We tested the hypothesis that the conophagous Douglas-fir cone gall midge, Contarinia oregonensis Foote (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), responds to infrared (IR) radiation and other electromagnetic wavelengths associated with cones of Douglas-fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco (Pinaceae). Early-season (March–April) thermographic images showed that cone orientation (upright, horizontal, pendant) and cone colour (green, purple, green/purple) did not affect apparent cone temperature (inferred from thermographic images). Tree components significantly differed in apparent temperature with foliage being coolest and branches warmest. There was no significant difference in the number of larvae in cones of different colours, and adult midges were equally attracted to traps painted green or purple, suggesting that cone colour does not affect oviposition decisions by gravid females. Adult midges were more strongly attracted to warm traps with IR frequency emissions higher than the background than to cold traps with IR frequency emissions lower than the background. They were also more strongly attracted to warm branch-shaped traps than to warm can-shaped traps. Collectively, these data indicate that the shape and IR attributes of Douglas-fir branches may serve as foraging cues for C. oregonensis.

The 19 New World species of Sericomyia Meigen are reviewed, including one species new to North America (Sericomyia jakutica (Stackelberg)) and one previously undescribed species (Sericomyia vockerothi Skevington sp. nov. from Alberta, Minnesota, Northwest Territories, Quebec, and Yukon Territory). Mallota powelli Nayar and Cole is recognized as a junior synonym of Sericomyia flagrans (Osten Sacken). A description and illustrations of S. vockerothi and an illustrated key to New World Sericomyia are presented. DNA barcode data are presented for 14 New World species and a cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene tree is presented and discussed. Genetic evidence supports the contention that the subgenera of Sericomyia are not monophyletic. Arctophila Schiner and Conosyprhus Frey are thus proposed as junior synonyms of Sericomyia.

Garry oak, Quercus garryana Douglas ex Hooker (Fagaceae), is part of a unique ecosystem in British Columbia, Canada, which is rich in rare and endangered plant species. Garry oak recruitment is critical to the existence of this ecosystem, therefore, the effect of Curculio occidentis (Casey) (filbert weevil; Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Cydia latiferreana (Walsingham) (filbertworm; Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on acorn germination is of great interest. Together these two insects infested 80.7%, 75.1%, and 51.3% of acorns collected in 1996, 1997 (low crop years), and 1998 (high crop year), respectively. Filbertworm infestation did not vary with crown level. Filbert weevil infestation did not vary with crown level during poor crop years, but significantly more filbert weevil-infested acorns were found in the lower than the middle and upper portions of the trees during the high crop year. Severely damaged acorns did not germinate, and acorns with light to moderate feeding damage had lower germination success than undamaged acorns, but growth of germinated seedlings in the light to moderate damage category was unaffected. This study showed, for the first time, that these two insect species infested a large proportion of Garry oak acorns on the tree in British Columbia, and that light to moderate damage of the acorn has relatively low impact on seedling growth.

We studied the diversity and summer seasonal activity-density of Carabidae associated with soybean fields infested by the soybean aphid (Aphis glycines Matsumura; Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Québec, Canada. Carabid beetles were sampled in six to seven fields from June to September 2004 and 2005 using pitfall traps. A total of 33 species from 15 genera were identified, with the exotic Pterostichus melanarius (Illiger) (Coleoptera: Carabidae), representing 75.8% and 84.5% of all individuals trapped in 2004 and 2005, respectively. Large variations in species richness and diversity indexes were observed between fields within and between years. Multivariate analyses showed that carabid activity-density varied as a function of field location and sampling period, with individuals belonging to species overwintering as adults being more abundant early in the growing season. There was no relationship between carabid trap catches and A. glycines density, suggesting that carabid beetles do not respond numerically to soybean aphid populations at the spatial scale studied.

In this study, we assessed the relationship between the size of bolts cut from pin oak trees, Quercus palustris Münchhausen (Fagaceae), and eastern white pines, Pinus strobus Linnaeus (Pinaceae), and the number and body size of cerambycid beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) that develop within them. From oak bolts emerged adult Graphisurus fasciatus (De Geer) (98% of beetles) and Xylotrechus colonus (Fabricius), while pine bolts produced Monochamus carolinensis (Olivier) (95%) and Astylopsis sexguttata (Say). The number of G. fasciatus was positively correlated with the diameter of the oak bolts, while the greatest number of M. carolinensis emerged from pine bolts of intermediate diameter. Body size of both species was positively correlated with bolt diameter. Rates of parasitism were very low, only 0.9% for oaks, and averaging 5.3 ± 8.6% across pine bolts. Oak bolts yielded the braconid wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) Wroughtonia ferruginea (Brues) and a species in the genus Atanycolus Förster (similar to Atanycoluscharus (Riley)), and an ichneumonid (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) in the genus Demopheles Förster. Pine bolts produced a braconid in the genus Digonogastra Viereck, and the tachinid fly (Diptera: Tachinidae) Billaea monohammi (Townsend).

Raspberry crown borer, Pennisetia marginata (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), is a native North American species and pest of many cane fruits. Using coupled gas chromatographic–electroantennographic detection analyses (GC-EAD) we identified candidate sex pheromone components in pheromone gland extracts and effluvia from calling females. Analysis of gland extracts on a Zebron-5 column revealed four components (A, B, C, and D) that elicited strong responses from male antennae. The two most EAD-active components A and B were hypothesised to be (3E,13Z)-octadecadienal [(3E,13Z)-18:Ald] and (3E,13Z)-octadecadienol [(3E,13Z)-18:OH], respectively. Their retention times on other GC columns matched those of authentic standards, thus supporting structural assignments. Synthetic (3E,13Z)-18:Ald, and its GC rearrangement product (2E,13Z)-octadecadienal [(2E,13Z)-18:Ald; component C], also induced antennal responses in GC-EAD analyses of female effluvia. Compounds D in pheromone gland extract, and E and F in female effluvia, elicited EAD responses but could not be identified. In field trapping experiments, (3E,13Z)-18:Ald was the only component that attracted male P. marginata when tested alone. Attractiveness of (3E,13Z)-18:Ald was reduced when combined in binary or ternary blends with any of the other identified components, suggesting one or all may act as pheromone antagonists. In Aldergrove, British Columbia, Canada, peak diel attraction of male P. marginata to (3E,13Z)-18:Ald occurred between 16:00 and 18:00 hours Pacific Daylight Time, at temperatures of 21–23°C, on 30 August 2010, 3 September 2010, and 13 September 2010. We conclude that (3E,13Z)-18:Ald is the major pheromone component of P. marginata.

We tested whether the known bird-biting mosquito, Culex pipiens Linnaeus (Diptera: Culicidae), is attracted to human hosts by placing humans at ground level (∼1.5 m) or in the forest canopy (∼5 m) in a Niagara woodlot. Modified Centers for Disease Control (CDC) miniature light traps (no light, no CO2) were placed next to the human hosts to capture the attracted mosquitoes. The human-baited traps were compared with control traps (standard CDC miniature light traps with CO2, but no light). As expected from previous research, there were more C. pipiens captured at the higher elevation than at ground level. Generally, they were attracted to control traps more than to human-baited traps at 5 m, whereas at 1.5 m there was no difference between the two trap types. As a comparison, most Aedes vexans (Meigen) mosquitoes were captured at the 1.5 m elevation but there were significantly more captured in the control traps than the human-baited traps during all periods. Because C. pipiens is attracted to humans throughout the entire season at the 1.5 m height (where they might encounter humans), it is likely that C. pipiens can serve as a bridge vector of West Nile virus (WNV).

Apterous adult morphs of eriosomatine aphids associated with moss (Bryophyta) and/or roots of conifer (Pinaceae) or willow (Salix Linnaeus (Salicaceae)) in forests of the North American Pacific Northwest including Alaska are described, illustrated, and keyed. In total, seven species (Clydesmithia canadensis Danielsson, Melaphis rhois (Fitch) (moss only feeder), Pachypappa rosettei (Maxson), Pachypappa sacculi (Gillette), Prociphilus americanus (Walker) (fir root only feeder), Prociphilus xylostei (De Geer), and Thecabius populimonilis (Riley)) are characterised from their secondary host habitats. Secondary host forms of C. canadensis and T. populimonilis are described for the first time. The morphotypes from the secondary hosts were confirmed through deoxyribonucleic acid sequence matching with those from the primary hosts.

We describe three new species of fruit flies (Tephritidae: Tephritinae) (Gymnocarena defoeisp. nov. and Gymnocarenanorrbomisp. nov., from eastern North America and Gymnocarena monzonisp. nov. from Guatemala) and redescribe Gymnocarena mississippiensis Norrbom. Gymnocarena monzoni is the first Gymnocarena species to be recorded from Guatemala. This brings the total number of named species in this genus to 19. New larval host plant (Asteraceae) records for Gymnocarena include Verbesina helianthoides Michx. for G. mississippiensis and G. norrbomi, Verbesinaalternifolia (L.) Britton ex Kearney for G. norrbomi, and Viguiera cordata (Hook. and Arn.) D'Arcy for G. monzoni. The latter represents the first record for Gymnocarena in Viguiera Kunth. Gymnocarena larvae were also recorded from Verbesina virginica L. but not identified to species. A revised key to the known species of Gymnocarena and additional information on larval host plants and biology are provided.

Dolichocephala Macquart is revised for America, north of Mexico. New descriptions and diagnoses of the genus and a previously known species are presented. Six new species are described: Dolichocephala arnaudisp. nov., Dolichocephala borkentisp. nov., Dolichocephala chillcottisp. nov., Dolichocephala teskeyisp. nov., Dolichocephala vockerothisp. nov., and Dolichocephala woodisp. nov. Previous Nearctic records of Dolichocephala irrorata Fallén are based on misidentifications. Dolichocephala bellstedti Joost is newly recorded from Sweden. A key to adults, photographs of wings, illustrations of male terminalia, and known distributions are included.

The male genital tract of Axymyiidae and Tanyderidae, represented by Axymyia furcata McAtee and Protoplasa fitchii Osten Sacken, respectively, are described and illustrated for the first time. The tract of A. furcata is foreshortened, with relatively short, thick vasa deferentia that meet medially at the ejaculatory duct, which empties dorsal to the ejaculatory apodeme. The accessory glands are large and either firmly appressed or fused medially. The tract of P. fitchii has elongate vasa deferentia that curve ventrally and enter the ejaculatory duct separately. The short accessory glands are separate but their exit is uncertain. Neither of these male genital tracts shed further light on the phylogenetic position of these families within the nematocerous Diptera, although Tanyderidae do lack the synapomorphic multi-chambered accessory glands grouping Ptychopteridae + Culicomorpha + Bibionomorpha.

The shore-fly genus Oedenopiforma Cogan is reviewed, including new information on Oedenopiforma argentea (distribution), Oedenopiforma javana (comb. nov. and O. orientalissyn. nov.), and Oedenopiforma vockerothi (sp. nov. from United Arab Emirates). Structures of the male terminalia of these three species, a diagnosis of the genus, and a key to the included genera of Dryxini and species of Oedenopiforma are presented.

During 1994–2008, 58 adult and 195 juvenile eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus (Allen)), one adult and 23 juvenile snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus Erxleben), and eight adult white-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus townsendii Bachman) (Mammalia: Leporidae) were examined for ectoparasites. The most abundant ectoparasite on cottontails was the sucking louse, Haemodipsus setoni Ewing (Phthiraptera; Polyplacidae), recorded from this host for the first time. Infestations in adult and juvenile cottontails were highly aggregated, k = 0.136 and 0.153, respectively. Prevalence of infestation in adult cottontails was 70.6%, with a mean intensity of 5614.1 (range: 1–166 249); 10 adults had more than 1000 lice. In juvenile cottontails, prevalence was 34.8% and mean intensity was 6.2 (range: 1–87). On adult cottontails, 73.4% of the total lice were nymphs, while on juvenile cottontails only 11.6% were nymphs. It appears that dispersal from parents to offspring is overwhelmingly achieved by adult lice. Seventeen adult cottontails were infested with the tick, Haemaphysalis leporispalustris (Packard) (Acari: Ixodidae). No fleas specific to rabbits were collected but small numbers of the rodent fleas Monopsyllus vison (Baker), Orchopeas caedens (Jordan), and Aetheca wagneri (Baker) (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) were recorded. Only one snowshoe hare was infested with H. setoni and three were infested with H. leporispalustris; no fleas were found on snowshoe hares. Two white-tailed jackrabbits were infested with H. leporispalustris; one carried Pulex irritans Linnaeus (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae), and none carried lice.

Nosemosis is a disease of adult honey bees, Apis mellifera Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Apidae), caused by two described species of Microsporidia: Nosema ceranae Fries and Nosema apis Zander. The epidemiology of N. apis is well understood; however, little is known about N. ceranae in Canadian apiaries. The following study aimed to determine the seasonal patterns of N. ceranae and N. apis in European honey bees in a Québec, Canada, apiary. Honey bees from six hives were sampled from 2008 to 2010 and the amount of spores quantified by both microscopic spore counts and duplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results demonstrated that duplex qPCR was the most sensitive technique and was able to detect N. ceranae in samples confirmed negative for microscopic spore counts and conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection. Results show that N. ceranae is the more prevalent parasite and was present in 75% of collections as single or mixed infections in the sampled apiary. The prevalence of N. apis was lower representing 29.7% throughout the 3 years of the study, and by 2010 was present only as mixed infections. Seasonal patterns of N. apis were consistent with previously published data with peaks in spring and autumn months, while N. ceranae peak infections varied throughout the 3-year study.

The Carabidae (Coleoptera) are a diverse family of beetles with almost 300 species identified in Nova Scotia, Canada. Carabid beetle communities have been studied in several agricultural systems, but not wild blueberries, an important crop in eastern Canada. In the interest of potentially developing conservation biological control programs in wild blueberry, we collected Carabidae in crop (fruit-bearing) and sprout (vegetative) blueberry fields in Nova Scotia in order to assess species diversity and abundance over space and time. Over 3200 specimens were collected, representing 51 species. A large portion of collected specimens (39%) were nonnative, and the most abundant species were generally predacious and synanthropic. Species diversity tended to be higher near forest edges than further into fields, but not for all abundant species. Several of the most prominent predators showed significant differences in preference of crop versus sprout fields, distribution throughout fields, and seasonable abundance. These findings have implications for conservation biological control efforts with carabid beetles against several insect pests in wild blueberry.

A well-accepted function of courtship in sexually dimorphic and cannibalistic spiders is suppression of female predatory responses. We quantitatively analysed courtship in the western black widow, Latrodectus hesperus Chamberlin and Ivie (Araneae: Theridiidae), to determine the behavioural elements of the males’ courtship that are correlated with mating success and/or the females’ responses. The 58% of males that engaged in web reduction elicited fewer aggressive responses from females and induced female quiescence more quickly than did males not exhibiting web reduction behaviour. Our data suggest that web reduction by male L. hesperus functions in sexual communication, a context not previously explored.

The morphology of all life stages of the semi-aquatic nematocerous fly, Axymyia furcata McAtee (Diptera: Axymyiidae), is documented, with emphasis on use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Our data on some life stages (e.g., egg, first-instar larvae) represent the first SEM examination of these stages in axymyiids. Among the unexpected results is absence of an egg burster in first instars. Most characters provided little evidence of a phylogenetic relationship with any other clade of nematocerous Diptera, reflecting a need for comprehensive morphological studies of the immatures of many families.

Nymphs of lotic mayflies live in environments that are expected to give rise to different degrees of population structuring. Here we investigate two taxa adapted to different lifestyles. Baetis macani Kimmins (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) lives in flowing water; brooks that may periodically dry out in the summer or freeze to the bottom in winter. Baetis jaervii Savolainen is mostly found in sedge belts along the shores of lakes. Most insects living in flowing water show low levels of among-population genetic differentiation within and among catchments. Levels of differentiation in the lotic species are therefore assumed to be lower than in lentic B. jaervii. Here we test this hypothesis. Mitochondrial DNA and allele frequencies of nuclear genes were used to detect population structure in specimens originating from an extensive area from northern Finland. The genetic differentiation among populations of the lotic B. macani is more than twice the corresponding value for the lentic B. jaervii (FST 0.33 versus 0.15, while the mean FST between species was 0.33 and significant). The result is congruent within the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI) partial gene frequencies. We argue that the significant genetic population structure, which only was found in the lotic B. macani, is differentiated as a consequence to the unpredictable environment as contrasted to the stable environment in standing bodies of water.

Food quality can influence the performance of immature insects and their interactions with pathogens, such as viruses. In manipulative field studies, virus-free caterpillars of the whitemarked tussock moth (WMTM) (Orgyia leucostigma (Smith)) had higher survival, more female-biased sex ratios, and were larger when feeding on white birch (Betula papyrifera Marshall) versus balsam fir (Abies balsamea (Linnaeus) Miller) or red spruce (Picea rubens Sargent). Subsequent laboratory studies with two nucleopolyhedroviruses, derived from WMTMs and Douglas-fir tussock moths, indicated that caterpillars fed high quality food (i.e., artificial diet) prior to infection had less mortality associated with virus infection than those feeding on lower quality foliage (i.e., birch). In field studies, caterpillars fed birch following infection had significantly lower mortality than those feeding on relatively lower quality foliage (i.e., balsam fir). We postulate that higher nutritional quality in artificial diet relative to birch (previrus-ingestion nutrition) and in birch relative to balsam fir foliage (postvirus-ingestion nutrition) has a positive effect on the ability of tussock moth caterpillars to resist or recover from viral infections, although the specific mechanisms responsible for observed resistance remain unclear.

We studied the dropping behaviour of the foxglove aphid, Aulacorthum solani (Kaltenbach) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), in response to disturbance by the parasitoid Aphidius ervi Haliday (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). We banded plant stems with sticky tape to prevent aphids from returning to the plants to determine if these would serve as an integrated pest management strategy for A. solani. Stem banding prevented A. solani that had dropped from returning to the plant; but the mortality associated with banding was not necessarily complementary to biological control by A. ervi. Up to 80% of aphids dropped in response to foraging by A. ervi, and thus could be killed on sticky stem bands. The fraction of aphids that dropped to the ground also contained as much as 90% of the parasitoid's offspring. Overall, mortality of aphids on sticky stem bands was not compatible with parasitoids. Although numbers of aphids declined more rapidly in the first 2 weeks of the trial in the presence of stem bands and parasitoids than in the presence of parasitoids alone, the numbers of aphids were identical in the two treatments from the 3rd week onward. Mortality on the stem bands replaced mortality from parasitoids, and reduced recruitment of parasitoids.