Pheromone trapping studies from 1979 to 1981 showed that there were two periods of San Jose scale, Quadraspidiotus perniciosus (Comstock), male flight activity annually in western New York apple orchards. Spring flight, which resulted from overwintering black caps, began at ca. 94–140 degree-days (base 10 °C from 1 March) and occurred during bloom in the apple varieties studied. First generation crawlers emerged at ca. 360 degree-days. Second generation crawlers emerged at ca. 890 degree-days and were active throughout September. Regression analyses showed a logistic relationship between crawler density and fruit infestation, and inverse linear relationships between pheromone trap catches and San Jose scale infestation levels within trees.

The acetone-soluble fraction of phloem tissue samples from 78 lodgepole pines was examined prior to and following artificial inoculation with Europhium clavigerum, a fungus transmitted by the mountain pine beetle. All trees showed quantitative increases in the concentration of extractives within 3 days after treatment. Further increases continued for at least 7 days. By this time qualitative changes in the chemical composition of the host tissue had also occurred.

Trees were defined as resistant or susceptible depending on whether they survived beetle attack under natural conditions. The composition of the acetone-soluble extracts was similar for the constitutive tissue of resistant and susceptible trees, but the total quantity of acetone extractives of reaction tissue was higher in resistant trees.

The ability of trees to respond to fungal inoculation is diminished by mass attack. Trees responded more extensively to inoculation prior to, than during, aggregation under field conditions. An experiment was conducted to simulate this relationship under controlled conditions by examining the effect of multiple fungal inoculations on the production of monoterpenes during the wound response. Individual trees showed a weaker quantitative response on stem sections administered high inoculation densities than on stem sections administered only a single inoculation. Those trees which responded most extensively to a single invasion by the pathogen were more responsive at all inoculum densities.

The role of Leucopis sp. nr. albipuncta larvae in controlling outbreaks of the apple aphid, Aphis pomi De Geer, was studied in five New Hampshire orchards. There was significant correlation of larval density with changes in the density of apple aphid populations, and larvae were widely distributed throughout the apple growing region of the state. The egg, three larval instars, and puparium are described and illustrated.

The endemic New World eucheiloid complex is distinguished from the other complexes (thyreopteroid, eurycoleoid, somotrichoid, and pericaloid) of pericaline Lebiini by securiform labial palpomere 3, serrate-setose margins of the pronotum, and flattened stylomere 2 of the ovipositor. The geographical range of eucheiloids extends from northern Argentina to southernmost United States (Brownsville, Texas). All taxa are believed to be arboreal. A key distinguishes among the three genera and 16 species, and each taxon is characterized in terms of structural features, habitat, and geographical distribution. The genera are: Hansus, new genus (generitype—H. reichardti, new species); Inna Putzeys (generitype—Inna punctata Putzeys = Polystichus boyeri (Solier)); and Eucheila Dejean (generitype—Euchyla flavilabris (Dejean)). Seven new species and one new subspecies are described: Hansus reichardti (type locality—Guyana, EssequiboR.. Morrabali Ck.); Inna palpalis, I. atrata arbor, and I. inpa (type locality—Brazil, Amazonas, near Manaus); I. purpurea (type locality—Brazil, Amazonas, 60 km n. Manaus); I. splendens (type locality—Venezuela, Aragua, Rancho Grande); Eucheila adisi (type locality—Brazil, Amazonas, 60 km n. Manaus); and E. cordova (type locality—México, Veracruz, Cordova). The following new synonymies of specific names are proposed (valid names listed first): Inna costulata Chaudoir, 1872 = I. granulata Chaudoir, 1872; Inna boyeri (Solier, 1835) = I. punctata Putzeys, 1863, and I. texana Schaeffer, 1910. A reconstructed phylogeny of the eucheiloids, based on analysis of 60 character states included in 33 characters, shows that Hansus is sister group of the ancestral stock of Inna + Eucheila. Evolutionary modifications have affected principally body size, head and mouthparts (feeding and associated adaptations), reproductive structures, and features of the body surface thought to be associated with avoidance of predators (concealment and flash coloration). Diversification may also have involved differentiation by habitat (type of forest occupied). The principal theater of evolution has been tropical South America, with incursions both southward and northward. Middle America has been invaded by five lineages, probably during Cenozoic time, from Middle Tertiary to the Quaternary. Of these lineages, three are represented in Middle America by endemic species: E. cordova, I. planipennis Bates, and I. nevermanni Liebke. Two lineages are represented by species whose ranges extend northward from South America: I. costulata Chaudoir and I. boyeri (Solier).

Fenvalerate applied at field rates (3.4–13.7 g AI/100 L) to pear foliage in early season remained highly active to the predatory mite Typhlodromus occidentalis Nesbitt for several months until leaf drop. According to leaf disc assays, fresh deposits of fenvalerate caused considerable direct mortality but most of the later mortality was apparently caused by repellency of the residue and subsequent mite departures. Fenvalerate applied to the bark lost its contact activity more quickly than on foliage. In contrast, adult female Tetranychus urticae Koch suffered no mortality when exposed to leaf deposits, but at high dosages of fenvalerate egg laying was temporarily reduced. In slide-dip tests fenvalerate was about 5 times more toxic to T. occidentalis than to T. urticae (LC50's of 1.21 and 6.74 g AI/100 L, respectively). Our data suggest that because of the persistence of fenvalerate and the high sensitivity of T. occidentalis to this compound this predatory mite would not be able to reestablish after foliar fenvalerate applications and provide biological control of phytophagous mites.

Fifty Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) isolates representing K-1, galleriae, K-73, thuringiensis, aizawai, dendrolimus, tolworthi, kenyae, darmstadiensis, alesti, and entomocidus crystal antigen types were bioassayed against fifth-instar spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.), larvae. In addition, larvae reared on diet with and without aureomycin were tested for their susceptibility to B.t. The data indicated no significant differences in susceptibility to B.t. among insects reared on aureomycin or on aureomycin-free diet, but differences were evident in larval growth and mortality among untreated controls. None of the 50 isolates bioassayed was any more toxic to the budworm than is the strain used at present in commercial preparations of B. thuringiensis.

Eighty-three butterfly species are credited to the fauna of the Yukon Territory, with an additional three deemed questionable. Species enumerated represent a compilation of both historic and current literature, and the records of collectors. The total includes previously unpublished records from the Canadian National Collection, but does not include unpublished records from any major museums in the United States. Approximately 30 collectors contributed field data.

Several parasites were surveyed for their ability to develop to pupation in virus-infected hosts. The tachinid Compsilura concinnata (Meigen), the ichneumonids Campoletis sonorensis (Cameron) and Hyposoter exiguae (Viereck), and the braconid Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson) developed to pupation in the armyworm, Pseudaletia unipuncta (Haworth), infected with either the Hawaiian strain of granulosis virus (HGV) or the hypertrophy strain of nuclear polyhedrosis virus (HNPV). The braconid Chelonus insularis Cresson died after its HGV- or HNPV-infected host P. unipuncta died. On the other hand, the braconid Glyptapanteles militaris (Walsh) died in HNPV-infected P. unipuncta before the host died. Some of these parasites had tissues that were melanized and some were encapsulated by the host. The ichneumonid H. exiguae and the braconids Chelonus insularis and Cotesia marginiventris developed to pupation in HGV-infected Spodoptera exigua (Hübner). In some cases, developmental time of parasites in virus-infected hosts was longer than in control hosts.

The arthropod fauna of New Brunswick potato fields was surveyed using pitfalls, yellow pan traps, ground cloths, and sweepnets. Of the more than 560 species or group-species identified during the 3-year study, at least 80% were transient ones indicating a loosely structured community of insects. Terricolous arthropods typically had a lower number of species and a more even distribution than aerial arthropods but a similar index of diversity. The proportion of parasitic and predatory species was high suggesting a potential for the use of native biological control techniques in potato pest management programs.

Surface and internal temperatures of bags made by Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis (Haworth) as well as ambient temperatures were recorded in sun and shade. Temperatures of bags in both shaded and exposed areas of the tree were significantly higher than ambient air temperatures. Bag surface temperatures were not significantly different from internal bag temperatures. Differences between internal, surface, and ambient temperatures could not be attributed to host tree species. Finally, there were no significant differences in temperature between bags with and without larvae.

Damage caused by Empoasca fabae (Harris) and Philaenus spumarius (L.), caged on second and third alfalfa harvests, was additive. Numbers of E. fabae were linearly correlated negatively with plant height, leaf area, and percentage protein, and positively with percentage chlorosis. Perceptible stunting and yellowing occurred with mean infestations per stem of 0.09 E. fabae and 0.6 P. spumarius nymphs. P. spumarius adults reduced plant height only at infestations of 0.3/stem, while 0.6 nymph/stem also reduced dry weight. E. fabae reduced protein at 0.11/stem and dry weight and leaf area at higher populations of 0.17/stem. None of these parameters was affected on subsequent regrowths. Lygus lineolaris (P. de B.) could not be maintained on pre-bloom alfalfa and was not considered a pest. Adelphocoris lineolatus (Goeze) reduced protein at levels of 0.01 bug/stem and dry weight at 0.06 bug/stem but results were confounded by high mortality. Field populations of all these species were reduced by the second cutting but redeveloped on the regrowth. Although applications of dimethoate (200 g AI/ha) and dimethoate (200 g AI/ha) plus endosulphan (280 g AI/ha) were effective in reducing populations of E. fabae, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), A. lineolatus, and Hypera postica (Gyllenhal), insecticides were cost-effective on only one field. This field had 1.9 E. fabae/sweep and a 3% loss in protein resulted. Plant height, density, dry weight, protein content, and overwintering survival were not significantly affected at harvest in other fields. With the exception of E. fabae, the sum of the maximum field populations, each expressed as a fraction of its threshold, did not reach 50% of an economic threshold.

The persistence of Neodiprion sertifer nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) on Pinus contorta foliage samples collected from sawfly infested plantations located throughout Britain was studied. Sawfly density and disease epizootiology varied between localities. Results from the bioassay of branch samples, divided into bark, needle base and foliage samples, indicated that N. sertifer NPV produced during a single virus epizootic can persist for at least 2 years on the pine foliage. Bark and needle base samples were found to be contaminated with NPV more often than foliage samples, perhaps reflecting the effect of weathering on the persistence of virus on the needle surface.

Lytta nuttalli Say, a large purple and green blister beetle, readily attacks rapeseed in western Canada (Church 1975; Church and Gerber 1976, 1977). As L. nuttalli commonly feeds on caragana (Caragana arborescens Lam.) on the Canadian prairies, attacks on rapeseed crops often occur near caragana hedges. A typical attack was observed near Vanscoy, Saskatchewan in July 1981. A large number of L. nuttalli, from an adjacent caragana hedge where they were abundant, were feeding on experimental plots of a canola variety of Brassica napus L. rapeseed, and rapidly devouring leaves, stems, and flowering heads. Often they chewed off the stems and fed on the severed plant parts on the ground. There were such large clusters of the beetles on some plants that stems were bent to the ground. The gregarious behaviour of these beetles, and their habit of assembling in clusters on their food plants, are well known (Selander 1960; Church 1975; Church and Gerber 1976, 1977). In the experimental plots at Vanscoy, insecticide application was necessary for survival of the canola plants. Fortunately, attacks by L. nuttalli on commercial canola crops are not frequent enough to constitute a major problem. Increased canola production itself is not likely to cause major increases in L. nuttalli populations, as populations are probably limited by the availability of ground-nesting leafcutter bee cells, which are necessary for larval development (Church 1975; Church and Gerber 1976).