Six new aleocharine species are described and illustrated from the Yukon and Alaska: Atheta (Dimetrota) cadeti Klimaszewski and Godin, sp. nov.; Atheta (Hypatheta) pseudomet lakatlana Klimaszewski and Godin, sp. nov.; Cypha inexpectata Klimaszewski and Godin, sp. nov.; Oxypoda yukonensis Klimaszewski and Godin, sp. nov., Oxypoda pseudoconvergens Klimaszewski and Godin, sp. nov.; and Clusiota antennalis Klimaszewski and Godin, sp. nov.Atheta (Rhagocneme) subsinuata (Erichson), known from the western Palaearctic region, was discovered in the Yukon and is reported in North America for the first time as an adventive species. Amischa tersa Casey is recorded from Canada and the Yukon for the first time. Twenty-four new records of aleocharine species from the Yukon are provided in addition to species described as new to science. One hundred and fifteen digital images of external and genital structures are provided for species identification.

Paraplatyptilia atlanticasp. nov. is described as new from northwestern Newfoundland and the Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec, Canada. A key to the four species of Paraplatyptilia Bigot and Picard known to occur in eastern Canada (east of Manitoba) is provided.

Scolytus schevyrewi Semenov, the banded elm bark beetle, and S. multistriatus Marsham, the smaller European elm bark beetle, are morphologically similar. Reliance on adult external morphological characters for identification can be problematic because of wide within-species variability and the need for good-quality specimens. The inability to identify developmental stages can also hamper early-detection programs. Using two character identification systems, genitalic (aedeagus) morphology, and DNA markers (random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR)) to distinguish S. schevyrewi from S. multistriatus, we examined specimens from geographically distinct populations of both species collected from infested host trees or semiochemical-baited funnel traps. We found that aedeagus morphology can be used to identify the two species. The use of two oligonucleotide primers in the RAPD-PCR analysis yielded distinct DNA banding patterns for the two species. Species identification using RAPD-PCR analysis was validated by a blind test and used to make species identifications of larval specimens. These tools improve the ability to differentiate between S. schevyrewi and S. multistriatus at immature and adult stages, and could be developed and used for other scolytines as well.

Wasps of the family Ichneumonidae recorded as parasitoids of Choristoneura Lederer (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in North America are summarized. A total of 113 species in 45 genera and 11 subfamilies have been reliably reared from 10 species of Nearctic Choristoneura. Twenty-one more species are listed as possible parasitoids of Nearctic Choristoneura, based on rearings from Palearctic Choristoneura species and (or) limited introductions to North America. Well-illustrated identification keys are provided to the subfamilies, all genera, and species of 39 of the genera. The species of Choristoneura used as hosts by the 113 ichneumonid species are tabulated, as well as the wasps’ geographic ranges. The biological characteristics of the ichneumonid subfamilies parasitizing Choristoneura spp. are described and compared. Erroneous Choristoneura host records and synonyms for all ichneumonid taxa previously recorded from Nearctic Choristoneura spp. are given. Phaeogenes gaspesianus Provancher is moved to Dirophanes Förster, forming D. gaspesianus (Provancher) comb. nov. New host records are Phaeogenes cacoeciae Viereck and Scambus hispae (Harris) on C. rosaceana (Harris), D. gaspesianus and Pimpla disparis Viereck on C. fumiferana (Clemens) (P. disparis having been introduced to New Brunswick to control the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.)), and Exochus turgidus Holmgren on C. occidentalis Freeman.

The male genital tract of Chaoboridae, represented by Eucorethra underwoodi Underwood, Mochlonyx velutinus (Ruthe), and Chaoborus trivittatus (Loew), is described for the first time. All genera have paired accessory glands that are attached anteriorly to the vasa deferentia or the base of the testes, a feature that is proposed as a synapomorphy of Chaoboridae + Culicidae. Mochlonyx Loew and Chaoborus Lichenstein have distinctive pigment cells covering their testes and a portion of the vasa deferentia. The simplified male genital tract of Corethrellidae + Chaoboridae + Culicidae is correlated with the virtually unique abrupt and permanent 180° rotation of the male genitalia between segments 7 and 8. In taxa with an accessory-gland complex, the male genitalia are rotated in a more gradual manner, often during copulation.

Our objective was to assess the potential of carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) as effective bioindicators of the effects of forest management at a Canadian national scale. We present a comparison of carabid beetle assemblages reported from large-scale studies across Canada. Based on the initial response following disturbance treatment, we found that carabid assemblages consistently responded to disturbance, but responses of individual species and changes in species composition were nested within the context of regional geography and finer scale differences among forest ecosystems. We also explored the relationship between rare and dominant taxa and species characteristics as they relate to dispersal capacity and use of within-stand habitat features such as coarse woody debris. We found no relationship between life-history characteristics (such as body size, wing morphology, or reported associations with downed wood) and the relative abundance or frequency of occurrence of species. Our results suggest that carabids are better suited to finer scale evaluations of the effects of forest management than to regional or national monitoring programs. We also discuss several knowledge gaps that currently limit the full potential of using carabids as bioindicators.

The red oak borer, Enaphalodes rufulus (Haldeman), is a native wood-boring beetle implicated as a major contributor to recent high levels of oak mortality in northern Arkansas. Northern red oaks, Quercus rubra L. (Fagaceae), were grouped into three classes of red oak borer infestation history based on crown condition and basal red oak borer emergence holes: class I (low infestation), class II (moderate infestation), and class III (high infestation). In 2004 and 2005, trees from each class were mechanically wounded and callus formation was measured after one year. Class I trees exhibited significantly greater callus formation than class III trees in both years. Monthly measurements in spring and summer of 2006 indicated significant differences in callus formation among classes, with class I trees healing over significantly earlier. Moisture was measured in bark samples removed 1 week and 4 weeks after initiation of three treatments: control, mechanical wounding, and artificial insertion of larvae. Moisture levels did not vary among infestation classes or treatments. This research indicates that bark moisture is likely not a defense against red oak borer, but that callus overgrowth may be a defense early in the second year of the life cycle in healthy trees.

The fauna of introduced rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the Maritime Provinces of Canada is surveyed. Seventy-nine species have now been recorded. Of these, 73 have been found in Nova Scotia, 29 on Prince Edward Island, and 54 in New Brunswick. Twenty-five species are newly recorded in Nova Scotia, 16 on Prince Edward Island, and 10 in New Brunswick, for a total of 51 new provincial records. Of these, 15 species, Tachinus corticinus Gravenhorst, Mycetoporus lepidus (Gravenhorst), Habrocerus capillaricornis (Gravenhorst), Aleochara (Xenochara) lanuginosa Gravenhorst, Gnypeta caerulea (C.R. Sahlberg), Atheta (Microdota) amicula (Stephens), Cordalia obscura (Gravenhorst), Drusilla canaliculata (Fabricius), Deleaster dichrous (Gravenhorst), Coprophilus striatulus (Fabricius), Carpelimus subtilis (Erichson), Leptacinus intermedius Donisthorpe, Tasgius (Rayacheila) melanarius (Heer), Neobisnius villosulus (Stephens), and Philonthus discoideus (Gravenhorst), are newly recorded in the Maritime Provinces. Two of these, Atheta (Microdota) amicula and Carpelimus subtilis, are newly recorded in Canada. Leptacinus intermedius is removed from the faunal list of New Brunswick and Philhygra botanicarum Muona, a Holarctic species previously regarded as introduced in North America, is recorded for the first time in the Maritime Provinces. An examination of when species were first detected in the region reveals that, on average, it was substantially later than comparable dates for other, better known families of Coleoptera — an apparent indication of the comparative lack of attention this family has received. Some introduced species appear to be associated with the dry-ballast mechanism of introduction to the continent, while others are synanthropic and may have been inadvertently introduced in connection with agriculture, horticulture, or other processes associated with human activities. A substantial number are now established and well distributed, seemingly indicative of an early introduction into the region, the ability to successfully colonize a habitat and disperse within it, or a combination of these factors. Other species appear to be local in distribution, perhaps indicative of more recent introductions, more restricted ecological tolerances, a lesser ability to disperse, or a combination of these factors. These recent discoveries are discussed briefly in the context of the importance of taxonomic research and ongoing monitoring in order to detect and identify exotic species and monitor for new introductions and changes in existing native or introduced populations — all important in terms of assessing the risk of introductions to, and their impact on, native faunas and habitats.

A new species, Chaoborus sampsera, is described from male and female adults collected from Papua Province in western New Guinea, Indonesia. Based on leg banding, wing pigmentation, and possession of a median paramere sclerite in males, the new species belongs to the Chaoborus “pallidus” group of Colless. Chaoborus sampsera is distinguished from other species of the “pallidus” group by the scimitar-shaped parameres. Although relationships among these Chaoborus species are unclear, there are morphological characters that support the “pallidus” group.

During development, many chromatophores on the air sacs of larvae of Chaoborus Lichtenstein disperse to the tracheal trunks and throughout the body of the pupae. In male pupae, chromatophores on the posterior air sacs move to the developing testes and vasa deferentia and some become the adventitious spotting previously reported for adults of Chaoborus. In larvae of Mochlonyx Loew, chromatophores have a similar development pattern, but in female pupae some also surround the spermathecae. Larvae of Eucorethra Underwood have chromatophores scattered throughout much of the body but it is uncertain whether these are homologous to those of Chaoborus and Mochlonyx. Outgroup comparisons show that the migration of chromatophores from the larval air sacs to the adult male testes and vasa deferentia is a synapomorphy of Chaoborinae. The presence of pigmented fat body on the larval testes in many Culicidae, Eucorethra, and Mochlonyx is plesiomorphic, and the transparent larval testes in Chaoborus are a synapomorphy of the genus. The dark adult testes in Mochlonyx are derived from pigmented larval fat body and chromatophores from the larval air sacs, and this is proposed as an intermediate evolutionary state. It is likely that the chromatophores surrounding the testes of pupae of Chaoborinae provide protection against ultraviolet radiation, but further study is needed.

We present the systematics and ecology of a new species of arboreal oribatid mite in the family Achipteriidae, Anachipteria geminussp. nov., a dominant arthropod in canopy lichens associated with western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg. (Pinaceae)) and Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis (Dougl. ex Loud.) Dougl. ex Forbes (Pinaceae)) in the coniferous temperate and montane forests of the Pacific Northwest of North America. The species is described on the basis of the morphology of all active instars plus molecular sequence data for the D3 region of the 28s rRNA (D3-28s) and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 (CO1) genes. Anachipteria geminus is the dominant oribatid mite in foliose lichens in the upper canopies of Pacific montane conifer trees. Specimens were found in 100% of canopy lichens sampled, and abundances can reach 1450 individuals / 100 g dry mass of lichen. Analysis of the population structure indicates that A. geminus has seasonally stable populations consistent with overlapping generations. Anachipteria geminus expresses morphological character states that require expanding the diagnoses of the genus Anachipteria and the family Achipteriidae. A revised diagnosis and morphological key to species of Anachipteria in Canada are given.

The oribatid mite family Mycobatidae is represented in America north of Mexico by the eight genera, Cyrtozetes Behan-Pelletier, Ceresella Pavlitshenko, Guatemalozetes Mahunka, Minunthozetes Hull, Mycobates Hull, Pelopsis Hall, Punctoribates Berlese, and Zachvatkinibates Shaldybina. Species occur in forests, grasslands, and arctic soils, in canopy habitats, and in the marine and freshwater littoral zone. Three new mycobatid species from North America are described: Ceresella reevesisp. nov. from forest habitats of western North America, Cyrtozetes lindoaesp. nov. from canopy habitats of western Canada, and Punctoribates weigmannisp. nov. from forest litter in eastern North America. The descriptions of Pelopsis bifurcatus (Ewing) and Punctoribates punctum (C.L. Koch) are expanded based on specimens from North America. Punctoribates palustris (Banks) is redescribed based on specimens from throughout North America. Punctoribates armipes (Banks) is considered a junior subjective synonym of P. palustris (Banks). New distribution records are given for Guatemalozetes danos Behan-Pelletier and Ryabinin and Minunthozetes semirufus (Koch). Diagnoses are given for each genus discussed, and keys are provided to the eight genera of Mycobatidae of North America and to species of Cyrtozetes and Punctoribates, genera not recently revised.

In a taxonomic study of the genus Geodromicus Redtenbacher in South Korea, five species are recognized, two of which, G. abdominalis Zerche and G. beibienkoi Tikhomirova, are reported for the first time in South Korea, and G. hermani (Watanabe), previously recorded from South Korea, is reported as a misidentification of G. beibienkoi. A comparison of morphological features of South Korean Geodromicus species, a key, and illustrations of the diagnostic characters are provided.

Cerodontha (Icteromyza) pilosan. sp. is described from the Yukon Territory. The Palaearctic species C. (I.) lineella (Zetterstedt) is recorded for the first time in North America, based on specimens from northern Canada and Alaska, and C. (I.) pollinosa (Melander) is synonymized with C. lineella. Cerodontha pilosa is most similar to C. (I.) longipennis (Loew) and C. (I.) lineella. Distinguishing characters and a modification of Spencer’s key to Canadian species of Cerodontha are given to separate these species.

The Gulf of St. Lawrence aster, Symphyotrichum laurentianum (Fernald) G.L. Nesom (Asteraceae), a small annual halophyte endemic to disturbed and highly transient habitats in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, is classified as “threatened” by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Lepidopteran larvae that are predispersal seed predators of the Gulf of St. Lawrence aster are reported for the first time from populations in Prince Edward Island National Park. DNA barcoding was used to identify the seed predators tentatively as larvae of the casebearing moth Coleophora triplicis McDunnough (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae), which is typically associated with a related halophyte, Solidago sempervirens L. (Asteraceae). These larvae were found to consume a large proportion of seeds from one of two aster populations in Prince Edward Island National Park and may be yet another risk to the survival of this threatened species.

We studied Orgyia pseudotsugata multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (OpMNPV) infections in larvae of the Douglas-fir tussock moth, Orgyia pseudotsugata McDunnough (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), to determine the quantity of OpMNPV particles that result in mortality. We observed a bimodal pattern of mortality in Douglas-fir tussock moth larvae that ingested diet plugs contaminated with 9.5 OpMNPV occlusion bodies. A mortality peak (80% of total mortality observed) occurred between day 5 and day 11 post ingestion, and a second, smaller mortality peak coincided with the onset of pupation. Virus loads, defined as the number of OpMNPV occlusion bodies in each sample of tested larval homogenate, were quantified using an indirect ELISA method. Virus loads that resulted in mortality were significantly greater than those quantified in larvae that were sacrificed during and after the peak mortality wave (P < 0.004 and P < 0.0001, Mann–Whitney U two-tailed rank test and SPSS®, respectively). This is the first known attempt to differentiate the quantity of virus produced during lethal infections from the virus loads in larvae that survive infection.

Rove beetles are useful subjects for Nearctic forest biodiversity work because they are abundant, diverse, and easily collected, and have strong habitat affinities. Excellent identification keys exist for most groups, although there is a dearth of ecological and life-history information. There is considerable variation in species composition and abundance within the active summer season and in abundance from year to year. Community composition varies among larger geographical regions and to a lesser extent among forest types in more localized areas. Within the Nearctic boreal forest there are significant differences between beetle communities from the eastern and western portions. For the most part, the same species tend to dominate rove beetle communities in the western boreal forest. At the landscape level there are differences in rove beetle communities along successional gradients. In the boreal forest the communities of younger aspen-dominated and older conifer-dominated stands are somewhat distinct, with intermediate-aged stands containing a mix of the two communities. At the ecosite and microsite level there is significant variation, which remains poorly understood. Fire is the dominant mode of disturbance in the Nearctic boreal forest. It has a profound effect on rove beetles by destroying the forest communities and resetting the successional trajectory to the earliest stages. The burn pattern results in a patchwork of different communities at various stages in the successional cycle. In contrast to fire, forest harvesting does not directly destroy the rove beetle community, but to a large extent it destroys the forest habitat. This results in a unique rove beetle community characterized by a mix of forest species and open-ground specialists, and overall high diversity in this period of flux. In the years after harvesting, the rove beetle community goes through successional changes and becomes more similar to the forest community, but it skips the early postfire stage and proceeds along the successional trajectory more rapidly than after fire. In at least one forest type in western Canada, the post-fire and post-harvest communities, though similar, have not converged after 29 years. Other less direct effects of harvesting on rove beetles are a decrease in the proportion of the land base suitable for communities associated with older successional stages; alteration of forests by post-harvest site preparations and planting of exotic tree species; edge and fragmentation effects that are detrimental to the remaining forest surrounding harvested areas; and an influx of exotic arthropod species with affinities for disturbed sites. More information is needed on the habitat affinities of individual species. It is recommended that future work explore the effects of post-harvest forestry activities, fragmentation, and edges on rove beetles in forested habitats. As well, such studies should consider the effects on beetles of riparian zones and wetlands.

The entomopathogenic fungal genus Lecanicillium Gams and Zare includes species that are highly pathogenic to many genera of insects. Three species, Lecanicillium longisporum (Petch) Zare and W. Gams, L. muscarium (Petch) Zare and W. Gams, and L. pissodis Kope and Leal, were found to be entomopathogens of adult white pine weevils, Pissodes strobi (Peck), in coastal British Columbia. Morphological characteristics were used to identify these species, but variation in conidial shape and size made it difficult to classify some of the isolates into the correct species of Lecanicillium. To confirm the identity of these Lecanicillium species, we used molecular tools such as polymerase chain reaction – restriction fragment length polymorphism and DNA sequencing.

The Nearctic species of Lonchoptera Meigen are reviewed, including three new species: L. barberi Klymko sp. nov. from Manitoba, Newfoundland, Ontario, Quebec, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and New Hampshire, L. megaloba Klymko sp. nov. from British Columbia and California, and L. longiphallus Klymko sp. nov. from British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. Lonchoptera borealis Curran is proposed as a new junior synonym of L. impicta Zetterstedt, and L. occidentalis Curran is proposed as a new junior synonym of L. uniseta Curran. Lonchoptera nigrociliata Duda, formerly known only from the Palaearctic Region, is recorded from the Yukon and Alaska. Descriptions, a key, and Nearctic distribution maps are presented. Phylogenetic relationships are briefly discussed and two sister species pairs are documented.