Spruce budworm egg deposition spanned 27 days during both 1979 and 1980. The egg deposition curve is essentially a normal bell-shaped distribution with a slight skew to the right. Spruce budworm eggs are most acceptable to T. minutum Riley for successful parasitism during the earlier stages of host–egg development. Parasitism rates at two different temperatures (21 °C and 27 °C) were significantly greater for 1- to 3-day-old eggs than for 6- to 8-day-old spruce budworm eggs. Major reduction in host–egg acceptability occurred after the fifth day at 21 °C and after the 4th day at 27 °C.

A Palearctic species, Cnephasia stephensiana (Doubleday), was first collected in Nova Scotia in 1954 and has since been found in Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and near Ottawa, Ontario. C. stephensiana is compared with the introduced C. interjectana (Haworth) which was found first in Newfoundland in 1915.

Seven years of field evaluation has shown the alfalfa blotch leafminer, Agromyza frontella (Rondani), to be of minor economic importance in Vermont. Although response to certain insecticidal treatments resulted in highly significant reduction in leaf mining at time of cut, no other differences were shown. Analyses of fiber content as measured by lignin, cell wall constituents, acid detergent fiber, quality as measured by % protein and % digestibility, and yields in dry weight (kg/ha) showed no significant differences. Comparison of leaflet dehiscence from field-cured and baled samples failed to indicate differences between blotched and healthy alfalfa.

Two imported parasite species, Chrysocharis punctifacies Delucchi and Dacnusa dryas (Nixon), are established within the state; we predict that these parasites combined with native species will effect a decline in alfalfa blotch leafminer levels below any conceivable economic threshold.

An onion maggot, Hylemya antiqua (Meigen) (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) strain, having low level (≤ × 5) resistance to organophosphorus insecticides, was selected with parathion to determine if higher resistance levels to the selection agent and other insecticides used for onion maggot control would result. Parathion resistance levels increased to ×10.1 and ×23.8 after 4 and 14 generations of selection, respectively; without further selection, resistance levels declined by ca. 1/2 in 6–7 generations. Parathion resistance was ×24.4 after 20 generations of selection and resistance levels to ethion, diazinon, fonofos, and carbofuran were 2 to 3 times higher than those measured initially. The pattern of resistance development in field strains of onion maggot collected in 1975 and 1980 was similar to that observed in the laboratory selection program, but resistance levels were lower, probably because of lower selection pressure and the variety of chemicals used under practical conditions. After 14 generations of parathion selection, resistance levels were ×23.8 and ×10.1 to parathion and carbofuran, respectively. After 12 additional generations of carbofuran selection, carbofuran resistance increased to ×31.2, while the level of parathion resistance remained the same.

Mitosynum vockerothi, a new genus and new species of Staphylinidae, is described from Kouchibouguac National Park, New Brunswick. The genus is compared with the genus Syntomium Curtis (Oxytelinae: Coprophilini). The phylogenetic position of the genus is considered based on Herman's (1970) study of the phylogeny of the genera of the Oxytelinae.

Three body dimensions (body length, head width, and abdomen width) were used to determine size differences between laboratory-reared and wild populations of Trichogramma minutum Riley. Six separate groups of T. minutum were measured: three groups were from Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) eggs, two from spruce budworm Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens) eggs, and one from wild populations of spruce budworm.

Female T. minutum from spruce budworm (large host) eggs were significantly larger for all body dimensions than T. minutum from S. cerealella (small host) eggs. Male T. minutum from field-collected spruce budworm eggs were significantly larger for all body dimensions than T. minutum reared for more than one generation in S. cerealella eggs.

A significant reduction in female parasitoid size was observed during the initial generations of T. minutum reared in the smaller host (S. cerealella). However, this size reduction was not permanent. Following numerous generations in the S. cerealella host eggs, a significant increase in female parasitoid size was noted within the first generation of T. minutum reared in the spruce budworm host eggs.

Antipic, an electronic mosquito repeller, was evaluated in the field and in the laboratory. It was ineffective in repelling natural populations of mosquitoes (mostly Aedes spp.) in Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec.

Eclosion of overwintering eggs of the European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch), in Nova Scotia was studied at four constant temperatures. Days to 50% hatch were 44.8, 23.1, 12.9, and 8.8 while the rates of development were 2.18, 4.53, 7.59, and 11.34% per day at 8°, 12°, 16 °and 20 °C, respectively. Nonlinear equations were developed to estimate the time to 50% hatch of overwintering eggs as a function of temperature. A weighted average of the daily extreme temperatures was used to improve the estimated time to 50% hatch for field data from the rates of development in the constant temperature studies.

Eggs of Sepedon fuscipennis (Diptera: Sciomyzidae) < 1, 1–2, 2–3, and 3–4 days old were offered to inexperienced female Trichogramma sp. near californicum in a laboratory experiment. Exposure period (2 h) and number of host eggs offered at one time (10) were held constant. Percentage of hosts parasitized, total number of parasitoid progeny found in a group of hosts, percentage of parasitized hosts yielding adult parasitoids, and survivorship of parasitoid progeny to adulthood all decreased significantly with increased host age. Younger hosts yielded more than one adult parasitoid more often than did older hosts. Over 50% of the adult parasitoids emerging from hosts < 1, or 1–2 days old were female. Hosts 2–3 days old produced only males. The data show a somewhat different relationship of host age to host acceptance and suitability than do some published data on lepidopteran hosts of Trichogramma.

The longevity, fecundity, and oviposition rates of Aphelinus semiflavus Howard were determined at densities of 20 and 60 pea aphid hosts per day. Host density had no significant effect on parasite longevity and total fecundity, but it did influence the mean daily oviposition rate (16.5 and 19.5 aphids/day at density 20 and 60, respectively) and the overall proportion of aphids parasitized (82.3% and 32.5%, respectively) during the period of maximum egg laying. The implications of a shift in the fecundity schedule to an earlier reproductive age are discussed.

Adults of the two main rape-infesting flea beetle species in Manitoba, Phyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze) and Phyllotreta striolata (F.), that were parasitized by Microctonus vittatae Mues., emerged earlier from overwintering sites than unparasitized adults of the same species. Early emergence of parasitized beetles ensures early emergence of parasite adults and thereby probably increases the impact of the parasite on the host's population.

The efficacy of diflubenzuron against the codling moth, Laspeyresia pomonella L., was compared with that of azinphos-methyl in two orchards. Two cover sprays were applied to coincide with peak codling moth activity which was monitored daily with pheromone-baited traps. In the Golden Delicious and mixed cultivar orchards, 187 ppm (mg active ingredient/1.) diflubenzuron provided control comparable to that of 187 ppm azinphos-methyl. In the 47 ppm diflubenzuron treatment, more fruit damage occurred particularly in the mixed cultivar orchard. In this orchard, the addition of Tween 20 to the spray mixture reduced fruit damage markedly.

Diflubenzuron appeared non-toxic to the phytoseiid Typhlodromus occidentalis Nesbitt and stigmaeid Zetzellia mali Ewing. In addition, cover sprays did not increase populations of European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch) or rust mites, Aculus spp.

The efficacy of diflubenzuron against the codling moth and its compatability with integrated mite control suggest that the compound is a promising agent for pest management programs in apple orchards.

Hylotrupes bajulus (L.) was successfully reared from egg to adult in 9 to 11 months on an artificial diet. The diet provided an adequate physical and nutritional environment for the development of old house borer larvae. Mortality and rearing time were reduced when larvae reared on artificial diet were compared with those reared by conventional methods.

Chrysomela scripta Fabricius adults showed a feeding preference for the youngest, most succulent leaves of tissue-cultured Populus × euramericana. Larvae fed equally on all leaves with water contents greater than 73%. Larvae chose shoot bark for feeding after all leaves with water contents greater that 70% had been consumed. Larvae reared on immature foliage had shorter developmental times and higher prepupal weights than those reared on mature foliage.

The external structure, cellular structure, and function of the tibial epiphysis of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), are described. Scanning electron micrographs and histological preparations indicate that the epiphysis of the male gypsy moth is an efficient antennal comb, but behavioral studies indicate it is not required for either precopulatory stimulation or for orientation to sex pheromones. The acanthae covering the inner surface of the epiphysis appear to have only a mechanical function.

During a 1981 study on possible insect vectors of a yeast in Saskatchewan mustard crops, several incidental observations of attack by the western damsel bug, Nabis alternatus Parshley, on adults of the flea beetle Phyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze) were made near Oxbow in the southeastern part of the province. This is the fourth record of insect predation on crucifer-feeding flea beetles in the Canadian prairie provinces. Previous records involved the beetle Collops vittatus Say (Gerber and Osgood 1975), a big-eyed bug, Geocoris bullatus (Say) (Burgess 1977), and larvae of the green lacewing, Chrysopa carnea Stephens (Burgess 1980).

In Quebec apple orchards, pheromones are used to monitor a number of pest species (Rivard et al. 1978; Paradis et al. 1979). However, few studies have looked for the presence of sex pheromones in mirids. Scales (1968) detected the presence of sex pheromone in a mirid, Lygus lineolaris (P. de B.), as did Strong et al. (1970) for Lygus hesperus Knight. Subsequently, the daily and annual cycles of pheromone emission in Distantiella theobroma (Dist.) (King 1973) and Helopeltis clavifer (Walker) (Smith 1977) were established.

No reports have been published about symbiotic penicillate millipeds living in arboreal ant nests, though Donisthorpe (1927) reported those in edaphic ant nests. Therefore, we tried to determine the species and numbers of symbiotic penicillate millipeds in arboreal ant nests.

An investigation of the symbiotic penicillate millipeds was conducted in both the maritime forest (Daphniphyllum teijsmannii Zoll., Pinus thunbergii Parl.) and the mountain forest (Machilus thunbergii Sieb. et Zucc., Castanopsis cuspidata Schottky var. sieboldii Nakai) on Miyakejima Island (about N 34°05′, E 139°30′) in the Pacific Ocean, 28 March 1980. As a result, we found symbiotic penicillate millipeds of the family Polyxenidae only in the maritime forest.