Mortality of diapausing and non-diapausing pupae of Heliothis virescens (Fabricius) and H. zea (Boddie) at low temperatures was assessed in the laboratory. Comparison of the exposure time necessary to induce 50% mortality (LT50) indicated that survival of diapausing pupae was significantly higher than that of non-diapausing pupae. Similar comparisons showed no consistent significant differences in mortality of pupae from different geographic locations within Texas or in pupae preconditioned in several different ways. One exception was the response of pupae of H. virescens preconditioned to varying temperatures. This type of preconditioning appeared to increase the cold-hardiness of pupae at subfreezing temperatures. Contact moisture significantly decreased LT50 values of pupae of both species at sub-zero temperatures. Predictive models for low temperature mortality were developed for dry, diapausing pupae.

Aggregations of the ladybird beetle Hippodamia quinquesignata Kirby were found at several sites on the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains in southern Alberta at altitudes of 1250–2439 m, and also in the Porcupine Hills (1780 m), just east of the Rockies. The beetles apparently migrate from the prairie region where they feed on pea and grain aphids to the aggregation sites in fall, and return to the prairie in spring.

H. quinquesignata can survive southern Alberta winters, but some protection is needed as high mortality sometimes occurs in localized areas of the aggregation sites. Supercooling data indicate that the greatest protection against cold occurs during mid-winter but a considerable amount of cold hardening occurs during the fall. The most critical period for survival appears to be April and May when the beetles have lost much of their cold resistance, and a late spring cold period could cause high mortality.

LC50 and LT50 values for two multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis viruses isolated from the alfalfa looper, Autographa californica (Speyer), and a mint looper, Rachiplusia ou (Guenée), were determined against black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel), neonate larvae, 1-day-old larvae reared at 15 °C before testing, and 1-day-old larvae reared at 27 °C before testing. The results showed that black cutworm larvae have low to moderate susceptibility to these viruses. As the larvae developed, their susceptibility to the viruses rapidly declined. Initial growth of larvae surviving sublethal dosages of these viruses was reduced, but pupal weights of these larvae were not significantly different from untreated controls.

The following new species of Deinopsini are described and illustrated: Deinopsis apicicornis (southern USA), Adinopsis cuspidata (Florida, Maryland) and Adinopsis pubescens (Brazil, Colombia, Panama, Mexico). The previously unknown female of Gymnusa campbelli Klim., G. konopackii Klim., and Adinopsis braziliensis Klim., and the male of Metadeinopsis longicornis (Sharp), are described. New distribution and habitat date for some other species of the tribes are added.

The temporal and spatial arrival patterns of Ips plastographus maritimus and some of its important insect associates on freshly felled Pinus radiata within the native stands of California was studied. A total of 36 insect species was collected on sticky traps placed along tree boles for 85 days after felling. These species were placed in one of four chronological groups: (I) insects initially attacking the phloem–cambium region; (II) initial predators; (III) secondary xylophagous insects and secondary predators; (IV) parasites. Only four species showed distinct spatial arrival patterns along the tree bole.

The gall fly Urophora cardui (L.) (Diptera: Tephritidae), native to Europe, was released at 24 locations across Canada beginning in 1974. It became established in Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick but died out in all but one location in western Canada. Evidence for winter mortality in the west does not explain the failure of these colonies. Although galls, in particular those on the main shoot, reduce the height of Canada thistle, so far the impact on the host weed, Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) (L.) Scop., is slight.

Male moths of striped cutworm, Euxoa tessellata (Harris), were specifically attracted to blends of Z-5-tetradecenyl acetate or Z-5-hexadecenyl acetate with Z-7-hexadecenyl acetate. The most satisfactory quantities of these components per septum dispenser were: Z-5-tetradecenyl and Z-7-hexadecenyl acetates at 2.5 and 500 μg, or Z-5-hexadecenyl and Z-7-hexadecenyl acetates each at 500 μg. The addition of 1.0% Z-7-hexadecenol relative to Z-7-hexadecenyl acetate in either of these blends inhibited the attraction of males. The blend involving Z-5-tetradecenyl acetate is recommended for monitoring purposes.

Codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), control by sterile insect release (SIR) was assessed in 320–526 ha of apples and pears in the Similkameen Valley, B.C., from 1976 to 1978. In preparation for SIR, the moth population was first reduced to low numbers by removal of neglected trees in 1972 and by chemical sprays in 1975. Sterile (35 krad) male and female moths were released in each orchard 2 or 3 times weekly from 1 May until early September. A total of 23,600 sterile moths/ha was released in 1976, 36,500 in 1977, and 31,800 in 1978. Populations of sterile (marked) and wild moths were monitored by sex pheromone traps, and damage was assessed by fruit examination at harvest. Control was very good except for a few orchards in which overwintered populations were too high to achieve adequate overflooding with sterile moths. Damage exceeded the economic threshold (0.5%) in only 1 of 86 treated orchards in 1976, in 6 of 193 orchards in 1977, and in 0 of 157 orchards in 1978. Results in 32 orchards showed that when wild populations are brought close to extinction all codling moth control measures can be omitted for 2 or more years depending on degree of orchard isolation. Omission of codling moth sprays from 1976 to 1978 did not result in any important change in population levels of other apple pests. Cost of control by SIR was ca. $225/ha per year vs. ca. $95 for chemical control.

The use of artificial illumination in entomological studies is extensive. Incandescent and fluorescent lights are used in mass-rearing insects necessary for physiological and ecological studies, and in photoperiod-controlled as well as in electrophysiological experiments.

One of the main problems facing investigators in the interpretation of their results or in comparing these to preceding reports is the plethora of ways in which experimental conditions involving light are reported. Here are some examples: “The ants were kept under fluorescent light from 0800 to 2000 hours; light intensity on the ants was about 400 lux” (McCluskey 1965).

The white pine weevil, Pissodes strobi Peck, is a serious pest of several pines, Pinus sp. and spruces, Picea sp., and is an exceptionally difficult insect to control because its entire life, except for the adult stage, is spent inside the terminal leader of the host tree (Harman and Kulman 1968; MacAloney 1930; Rose and Lindquist 1973; Sullivan 1957). To protect the trees, the weevil must be controlled prior to oviposition; this has been thus far accomplished only by massive, repeated applications of insecticides such as methoxychlor (DeBoo and Campbell 1971, 1972). Application of such a conventional insecticide, however, may have adverse effects on beneficial insects such as pollinators, predators, and parasites as well as some of the non-insect fauna.