The systematic position of the North American species described, originally, in the genus Trioxys Haliday is discussed. The following nine taxa are of genus Trioxys sensu strictu: T. (Trioxys) ameraceris Smith, betulae Marshall, new RECORD, bonnevillensis Smith, exareolatus (Viereck), gahani Smith, ibis Mackauer, NEW RECORD, infrequens Smith, utilis Muesebeck; and T. (Betuloxys) compressicornis Ruthe, NEW RECORD. Six species fall into genus Binodoxys Mackauer: B. carolinensis (Smith), coruscanigrans (Gahan), cupressicola (Gahan), NEW COMB., nearctaphidisN. SP., palmerae (Smith), and rhagii (Ashmead).

Progeny of individual females of Lecanium spp. from orchard, ornamental, and wild trees and shrubs were colonized on rooted willow cuttings in a greenhouse and insectary. Some forms with distinctive morphological and colour characters on their original hosts maintained these characters through one to six generations on willow. These results and many years’ observations indicated that lecanium scale infestations in fruit orchards of the Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, were usually composed of a complex of forms. Some of these were distinct species but others, less sharply differentiated, were considered as varieties of these species. One new species is described.

The spontaneous activation of Aedes aegypti, and their responses to external stimuli (especially changes in temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide concentration) have been analyzed in a way that allows the controlling neural mechanisms to be inferred. In general, the flying insect turns back on leaving a favorable air stream, but does not turn on entering one. The normal attack program reduces to four basic steps: a general search initiated by a small rise in the CO2 level, no turn when the insect enters the "host stream" (i.e., the convective or other air current whose temperature and/or relative humidity has been modified by the host), an induced turn on leaving the host stream, and a visual landing. Repellents resemble CO2 in activating previously resting mosquitoes. If, however, the host stream contains a repellent vapor, the insect is made to turn on entering the host stream and is prevented from turning on leaving it. Thus the repellent vapor reverses the normal response to the host stream in two ways that are vital to success in locating a warm-blooded host. It also tends to inhibit probing. The antennal setae through which the various environmental influences are perceived can be inferred from a quantitative consideration of the responses.

The paper describes an observation chamber and air-conditioning system designed for studying the responses of flying insects at the boundary between two microclimates. Two vertical air streams each fill one half of the rectangular observation chamber. Turbulence is carefully removed so as to maintain a sharp boundary between the streams. Each stream is separately conditioned by passage through heat exchangers and plastic sponges impregnated with substances to be vapourized. Responses of flying insects are studied both photographically and by counting rates of turning at the boundary.

A flightless strain of Drosophila melanogaster Meig. was used with a dry-film bioassay technique for the analysis of dieldrin residues in wheat grain. The flightless fruitflies were much more convenient to handle than a wild strain and the use of a slippery plastic barrier on collecting and sorting dishes avoided the need for immobilising flies by cold or CO2. Experimental evidence is given for the adoption of standardised breeding and handling systems for controlling certain intrinsic factors in the fly population. Also, by controlling such extrinsic factors in the bioassay system as the number of flies per test vial, replication, and holding temperature, a satisfactorily reproducible LD50 of 0.015 μg. dieldrin per vial was obtained. When this technique was applied to the analysis of dieldrin residues in wheat grain, 0.01-0.10 ppm. dieldrin could be conveniently assayed after chromatographic cleanup of a solvent extract of the grain. The accuracy of the bioassay estimates has been confirmed by gas-chromatographic analysis.

In the laboratory, it has been found that females of R. pomonella (Walsh) mating frequently throughout their lives laid about twice as many fertile eggs as females allowed to mate only a few times during their first two weeks after emergence. However, mating had little effect on the total numbers of eggs laid. Females mating frequently averaged 395 eggs and 95% were fertile whereas those mating only a few times averaged 360 eggs and 46% were fertile.

Females of Nasonia vitripennis (Walk.) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) laid fewer eggs on parasitized than on unparasitized pupae of the house fly, Musca domestica L. Chemical and/or physical conditions of parasitized pupae are detected by the female’s ovipositor, causing this restraint. These conditions may in part result from the host’s death, caused by earlier parasitization, but other factors are also involved. These may include venom injected by the female parasite before she lays, and internal injury to the host resulting from insertion of the parasite’s ovipositor. The female parasite does not discriminate because of physical or chemical traces on the surface of parasitized puparia, of eggs or a surface wound on the pupa, or of absence of heart beat in the pupa.

Problems associated with quantitative estimations of mixed populations of several species of predators on apple trees are discussed. The problems arise largely because of the inherently high variability in such populations and because of the mechanical difficulties of counting predators on some basic unit of tree. In this investigation two devices used in sampling are described and their efficiency rated. One, a vacuum sampler, that removed predators from samples of leaf clusters on the tree failed to meet the standards set. The other, called the shaker sampler, tumbled clusters about in a revolving wire screen cage to dislodge predators for counting. The amount of processing with this device to remove practically all predacious specimens was calibrated. When the shaker-sampler technique was applied to studies in two orchards it proved to be practical for quantitative estimation of predator populations per large limb. The error associated with estimations of the density of individual species was usually very high so that pooling of the results for several or all species was required to reduce the variance to an acceptable level.

The genus Balsameda Thomson is elevated from synonymy and redescribed on the basis of the type species, Cotinis pulverulenta Burmeister. One additional species, Cotinis adspersa Sharp, is referred to the genus. Both species are described and the male and female genitalia are illustrated.

Lecanium cerasifex is facultatively parthenogenetic and deuterotokous whereas L. putmani is arrhenotokous. Males of both L. cerasifex and L. coryli L. failed to fertilize females of L. putmani and in all such attempted crosses the progeny were males.

In the field larvae of L. cerasifex typically settled on the lower surface of leaves and those of L. putmani on the upper surface and this behaviour was influenced by light.

In laboratory experiments L. cerasifex was photokinetic whereas the activity of L. putmani was little affected by light. Both were weakly phototactic but L. putmani appeared to show the stronger phototactic response. It was concluded that the differences in photokinetic and phototactic responses alone were sufficient to explain the location of the larvae on leaves.

The eastern subterranean termite has been present in Ontario for over 25 years. Economic damage caused by the pest was first reported in 1944 and has increased considerably in the last decade, particularly in the Toronto region. Termites have also been found in four other localities in the Province.

Parasitism of pupae of G. mellonella (L.) by P. turionellae (L.) was found to prevent adult emergence. The effect was manifest within 24 hours of parasitization. Experiments are described which indicated that the source of the factor preventing eclosion of the imago is the developing parasite egg.

Sex attractants were demonstrated in extracts of virgin females from four species, representing three genera, of elaterids. Each attractant was species specific. An olfactometer is described that permitted paper chromatograms of the extracts to be bio-assayed for pheromone activity. RF values of the attractants from the four species are compared.

Methods and materials for colonizing damselflies (Ischnura) in the laboratory are described. Adults cease escape behavior in vision-proof cages. Females copulate only after first rejecting several would-be mates in succession and do not begin to oviposit until two to four hours afterwards. Artificial Du Pont sponges provide the best material for egg deposition. Methods of rearing large larval numbers are briefly described.

Superparasitism created a food shortage and thereby reduced survival and size of adult Nasonia vitripennis (Walk.) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) reared on pupae of the house fly, Musca domestica L. Superparasitism also reduced the percentage of females in the adult progeny but had no effect on rate of development, ability to emerge, or incidence of diapause in N. vitripennis.

Nineteen species of carabid beetles are added to the list of those found in agricultural lands near Belleville in 1959–62, and eight previously determined to genus only are herein identified to species. Notiophilus intermedins Lth. is reported from Ontario for the first time, and a second record is made of Bembidion obtusum Ser., a European species doubtfully established in North America.

The western species of Rhagio other than the dimidiatus group are reviewed, with a key to their identification. R. chillcotti, new species, is described from British Columbia (type), Washington, and Oregon. Confirmation of previous identifications of Bigot’s species is given and lectotypes are designated.

In the January 1965 issue of the Canadian Entomologist, under Affiliated Societies, Acadian Entomological Society, the Secretary-Treasurer was listed as Mr. C. A. Miller. This should have read Mr. G. R. Underwood.