The Diptera occurring in various kinds of bird nests were investigated in the Japanese island of Hokkaido from 1985 to 1989. A total of 4623 Diptera, consisting of 23 species of eight families (Anthomyiidae, Fannidae, Muscidae, Calliphoridae, Heleomyzidae, Sphaeroceridae, Sepsidae, and Stratiomyiidae), was reared from 69 natural nests of 13 bird species of eight families (Strigidae, Picidae, Paridae, Sittidae, Sturnidae, Ploceidae, Laniidae, and Columbidae). Of 23 species of flies reared, 12 were new records from bird nests. An ectoparasite of birds, Protocalliphora maruyamensis Shinonaga and Kano, frequently emerged from the nests of hole-nesting birds of Paridae, Sturnidae, and Ploceidae, but it did not emerge from the nests of the hole-nesting birds Picoides major and P. minor of Picidae. The nests of Streptopelia orientalis yielded the most species of flies (12). Myospila meditabunda (Fabricius) and Mydaea urbana (Meigen), whose larvae are predacious, proved able to live in the bird nests. Among the scavengers, Potamia littoralis (R.-D.) was the most dominant and occurred in the nests of nine of 10 hole-nesting bird species. Sphaerocerid, sepsid, and stratiomid flies occurred in the nests of S. orientalis in which large quantities of bird feces had accumulated. The factors concerning the occurrence of flies in the nests are discussed.

The extent of allozyme variation and the amount of genetic divergence were assessed among populations of the aphid Rhopalosiphum maidis in Ontario. Allozyme analysis of individuals from 12 sites revealed no polymorphism for 32 loci. In addition, the extent of karyotypic, allozyme, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation was examined for clones from North America, Europe, and North Africa. As previously noted, chromosome number varied in relation to the host-plant on which aphids were collected, but neither allozyme nor mtDNA patterns allowed discrimination among clones. Further work is needed to determine whether the lack of genetic diversity in R. maidis is linked with its recent introduction to North America or with its loss of a sexual phase.

The effect of conservation and conventional tillage on carabid communities was compared using pitfall trapping in two commercial barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) fields located 4 km apart on similar soils. Carabid abundance was significantly higher under conventional tillage but abundances of individual species varied between the two fields. Agonum placidum Say and two Amara Bonelli species were more abundant at the conventional tillage farm whereas Pterostichus adstrictus Eschscholtz and three Bembidion Latreille species were significantly more abundant at the reduced tillage farm. Slightly more carabid species were collected in this latter field and species diversity and evenness were significantly higher.

The beetle fauna of conventional, organic, and abandoned apple orchards was monitored in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, between May and September 1991. Treatment in the three types of orchards differed with respect to weed control, disease control, fertilization, and general care. The most commonly captured beetles in all three types of orchards were carabids, in particular, Carabus nemoralis Müller, Carabus granulatus Linné, Harpalus rufipes (DeGeer), and Pterostichus coracinus (Newman). In general, abundance of predaceous beetles was highest in the conventional orchards and lowest in the abandoned orchards. Generic composition of predaceous beetles was similar among orchards, although the abandoned orchards were characterized by high proportions of the larger carabids, C. nemoralis and C. granulatus, whereas the organic and conventional orchards were dominated by the smaller carabids, H. rufipes and P. coracinus. Although there were no significant differences among orchard type in the total abundance of non-predaceous beetles, the abandoned orchards displayed the greatest diversity of non-predaceous beetles, with the lowest diversity found in the organic orchards.

Deraeocoris sanghonami sp.nov. is described from Korea.

Sixteen genera are recognized in the Clinocerinae (Diptera: Empididae): Dipsomyia Bezzi, Proagomyia Collin, Asymphyloptera Collin, Proclinopyga Melander, Rhyacodromia Saigusa, Trichoclinocera Collin, Clinocera Meigen, Oreothalia Melander, Roederiodes Coquillett, Clinocerella Engel, new status, Hypenella Collin, Kowarzia Mik, Dolichocephala Macquart, Phaeobalia Mik, Bergenstammia Mik, and Wiedemannia Zetterstedt. The subgenera of Clinocera are no longer recognized and the genus is divided into six tentative informal species groups. The following new generic synonyms are proposed: Hydrodromia Macquart = Clinocera; Archiclinocera Frey and Hypoclinocera Frey = Kowarzia; Lamposoma Becker, Fur Garrett Jones, and Obstinocephala Garrett Jones = Dolichocephala. A key to genera is provided for the identification of adult specimens of Clinocerinae, all genera are described, several lectotypes are designated, and male and female terminalia are illustrated. A world list of species is included for each genus, identifying new combinations. Cladistic relationships of the genera of the Clinocerinae are presented.

Zanclotus Wilder is transferred from the Clinocerinae to the Oreogetoninae. Dryodromia Rondani, also formerly in Clinocerinae, is considered to be most closely related to Hesperempis Melander, both of which are hypothesized to share apomorphies with the Empidinae + Hemerodromiinae. The genera Boreodromia Coquillett, Ceratempis Melander, Ephydrempis Saigusa, Niphogenia Melander, Sabroskyella Wilder, and Trichopeza Rondani also are removed from the Clinocerinae and transferred to the subfamily Trichopezinae, new status. In addition, Apalocnemis Philippi, Gloma Meigen, Hyperperacera Collin (all formerly in Oreogetoninae) and Heleodromia Haliday (formerly in Hemerodromiinae) are transferred to the Trichopezinae. Heterophlebus Philippi (formerly in Oreogetoninae) and Rubistella Garrett Jones (formerly in Brachystomatinae) are removed from synonymy and also transferred to the Trichopezinae. This subfamily is described, and the phylogenetic relationships and.geographic distribution of the included genera are discussed. The Trichopezinae is considered most closely related to the Brachystomatinae (exclusive of Homalocnemis Philippi) and Ceratomerinae. These three subfamilies are hypothesized to represent the sister group to the Microphorinae + Dolichopodidae.

A new definition of the subgenera of Dercylus Castelnau, 1832, is proposed and their synonymy is clarified. Four subgenera are included: Dercylus s.str., Eurydercylus subgen.nov. (type species: Dercylus tenebricosus La Ferté-Sénectère, 1851), Asporina Castelnau, 1835, ma Licinodercylus Kuntzen, 1912. Dercylodes Chaudoir, 1883, and Pterodercylus Kuntzen, 1912, are considered junior synonyms of Dercylus s.str. Licinodercylus Kuntzen, 1912, replaces Physomerus Chaudoir, 1883, which is a junior homonym of three other generic names. The 14 known species of the subgenus Licinodercylus are then revised. Eleven of them are newly described: Dercylus (Licinodercylus) franiai Moret, D. onorei Moret, D. orbiculatus Moret, D. praepilatus Moret, D. screator Moret, D. davidsoni Moret, D. granifer Moret, D. nodosus Moret, D. gaujoni Moret, D. gibber Moret, and D. mathani Moret. The larva of Dercylus (Licinodercylus) orbiculatus sp.nov. is described, and the phylogenetic affinities of the tribe Dercylini are discussed. Finally, available ecological and biogeographical data are presented, with special regard to the Ecuadorian fauna, and hypotheses regarding their speciation modes are proposed.