Most major modern families of Hymenoptera were established in the Mesozoic, but the diversifications within ecologically key trophic guilds and lineages that significantly influence the character of modern terrestrial ecosystems – bees (Apiformes), ants (Formicidae), social Vespidae, parasitoids (Ichneumonidae), and phytophagous Tenthredinoidea – were previously known to occur mostly in the middle to late Eocene. We find these changes earlier, seen here in the early Eocene Okanagan Highlands fossil deposits of western North America. Some of these may have occurred even earlier, but have been obscured by taphonomic processes. We provide an overview of the Okanagan Highlands Hymenoptera to family level and in some cases below that, with a minimum of 25 named families and at least 30 when those tentatively assigned or distinct at family level, but not named are included. Some are poorly known as fossils (Trigonalidae, Siricidae, Peradeniidae, Monomachidae), and some represent the oldest confirmed occurrences (Trigonalidae, Pompilidae, Sphecidae sensu stricto, Peradeniidae, Monomachidae, and possibly Halictidae). Some taxa previously thought to be relictual or extinct by the end of the Cretaceous (Angarosphecidae, Archaeoscoliinae, some Diapriidae) are present and sometimes abundant in the early Eocene. Living relatives of some taxa are now present in different climate regimes or on different continents.

Egg-laying patterns of the European earwig, Forficula auricularia Linnaeus (Dermaptera: Forficulidae), from three climatologically different areas; Montréal, Québec, Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and San Francisco, California, United States of America; were compared in laboratory. Three different egg-laying patterns were observed. Among the biotic parameters studied; previtellogenic follicular atresia, number of oocytes per ovariole at imaginal moult, female life expectancy, and ovarian activity explained female successful responses to local weather conditions. Follicular atresia, combined with a low number of oocytes, impeded oviposition in a low percentage of females from Montréal. It also impedes the production of a third brood in the Vancouver population, and of a fourth brood in the San Francisco population. Both female life expectancy and length of ovarian activity also had a significant impact on the oviposition pattern in the three climatic regions. Under the cold temperate climate of the Montréal area, only one brood was produced due to the short period of female fertility. Longer period of fertility and life expectancy enabled females to produce two broods in the milder temperate climate of Vancouver, and three broods in the San Francisco climate. Our results strongly suggest an exaptation enabling the native European populations of F. auricularia to adapt successfully in North America.

We made 37 collections and analysed the polytene chromosomes of salivary glands of 726 larvae of the Simulium arcticum Malloch (Diptera: Simuliidae) complex from 10 locations in an unstudied region from central Idaho and southeastern Washington, United States of America. We compared our results to previous population cytotaxonomic research on larvae of this complex from western Montana, northern Idaho, and eastern Washington, United States of America. We identified four sibling species, S. brevicercum Knowlton and Rowe, S. saxosum Adler, S. arcticum sensu stricto, S. apricarium Adler, Currie, and Wood; and three cytotypes, S. arcticum IIL-9, IIL-17, and IIL-79, previously described by us. We discovered a new cytotype, S. arcticum IIL-80, at three locations in the western region of our sample area. We also found combinational (ancestral) types between S. saxosum and S. arcticum sensu stricto and between S. saxosum and S. arcticum IIL-79, suggesting that ancestral populations of the complex still exist. Geographic structuring of these sibling species and cytotypes are documented given that S. saxosum occurred in western regions, S. arcticum IIL-79 in northeastern regions, and S. apricarium in southeastern regions of our study area.

The Dakota skipper, Hesperia dacotae (Skinner, 1911) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae), is an at-risk butterfly that inhabits mesic mixed-grass prairie. Loss of native prairie is the main factor driving declines in Dakota skipper abundance. Currently, there is little knowledge on the environmental and habitat requirements of Saskatchewan, Canada populations. Our objective was to determine environmental associations of Dakota skipper in Saskatchewan through landscape, vegetation, soil, climate, microclimate, and Hesperiidae butterfly occupancy. Data collection was conducted in 2015 and 2016; a total of 46 sites were surveyed; nine of these were Dakota skipper positive (i.e., present) sites and 37 were negative (i.e., non-detected) sites. Results indicate that plant composition is not a significant predictor of Dakota skipper presence, but three plant species are significantly associated with the species; Pediomelum argophyllum (Pursh) Grimes (Fabaceae), Zizia aptera (Gray) Fernald (Apiaceae), and Schizachyrium scoparium (Michaux) Nash (Poaceae). No soil or climate variables were significant predictors of Dakota skipper presence; however it is significantly associated with steep slopes. Warmer maximum and average ground-level temperatures are also associated with Dakota skipper presence. Findings indicate that additional Dakota skipper populations are likely in Saskatchewan and future targeted surveys will allow for a full evaluation of the distribution of this species and conservation status.

Predicting mango mealybug, Rastrococcus iceryoides (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), populations in an organic mango (Mangiferaindica Linnaeus; Anacardiaceae) ecosystem well in advance with reasonable accuracy, will facilitate biological control. In this study, an attempt was made to predict the population of mango mealybug using abiotic weather parameters as independent variables. The study was conducted at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, India (12°8'N; 77°35'E). Among the abiotic variables, maximum temperature was found relevant for predicting the population of the mealybug based on significant correlations. It was found that a prediction model using maximum temperature as independent variable with R2 is most ideal. This prediction model, when considered three to four weeks in advance of an infestation, could help farmers to gear up with biological control.

We examined the insecticidal activity of linalool and thymol, against diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), and whether they would synergise the activity of spinosad against this pest. Both linalool and thymol were toxic to diamondback moth larvae by topical and oral exposure, but orders of magnitude less so than spinosad. We found that low concentrations of linalool weakly synergised spinosad, increasing its toxicity more than twofold. An interaction between spinosad, and acetone meant it was not possible to identify any potential synergisms between thymol and spinosad. Our results demonstrate limited potential for thymol and linalool to act as biopesticides or synergists for managing diamondback moth.

Grylloblatta campodeiformis campodeiformis Walker (Grylloblattodea: Grylloblattidae) was commonly collected during summer from trees killed by the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in subalpine forests of Alberta, Canada. Gut content analysis revealed that the grylloblattids fed on subcortical invertebrates. This newly reported habitat association shows that this species is not limited to strictly alpine habitats and glacial margins, and thus may be more widespread and common than suggested by earlier reports.

Delia Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Anthomyiidae), including Delia platura (Meigen), are known pests of vegetable crops. Here, three studies were conducted to examine the relationship between Delia species and Phaseolus vulgaris Linnaeus (Fabaceae). Field studies documented a relationship between planting date and occurrence of Delia damage on P. vulgaris. Plantings in mid-June resulted in higher crop yields (mean bean pods per plant) and reduced damage ratings compared with earlier plantings. Late-May and early-June planting dates were not favourable, as they resulted in high damage ratings and low plant survival. Late-June and July plantings resulted in low damage ratings but low crops yields. Growth chamber experiments examined oviposition preference of D. platura females at eight phenological stages for two varieties of P. vulgaris. Results indicated significantly higher oviposition rates on bean plants at early phenological growth stages, with no significant varietal preference shown by maggots. Laboratory experiments quantified the impact of D. platura larval infestation on two P. vulgaris varieties at two growth stages. Results indicated no significant difference in variety choice. Recommendation for planting P. vulgaris to coincide with Delia phenology using a degree-day model is discussed.

Many fruit producers use commercial colonies of Bombus impatiens Cresson (Hymenoptera: Apidae) to supplement crop pollination by native bees. A small number of Newfoundland (Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada) farmers forego purchasing new colonies and, instead, purchase previously used colonies from crops in other provinces. This practice has potentially dangerous implications that may adversely affect future native bee diversity in Newfoundland. This study is the first to record the presence of native bumble bee species inside the colonies of new and pre-used commercial B. impatiens and the first to look at diseases in native bumble bees from Newfoundland. Polymerase chain reaction and taxon-specific oligonucleotides were used to screen the commercial and native bumble bee species for pathogens. Crithidia bombi (Lipa and Triggiani), Apicystis bombi (Liu, Macfarlane, and Pengelly), Nosema bombi Fantham and Porter, Nosema ceranae Fries et al., and species of Ascosphaera Olive and Spiltoir, were detected in native bumble bees that were collected from inside the new and pre-used commercial B. impatiens. Crithidia bombi, A. bombi, and N. bombi were also detected among native bees that were collected away from the commercial colonies. Nosema apis (Zander) and Melissococcus plutonius (White) were not detected in any of the bees tested. The mixing of native bumble bees in B. impatiens colonies increases the potential for pathogen spillover and spillback that may threaten the small and vulnerable island bee fauna.

Biological control plays an important role in many integrated pest management programmes, but can be disrupted by other control strategies, including chemical and cultural controls. In commercial cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton; Ericaceae) production, a spring flood can replace an insecticide application, providing an opportunity to study the compatibility of the flood (a cultural control) with biological control. We suspect that chemical controls will tend to reduce the number of natural enemies, while the flood, through removal of detritus and detritivores, may cause generalist predators to prey-switch to consume proportionally more pest individuals. We measured the abundance of herbivores (Lepidoptera), detritivores, Arachnida, and parasitoids (Hymenoptera) every week for six weeks in Wisconsin (United States of America) cranberry beds following either an insecticide spray or a cultural control flood. We found that detritivore populations rapidly declined in both flood and spray treatments; conversely, carnivore populations (spiders and parasitoids) were more abundant in the flooded beds than in sprayed beds. Populations of key cranberry pests were similar between flooded and sprayed beds. Our results showed that early-season flooding preserved more natural enemies than an insecticide application. This increase in natural enemy abundance after the flood may allow for greater continuity in herbivore suppression, potentially providing a basis for long-term cranberry pest management.

Ommatissus lybicus de Bergevin (Hemiptera: Tropiduchidae) is a key pest of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera Linnaeus; Arecaceae) with worldwide distribution and various management strategies. To study genetic diversity of date palm hopper, a series of experiments was conducted on genetic structure and genetic diversity of 15 geographic populations of O. lybicus (Abu Musa, Bam, Bushehr, Behbahan, Tezerj, Fin, Jiroft, Shahdad, Jahrom, Ghire Karzin, Ghasre Shirin, Iran; Pakistan; Oman; Egypt; and Tunisia) by amplified fragment length polymorphism, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), and 28S rRNA markers. Analysis of molecular variance analysis of amplified fragment length polymorphism data and COI sequences revealed a significant variation among O. lybicus populations (94.12% and 65.08% similarities for amplified fragment length polymorphism and COI, respectively). The 28S rDNA sequences from different populations were identical. Phylogenetic network inferred from amplified fragment length polymorphism data and COI sequences grouped two geographically close populations (Tezerj and Bam) in the two distinct clades while far apart geographical populations bunched in the same or close clades. These two populations experience repeated exposure to heavy pesticide applications annually. In conclusion, study of the genetic structure revealed a considerable variation between O. lybicus populations under intensive chemical strategies.

The wheat midge, Sitodiplosis mosellana Géhin (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), is a serious pest of spring wheat in North America. Currently, most commercial cultivars in the state of Montana, United States of America are susceptible. A study was conducted to assess the variability of adapted spring wheat cultivars to wheat midge infestations. A secondary objective was to determine the relationship between wheat midge infestation levels and spring wheat agronomic traits, including yield, test weight, grain protein, plant height, and heading date. This relationship was determined by evaluating 16 hard red spring wheat cultivars over a six-year period at the Northwestern Agricultural Research Center, near Kalispell, Montana. Levels of infestation had a negative impact on grain yield and test weight. Overall, the average infestation level was 40 larvae/spike with the lowest being observed with “Reeder” and the highest for “Thatcher”. Concurrently, “Reeder” had the highest yield, whereas “Thatcher” had the lowest yield and the highest grain protein, demonstrating that wheat midge infestations were positively associated with grain protein. Heading date had a positive association with midge density with higher infestations associated with later maturing cultivars. The economic injury level was estimated at 12 and 20 midge larvae/spike for a market price of USD $0.27 and USD $0.16/kg, respectively.

Two new species of Eocene Eomerope Cockerell (Mecoptera: Eomeropidae) are described from the Ypresian Okanagan Highlands deposits of British Columbia, Canada: Eomerope simpkinsaenew species from the Allenby Formation near the town of Princeton, and Eomerope eonearcticanew species from the McAbee locality near the towns of Cache Creek and Ashcroft. Eomerope eonearctica is very close to the coeval Eomerope asiatica Ponomarenko from Primorskiy Kray in Pacific-coastal Russia, consistent with Eocene intercontinental dispersal, which is well documented in numerous plant and animal taxa.

The alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica (Gyllenhal); Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a destructive pest of alfalfa (Medicago sativa Linnaeus; Fabaceae) worldwide. The biological control parasitoid, Microctonus aethiopoides Loan (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), was successfully introduced, and considered highly effective, in the eastern and mid-western United States of America. Redistribution efforts carried out throughout the 1980s reported initial establishment in the northern Great Plains, however follow-up studies to assess long-term persistence and efficacy are lacking. We resurveyed the counties in which M. aethiopoides had been initially recovered following redistribution in Montana (Flathead and Petroleum counties), Wyoming (Platte County), and South Dakota (Brookings County), to gauge whether this species has become permanently established and, if so, assess levels of parasitism in the field. We collected adult weevils from five fields in each county, and reared them in the laboratory to assess parasitism. Despite rearing more than 1000 weevils, no parasitoids were recovered from any of the locations sampled in our study, suggesting a widespread failure of M. aethiopoides to persist in the region. Thus, M. aethiopoides does not currently appear to be an important biological control agent of alfalfa weevil in the northern Great Plains. More intensive surveys will be required to assess the extent of the distributional limits of this species throughout the region.

We examined the effect of biopesticides used alone, mixed with other biopesticides, or in conjunction with an imidacloprid against wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in spring wheat Triticum aestivum Linnaeus (Poaceae) (variety: Duclair). The study was conducted at Ledger and Valier, Montana, United States of America in 2015 and 2016. Ten biopesticides (spinosad, azadirachtin, pyrethrin, Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo-Crivelli) Vuillemin (Fungi: Clavicipitaceae) GHA (Mycotrol), B. bassiana ANT-03 (BioCeres), Chromobacterium subtsugae Martin et al. (Bacteria: Neisseriaceae), Burkholderia Yabuuchi et al. (Burkholderiaceae) species, Metarhizium brunneum Petch (Fungi: Clavicipitaceae) ESC1 (MbESC1), and M. brunneum F52 (MetF52) as microsclerotial and corn grit-based granules) were tested in addition to thimet and imidacloprid. Treatment efficacy was based on plant stand protection, wireworm populations, and yield. In 2015, there was considerable variation between sites in treatment efficacy. Mycotrol, BioCeres, MetF52+spinosad, and MetF52+imidacloprid applications protected seedlings from wireworm damage better than the control at Ledger, while only MetF52 at Valier. Wireworm populations were significantly higher with Mycotrol, spinosad, MetF52+spinosad, MbESC1 (25 g/L), and MetF52 treatments, compared with control, at 14 and 28 days post application at Ledger, but without effect at Valier, 2015. We found significantly higher yield in plots treated with imidacloprid+MetF52 and Mycotrol+azadirachtin (Xpulse) compared with control at Ledger. In 2016, no significant treatment effects were observed at either site. In summary, this study provides insight on what treatments should be explored in more detail despite variable results.

Trialeurodes abutiloneus (Haldeman) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is known to have been present in Canada since 1973. Despite this, the species has until now not been officially recorded; a surprising fact considering the close association of the species with economically important crops. The historic distribution expands from Mexico to southern New York and Michigan in the United States of America. In 2016, all life stages of T. abutiloneus were collected again on soybean (Glycine max (Linnaeus) Merrill; Fabaceae) plants grown in research greenhouses in southwestern Ontario, Canada. Specimens were morphologically and genetically identified to confirm their identity as T. abutiloneus. Thereafter, the barcode sequence for this species was also identified from the barcode of life data system, informing on the prior detection of this species from specimens collected at Point Pelee National Park, Ontario, Canada in 2012 during a barcode of life collection. Although this species is not considered a major pest on crops in Canada, it is related to other common pests within the same genus and can potentially transmit similar plant diseases. We provide the barcode COI sequence for the species, give an overview of the documented host range pertinent to Canada, and provide information concerning its natural enemies.

The pepper weevil, Anthonomus eugenii Cano (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is the most important pest of pepper (Capsicum Linnaeus; Solanaceae) crops in North America. Native to Mexico, the southern United States of America, and Central America, it is intercepted in Canada when peppers are imported to supplement domestic production. Given the proximity of greenhouse and field production to packing facilities, this pest poses a serious risk to the cultivation of peppers in Canada. Once established, it is difficult to control because immature stages of the weevil are protected within the pepper fruit. As such, chemical control targeting these life stages is not effective, and other strategies, including biological control, may prove useful. To explore the potential for biological control options to manage the pepper weevil in areas at risk in Canada, natural enemy surveys were conducted in southern Ontario following the reports of transient, localised field populations in 2016. Parasitoids belonging to three Hymenoptera families including Pteromalidae (Jaliscoa hunteri Crawford, Pteromalus anthonomi Ashmead), Eupelmidae (Eupelmus pulchriceps Cameron), and Braconidae (Nealiolus Mason species, Bracon Fabricius species) were reared from infested field-collected pepper fruits. Together, these new natural enemy records could facilitate the exploration and development of novel agents for the biological control of the pepper weevil.