production of larvae and pupae for taxonomic purposes. It has also demonstrated the occurrence of diapause in some species of Cerambycidae. Other potentially fruitful lines of investigation, made feasible by this method, are suggested.

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), was first detected in 2009 in the Okanagan Basin, British Columbia, Canada. During 2010–2016, 94 570 fruits of 35 non-crop species, from 12 plant families, were collected from 101 sites where adult D. suzukii flies were trapped, and incubated in a controlled environment. In total, 450 adult D. suzukii emerged from 62 of 929 fruit collections, and from 10 host plant species in five families, of which six species are native to the region. Five plant species are reported for the first time as hosts of D. suzukii, and 11 species for the first time as non-hosts. Measures of fly occurrence and infestation reveal it to be relatively abundant in five hosts and low in others. The fly reproduced in a succession of host plants, with first infestation of each from mid-July through mid-September, and was present until mid-October, but overwintering stages were not found. Degree-day accumulations for the infested period suggest that three to five generations of D. suzukii developed on non-crop plants and formed a large contribution to the annual increases observed in trap counts in a semi-arid cold winter climate, with implications for many strategies of pest management.

Male genitalia of Choristoneura species from the Nearctic Region and Palaearctic Region are described and illustrated. The study revealed that the male genitalia are among the most important body parts that contain valuable morphological characters for species distinction or grouping in this genus. They are potentially useful in the clarification of the taxonomic status of species in closely related species groups, such as the spruce budworm species complex in North America.

On the basis of 17 interpretable male genital characters and their corresponding evolutionary states, the phylogeny of the genus Choristoneura is inferred and proposed. Nine species groups are recognized: (1) fumiferana, pinus, biennis, orae, occidentalis, lambertiana, carnana, retiniana, and spaldingiana; (2) diversana, murinana, metasequoiacola, and jezoensis; (3) longicellana; (4) lafauryana; (5) conflictana and fractivittana; (6) hebenstreitella, adumbratana, and luticostana; (7) albaniana and lapponana; (8) rosaceana and parallela; and (9) obsoletana and zapulata.

Morphological evidence obtained in the present study suggests that two conifer-feeding species groups of Choristoneura, species group 1 from the Nearctic Region and species group 2 from the Palaearctic Region, are related. They represent the least evolved species groups in the genus. Choristoneura rosaceana, C. parallela, C. obsoletana, and C. zapulata, representing some of the species feeding on deciduous trees, are among the most evolved Choristoneura species.

The transmission of nuclear polyhedrosis virus in populations of the forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria (Hübner), was studied in Sudbury district, Ontario. Virus was transmitted from generation to generation by infected adults. Their progeny died from virus disease during the second and third larval instars. Adult flies of Sarcophaga aldrichi Parker, a dipterous parasite, were attracted to these dead, diseased larvae, became contaminated with virus, and spread the virus to foliage on which healthy larvae were feeding. The importance of these disseminating agents in the development of virus epizootics is discussed.

1-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl)-urea when ingested by the last two larval instars of the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana, inhibits cuticle development leading to morphogenetic deformities in the pupal stage. Laboratory and greenhouse studies indicate that this material could be used to control natural populations of spruce budworm.

Representatives of the oribatid mite family Ceratozetidae of subarctic western North America, including 14 species in eight genera, are treated. A new genus Laminizetes, and eight new species, Diapterobates siccatus, Trichoribates ogilviensis, Laminizetes fortispinosus, Ceratozetes inupiaq, C. kutchin, C. fjellbergi, Sphaerozetes firthensis, and Melanozetes tanana, are proposed, and Dentizetes rudentiger Hammer, Diapterobates humeralis (Hermann), Neogymnobates luteus (Hammer), Trichoribates striatus Hammer, Sphaerozetes castaneus Hammer, and Melanozetes meridianus Sellnick are redescribed. Immatures of Dentizetes rudentiger and Sphaerozetes firthensis are described. A key to the adults of the 31 species of Ceratozetidae recorded from the western North American arctic and subarctic is given. Relationships among the 12 genera in the Ceratozetidae recorded from the North American arctic and subarctic are discussed.

The paralysis of silkworm larvae (Bombyx mori L.) caused by Bacillus sotto Ishiwata and the extraction of a toxic protein from cultures of this microorganism have been reported elsewhere (1, 2, 3). In preliminary studies of the mode of action, changes have been noted in the pH of the blood of affected larvae.

Fourth- and fifth-instar larvae were fed foliage coated with B. sotto toxin and at intervals the blood pH was determined as described by Heimpel (4). Control larvae, reared from the same egg mass, were fed untreated foliage.

Four lines of Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rond.) were selected for nondiapause (one for 50 generations) under L:D 8:16 and 21 ± 1°C. In three selected lines, diapause incidence dropped rapidly in the first four or five generations, with means of 3–11% thereafter. There was no clear response to selection in the fourth line. Neither morphology nor sex ratio was affected by nondiapause selection in any lines, nor was fecundity affected in the longest-reared line. Reciprocal crosses indicated that the diapause trait was dominant; the effect of relaxing selection pressure was a gradual increase in diapause incidence after eight generations. There was a correlation between increased diapause incidence and slower development in selected lines. Diapause larvae took longer to develop than nondiapause larvae from the same line. Selection for nondiapause under L:D 8:16 with fluctuating thermoperiods was unsuccessful.

Pitfall trapping was carried out in a southern Ontario apple orchard for 3 years. The three commonest carabids collected were Harpalus affinis Schr., Pterostichus melanarius Ill., and Amara spp. Variation in activity was related to mean air temperatures in P. melanarius but not in the other two species. The use of pitfall traps in enclosures showed that none of the above species use flight as the principal means of locomotion. Immature H. affinis adults probably undergo a dispersal flight in July. Amara spp. and P. melanarius both fly within the orchard to some extent.

The following five undescribed species of mites were collected on citrus trees in the provinces of Assam and Mysore in India by Dr. C. A. Fleschner of the Citrus Experiment Station, Riverside, California. These mites are of the suborder Mesostigmata and are probably predacious. They may be introduced to California in attempts to control phytophagous mites on citrus and, therefore, may be recorded from this state in the future. I am grateful to Dr. Fleschner for the opportunity to examine this material.

Wireworms are considered among Europe's most destructive insects, particularly Agriotes lineatus (L.), Agriotes obscurus (L.), and Agriotes sputator (L.). These species have been introduced at certain isolated localities on the East Coast and the first two on the West Coast of Canada. They are known to be particularly widespread in Nova Scotia where they and native Agriotes mancus (Sav) cause cansiderable crop damage.

The life cycle, feeding behavior, and feeding damage of the spruce budmoth, Zeiraphera canadensis, were studied in northern New Brunswick. Larval emergence, which began in late May, was usually completed within 10 days. First-instar larvae did not feed on the previous year's foliage and took less than 30 min to settle inside a growing shoot, from which they exited only at the end of larval development. Larvae then dropped to the ground and remained as prepupae for approximately 6 days. Mating could be observed the first night following adult emergence. The majority of the mated females contained only 1 spermatophore (92%); others had 2 (7%) or 3 (1%). Although 95% of the egg clusters had 7 eggs or less, 5% had up to 19 eggs. Eggs required embryonic development before successful diapause could be initiated. The importance of these observations in the development of management strategies for this pest is discussed.

A brief history of the importance attributed to red wood ants in Europe and the outstanding qualities of three species, Formica lugubris Zett., F. polyctena (Foerst.), and F. aquilonia Yarr., are presented. The reasons for choosing F. lugubris as a suitable species for introduction to Canada are given. The collecting in Italy, shipping by air to Canada, and eventual release in Quebec is discussed. In conclusion it is stated that the establishment and acclimatization of this species in Quebec was successful, and that increased reproduction and spread is anticipated.

Attraction of the spruce beetle, Dendroctonus rufipennis (Kirby), to beetle-infested logs was reduced 99% by addition of 3-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one (MCH), the natural antiaggregative pheromone of the Douglas-fir beetle, D. pseudotsugae Hopkins. The synthetic attractant frontalin and α-pinene attracted few spruce beetles and its nominal attraction was nearly nullified by addition of MCH. Male spruce beetles responded to the natural and synthetic attractants in greater numbers than females. When MCH was added to these treatments, females predominated among the few beetles caught. The clerid Thanasimus undatulus Say was strongly attracted to treatments containing frontalin, whether or not MCH was added, but MCH alone was not attractive to this predator. Among 13 other species of scolytids caught, the most abundant were Scierus annectens Leconte and Hylastes nigrinus (Mann.). Two relatively rare species, Scierus pubescens Sw. and Xylechinus montanus Blkm., were attracted in unusual numbers to natural spruce beetle attractant. Intensive study is recommended of the possible use of MCH to prevent increase of spruce beetle populations.

The sex ratio of the polygamous species Ips acuminatus (Gyllenhal) varied in 31 localities of Norway from 1 to 4 females per male in northern and western areas to 20 females and more in some southeastern areas. The number of female galleries per nuptial chamber (usually three to five) varied accordingly and isolated female galleries were also formed. Laboratory breedings showed that the species has two types of females, one which produces only females and one which produces both-sixes usually with a 1:1 sex ratio.

Autogenous Aedes atropalpus (Coquillet) females derived from larvae fed on a standard maximum diet, matured about the same numbers of eggs when supplied with water only or with 25% sucrose. Those maintained on water laid 56% of the number matured within 5 days of emergence, but the sugar-fed insects laid only 28% in the same time, and even after 35 days many were found to have retained their eggs. The physiological mechanism causing the delay was not associated with crop distention, nor with the nutritional changes brought about by ingested sugar.Nulliparous females mostly refused blood during the first ovarian cycle although a few did rake a blood meal. At the time of feeding the eggs were already mature and neither the protein nor carbohydrate of the host blood were utilized during the first ovarian cycle. Parous females fed on blood and used the protein for egg development and there was a rapid rise in haemolymph carbohydrate after feeding, indicating that the host blood sugars also were used immediately.Nullipars derived from larvae maintained on a very low diet did not seek a blood meal either, and in these only some eggs commenced development to various stages. Sugar feeding by these adults assisted both maturation and oviposition.

In the absence of secondary attraction, 2 species of Scolytidae, Ips latidens (LeConte) and Hylastes gracilis LeConte, showed significant preference while in flight for high-girdled over non-girdled lodgepole pines, Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelmann. In contrast, beetles in 2 genera of Elateridae, Ampedus and Ctenicera, showed significant preference for non-girdled over high-girdled lodgepole pines. Beetles in 12 other families, as well as other scolytids and elaterids, did not show any significant preference or aversion to high-girdled trees. This is the first clear demonstration of primary attraction for a North American Ips species and the second for an Hylastes species.

Biological control has been an important tactic in the management of Canadian forests for over a century, but one that has had varied success. Here, we review the history of biological control programmes using vertebrate and invertebrate parasitoids and predators against insects in Canadian forests. Since roughly 1882, 41 insect species have been the target of biological control, with approximately equal numbers of both native and non-native species targeted. A total of 161 species of biological control agents have been released in Canadian forests, spanning most major orders of insects, as well as mites and mammals. Biological control has resulted in the successful suppression of nine pest species, and aided in the control of an additional six species. In this review, we outline the chronological history of major projects across Canadian forests, focussing on those that have had significant influence for the development of biological control. The historical data clearly illustrate a rise and fall in the use of biological control as a tactic for managing forest pests, from its dominance in the 1940s and 1950s to its current low level. The strategic implementation of these biological control programmes, their degree of success, and the challenges faced are discussed, along with the discipline’s shifting relationship to basic science and the environmental viewpoints surrounding its use.

Individual larvae of western spruce budworm (Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman) were observed from overwintering emergence to pupation at six locations spread over a wide range of altitudes and thus climate. A weekly census of 100 lower-crown buds per plot indicated large differences in rates of bud development and larval survival among locations.

Emerging second-instar larvae attempted to mine swelling buds of Douglas-fir. If the buds were hard and tight, larvae mined 1-year-old needles until penetrable buds were available. Larvae dispersed over the crowns with only one larva becoming established in each bud; thus, many early-emerging and surplus larvae could not find suitable feeding sites and disappeared. Within the protective bud, survival was high. After buds flushed and larvae became exposed, densities dropped, probably due to increased predation and decreased food quality. Correlations indicated a close association between larval survival for the exposed period between bud flush and pupation, and overall larval survival.

Douglas-fir trees responded to initial bud removal, but not to needle removal, by inducing latent buds in the axils of needles to grow into active vegetative buds ready to develop and flush the next spring. The number of these new vegetative buds formed was greatest when the initial buds were removed early in the season before flush, and decreased thereafter. Trees with vigorous crowns had the greatest response to defoliation by inducing the largest number of latent buds into becoming active vegetative buds; these were found mainly on the 2- and 3-year-old internodes.

The trails of Camponotus modoc Wheeler follow perennial routes. The ants orient along these using both chemical and visual cues. If the chemical cues are disrupted the ants reform the trail while orienting by visual cues. They can respond to the same visual cues after at least 12 h, and since no evidence was found that the chemical cues survive the winter, probably after 6 months.