The winter moth, Operophtera brumata (L.), and the Bruce spanworm moth, O. bruceata (Hulst), may be readily distinguished by differences in the male genitalia and the length of the vestigial wings of the female.

The introduction of predators of the balsam woolly aphid, Adelges piceae (Ratz.), from Europe to the Atlantic Provinces of Canada was commenced in 1933 as a joint project of the Forest Biology and Entomology Divisions of Science Service and the Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control. Several species were released between 1933 and 1941 but only one, Neoleucopis obscura (Hal.), became established and its control value was insufficient (Balch, 1952). The project was continued in 1951 and several additional species have been established. Studies of these predators and their place in the control complex in Canada were undertaken and this paper is the first in a series on the subiect. It results from the necessity of rapid field identification of the various stages of all predators found. It deals with three closely related dipterous predators, two of which were introduced, N. obscura and Cremifania nigrocellulata Cz., the other, Leucopina americana (Mall.), being native to Canada. Similar descriptions of the other species with a key will be published later.

Larvae of one pyralid, five noctuid, and one geometrid species were exposed to six species/strains of steinernematid and two species of heterorhabditid nematodes applied to soil surface in the laboratory. The most parasitic nematodes were Steinernema bibionis Bovien for the wax moth (Galleria mellonella L.) and the bertha armyworm (Mamestra configurata Wlk.), Heterorhabditis heliothidis (Khan, Brooks, and Hirschmann) for the cereal armyworm [Pseudaletia unipuncta (Haw)], S. feltiae Filipjev Mexican for the variegated cutworm [Peridroma saucia (Hbn.)], and S. feltiae All for the red-backed cutworm [Euxoa ochrogaster (Gwen)] and the spring cankerworm [Paleacrita vernata (Peck.)]. When both LD50 values and rates of parasitism of the hosts were considered together, the most promising nematode for soil applications was S. feltiae against the bertha armyworm.

The establishment of standardised methods for monitoring the oriental fruit moth Grapholitha molesta (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) requires the identification of factors that significantly affect trap catch efficacy. We examined the effects of trap height, trap location, and inter-trap spacing on trap catches in a conventional peach orchard. Traps were placed at heights of up to 3.0 m above the ground and sets of nine traps were positioned in grids with inter-trap distances of 10–50 m to determine the optimum trap height, location, and spacing. Traps were checked daily over 10 days for males during four periods corresponding to peak moth flight. Moth catches were higher when traps were placed toward the tops (2.5 m) and outside the canopy (3.0 m). Moth catches in traps located upwind and outside tended to be higher than in the central trap for all inter-trap distances. When inter-trap distances were shorter than 30 m, interference between traps occurred. Our results provide an efficient trap distribution for monitoring G. molesta in peach orchards.

Pairs of Melanoplus sanguinipes and M. bivittatus were reared in cages and the eggs produced by each female were counted. M. sanguinipes laid an average of 328.7 eggs per female, 9.4 eggs per day, and an average of 21.8 eggs per pod. M. bivittatus laid an average of 354.9 eggs per female, 11.0 eggs per day, and 43.3 eggs per pod. M. sanguinipes produced a pod every 2.3 days and M. bivittatus one every 3.9 days. Feeding M. sanguinipes only every second day approximately doubled the longevity and oviposition period but halved the number of eggs per day.

The effectiveness of incandescent and cool white and black light fluorescent lamps was compared in traps used to sample biting midges, mainly Culicoides sanguisuga (Coq.), around Lac Serpent, Quebec, between 17 June and 31 July 1966. The ratio of the modified geometric mean nightly catches of the lamps was about 1:1:40, respectively. A New Jersey trap with a fluorescent black light is highly effective, and to some extent selective, for Culicoides spp.

From the revised list of the Lepidoptera of Greenland and from recent work in Ellesmere Island it is shown that almost all the species found in high arctic Canada occur also in Greenland, predominantly in the north, and that this high arctic element constitutes a large fraction of the fauna of Greenland as a whole. It is suggested that this part of the fauna originated entirely from the nearctic by the little-interrupted land route across the arctic islands. The poverty of southerly Lepidoptera in Greenland stands in sharp contrast. It is illustrated by a comparison with the vascular plants and by other comparisons with the Lepidoptera found in the corresponding life zones in North America, and this section of the paper includes the first published list of the Lepidoptera of Baffin Island. It is suggested that this southerly fauna is of adventitious origin, by casual dispersal from overseas (Labrador, Iceland) or perhaps in a few cases by introduction by man. Thus Greenland, in respect of its fauna of southerly type, is an oceanic island of post-glacial age. Similar evidence suggests that Iceland also has been populated mainly in the same way. The conclusions derived from the Lepidoptera apply to several other groups of insects and also to the mammals, including man.

Behaviour of locally occurring adult females of seven species of coccinellids was assessed on wooden dowel and paper models that mimicked branching patterns and arrangements of leaf attachments to stems. Ambient temperature and hunger of the beetles were controlled. The movements up or down the main branch of the branch models when contacted from a side branch, duration of searching, and method of leaving leaf models were recorded for 20 beetles of each species.Each species responded to the seven models with different frequencies of behaviours that reflected species-specific modifications of the taxes that lead coccinellids to the tops and terminal parts of plants. Some beetles consistently modified the pattern of responses on die models that was displayed by die species as a whole. The individual modifications could be selected for. The differences in frequencies of behaviours were judged to be sufficient to result in differences in the efficiency with which plants with different architectures were searched.

The effect of coprophilic insects on horn fly (Haematobia irritans irritans (L.)) production from cattle dung was measured at Kamloops, B.C. Adult female flies were trapped after oviposition on fresh dung pads during 24-h sample periods. The pads were then either exposed to field insects for 24 h or covered with frames excluding insects for the same period, and removed to a greenhouse where all fauna emerged.

Horn fly females did not show a definite diurnal rhythm in oviposition. There was a single peak in adult abundance during the summer. Numbers of progeny produced per female fly from covered pads showed an apparent peak from 0300 to 0600 h while lowest numbers were produced in the early evening. Throughout the summer the progeny production from pads exposed to other insects was uniformly and significantly lower than from covered pads of the same age. Insects chiefly responsible for this suppression are probably the predators Philonthus cruentatus Gmelin, Sphaeridium scarabaeoides (L.), and S. lunatum (F.). Parasites of horn fly and dung-burying beetles (Scarabaeinae) are scarce and so there is still plenty of opportunity for manipulation of horn fly populations by use of other biological agents.

Einfeldia synchrona Oliver is univoltine in a small, shallow, highly eutrophic pond near Ottawa (45°N.). Adult emergence is synchronized with slight protandry in May, and from this small pond exceeded 145,000 individuals in 1970. Emergence is inhibited experimentally at short photoperiods. More than one egg mass is produced, during a period of several days following emergence. First instar larvae, which lack ventral tubules, are at first pelagic but build cases before moulting. The remaining three larval instars possess 1 pair of ventral tubules. Larvae show a preference for central areas of the pond over 40 cm deep, and show some mobility in response to seasonal depth changes. There are arrests in the development of larvae both in winter and during summer, with cessation of feeding, penetration into the mud, and construction in winter of special sealed cocoons. Marked year to year differences in the stage reached by winter, and in the larval population level, were detected. Many of these biological features are probably widespread in Chironomini and hence of some importance in the interpretation of studies of the bottom fauna.

Both the striped flea beetle, Phyllotreta striolata (Fabricius), and crucifer flea beetle, Phyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), are invasive alien species to North America. In western Canada, they are the most significant insect pests of cruciferous (Brassicaceae) crops. Climate is the one of the most dominant factors regulating the geographic distribution and population density of most insect species. Recent bioclimatic simulation models of the two flea beetle species fostered a better understanding of how the two species responded to selected climate variables. They demonstrated that selected climate variables increased population densities and geographic range of the two species. General circulation model inputs were applied in this study to assess the impact of a changing climate on the response of P. cruciferae and P. striolata populations. Model output, using the climate change scenarios, predicted that both P. cruciferae and P. striolata populations will shift north in future climates and the degree of geographic overlap between these two species will be greater than for current climate. This suggests that the two species could potentially cause economic losses over an expanded area in the future.

Details of a method of mass rearing eggs and larvae of the cabbage root maggot, Hylemya brassicae (Bouché) for bioassay and of continuous propagation of all stages of the pest are described. The technique was equally suitable for rearing the onion maggot H. antiqua (Meig.), the seed corn maggot H. calicruraliturata (Rond.) and the carrot rust fly, Psila rosa (L.). Under the conditions described, 2000-2500 eggs or first-instar larvae of H. brassicae were obtained from 50-60 female flies in 24 hours, or 1000-1200 mature larvae or pupae were reared from eggs produced by 25 female flies in approximately 20 days.

The impact of an experimental aerial application of carbaryl (Sevin-4-oil®) on the macroinvertebrate fauna of woodland ponds was studied in northern Maine. Carbaryl was applied at the rate of 840 g A.I./ha, the same rate as was used for control of spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens), damage. Four treated ponds and three untreated ponds were observed for up to 30 months following treatment. Maximum residue levels of 254 μg/L were found in the water and 53,793 μg/kg (dry weight) in the sediment. Residues were detectable in the water 14 months and in the sediment 16 months after treatment.

The most severe and persistent impact was on the Amphipoda with Hyallela azteca (Saussure) and Crangonyx richmondensis Ellis reduced to near 0/m2 and failing to recolonize in some of the ponds 30 months after treatment. Numbers of immature Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera were reduced immediately following spray application but this impact did not persist throughout the season nor into the following year. Immediate reduction in numbers of adult Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera emerging from the ponds was also found. Numbers of immature Odonata were reduced following treatment and remained low during the following year. The Chironomidae did not appear affected either as immatures or emerging adults.

Strong westerly winds occurring during autumnal migration of the eastern population of the monarch butterfly in North America, affect those butterflies migrating from areas east of long. 90°. The following aberrant migratory routes are presented: (1) Migrants moving down the Atlantic coast pass through the Florida peninsula to western Cuba thence to the overwintering site in Guatemala and Honduras; (2) migrants forced over the Atlantic ocean eventually reach the Bahama islands and thence to Yucatan, or Honduras via Jamaica and other islands of the Caribbean Sea, to the overwintering site in Guatemala and Honduras; (3) migrants arriving in the eastern islands of the Greater Antilles may eventually arrive in the Cordilleran mountains of Columbia and northwestern Venezuela; (4) migrants from the Lesser Antilles may return, along with members of a first generation, in the spring without establishing an overwintering site—the fate of these few occasional spring migrants is unknown.

Four species of Tychius have been introduced into North America from Europe: Tychius picirostris (Fabricius) (host plants: Trifolium spp.), widespread in North America; T. cuprifer (Panzer) (host plants: Trifolium spp., Teline monspessulana L.), known only from Maryland, USA; T. meliloti Stephens, new North American record (host plants: Melilotus spp.), known from scattered localities in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec, Canada; and T. stephensi Schoenherr (host plants: Trifolium spp.), widespread in North America. Keys to separate the species are presented.

Adult Japanese beetle populations were sampled continuously during the summers of 1978 and 1979 in two agricultural stations in eastern North Carolina. Patterns in trap capture were used to develop a conceptual model of the movements of this insect in agricultural areas. A partition of land area is proposed, based on four categories of sites from the point of view of suitability to this insect's reproduction and survival: (1) intensive production sites, (2) marginal production sites, (3) migration alleys, and (4) adult feeding sites. This partition is suggested as a framework for discussion and study of the population dynamics of the insect.

The influence of nutrient stress on growth, development, and reproduction in apterous virginoparae of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), was investigated in the laboratory. We tested the hypothesis that species with a high reproductive investment have low resistance to starvation. Aphids in two groups were starved daily from birth for 4 h and 6 h, respectively, and compared with feeding counterparts reared on leaves of broad beans, Vicia faba L. Aphid wet weight increased as an exponential function of age in all groups. Starved aphids had lower adult weight and required longer from birth to parturition than feeding aphids. These effects increased with the length of daily starvation. The number of offspring produced was correlated with adult dry weight. Aphids were unable to compensate, or to compensate completely, for water and nutrient loss resulting from starvation. It is suggested that pea aphids allocate resources first to maintenance and then to reproduction when deprived of food.

Criteria is presented for selecting ant species as predators of insect pests, and a comparison is made between species occurring in Quebec and central Europe. In conclusion it is stated that none of the ants found in Quebec are promising as control agents against forest pests.