Trischistognatha yepezi n. sp. is described from Rancho Grande, Venezuela. The species is remarkable for the distortion and hairy vestiture of the male forewing.

This study provides information on the species of Chrysocharis (Kratochviliana) found in North America with special emphasis on the Canadian species attacking the birch casebearer, Coleophora serratella (L.) (= fuscedinella Zeller), and the birch leafminer, Fenusa pusilla (Lepeletier).

The genus Chrysocharis Förster in North America north of Mexico consists of two subgenera, Kratochviliana Maláč and Chrysocharis s. str. There are 15 Nearctic species of Kratochviliana, of which 10 species are described herein as new. These are: C. (Kratochviliana) robusta n. sp., C. (K.) incerta n. sp., C. (K.) stipitis n. sp., C. (K.) hirsutiventris n. sp., C. (K.) walleyi n. sp., C. (K.) protolithocolletidis n. sp., C. (K.) milleri n. sp., C. (K.) aluta n. sp., C. (K.) coptodiscae n. sp., and C. (K.) cuspidigaster n. sp. Relationships and distribution of species-groups in North America and Europe are discussed. Keys to subgenera and species and host records are included.

Emergence from the water of Anax junius Drury normally occurred after sunset. The onset was affected independently by water temperature and air temperature; low water temperature and high air temperature delayed the onset of emergence. In the field, the net vrtical distance travelled above the water, before ecdysis, was positively correlated with air temperature. In the laboratory, the vertical distance travelled above the water was greatest when air and water temperatures were approximately the same. The average speed of climbing to the first resting position above the water surface was faster at high than low water temperature, but the average speed of climbing from there to the final position, where ecdysis occurred, was reduced due to the effects of air temperature and humidity. Air temperatures below 12.6 °C were found to retard ecdysis and larvae returned to the water and emerged early the following day making the final process of emergence and ecdysis diurnal instead of nocturnal. The duration of ecdysis was shorter at high than low air temperatures and only the first three stages, as arbitrarily defined, were longer at low than high relative humidity; stage 4, shortened with low relative humidity. This study shows that A. Junius, emerging from the water is affected at first by the temperature experienced when submerged, but it becomes gradually and cumulatively affected by air temperature and humidity while climbing to the ecdysial position and moulting.

The egg, first larval instar, last larval instar, and pupa of Sialis cornuta Ross are described and illustrated.

Embryonic development in the mosquito Aedes (O.) sticticus (Meigen) was studied on moist surfaces at five constant temperatures between 5° and 34 °C. Time for complete embryogenesis was 608, 272, 192, 152, and 120 h at 10°, 15°, 20°, 25°, and 30 °C, respectively. Upper and lower temperature thresholds were 33 °C and from 6° to 8 °C, respectively. Embryonic development proceeded normally when eggs were submerged in water at 25° and 30 °C, and no difference in developmental rate was observed between eggs on moist filter paper and those submerged in water.

Melanotus communis (Gyllenhal) larvae were introduced into temperature gradient columns containing moist or dry organic soil. In other experiments certain sections of the columns contained moist soil while soil in the remaining sections was dry.

Moist soil caused M. communis larvae to aggregate at higher temperature levels (24 °C) whereas dry soil evoked a positive response to the coolest level (10 °C). Cool (10 °C), moist sections attracted most of the wireworms while sections containing moisture at the highest temperature level caused a bimodal pattern of aggregation with M. communis larvae moving to both cool–dry or hot–moist conditions.

Differences in geotactic responses by M. communis larvae did not occur when the column was positioned vertically or horizontally.

The nature of systematics and its fundamental importance to other branches of biology have already been ably discussed by such authors as Simpson (1961) and Mayr (1963, 1969). Thus, in defining systematic entomology, we may paraphrase Simpson (1961): Systematic entomology is the scientific study of the kinds and diversity of insects and associated arthropods and any and all [biological] relationships among them. “Modern” merely implies current and recent, not avant-garde, although this is not excluded.

Interference between Formica obscuripes Forel and Dolichoderus taschenbergi (Mayr) colonies was observed in the laboratory and in the field. D. taschenbergi was by far the stronger competitor in the laboratory test, but only slightly superior to F. obscuripes in the field. It was concluded that colonies of F. obscuripes and D. taschenbergi transplanted to areas requiring ant protection would not be rendered ineffective by the presence of previously established colonies of either species.

Two fungi, Entomophthora sphaerosperma and E. egressa, were collected and identified from larvae of the eastern hemlock looper, Lambdina f. fiscellaria (Guen.), in Newfoundland. These two fungi appear to play the most important role in the decline of looper infestations. Field trials indicate that the disease can be transmitted from laboratory-reared larvae artificially infected with the protoplast stage of E. egressa, to uninfected larvae. This suggests that infection may be established artificially within a population of the looper prior to the ’natural’ occurrence of the epizootic.

Larvae and eonymphs of the diprionid sawflies Neodiprion lecontei (Fitch), Neodiprion swainei Midd., and Diprion hercyniae (Htg.) were dissected and stained to demonstrate the nervous system and endocrine organs. Morphologically and anatomically the endocrine organs in both larvae and eonymphs of all three species are very similar. The cephalic structures comprise lateral and medial neurosecretory cells in the brain which discharge their secretions through a single pair of nerves (NCC) to the corpora cardiaca. The NCC divide before they enter the corpora cardiaca sending a branch to the corresponding corpus allatum. No other nervous connections with these organs are apparent.

Paired neurohaemal organs occur in each thoracic segment, forming distinct dilations on slender nerves arising from the ventral cord connectives. They receive secretions from groups of lateral neurosecretory cells in the thoracic ganglia.

Each abdominal ganglion has three neurohaemal organs associated with it, a single small spherical structure antero-medially, and paired lateral organs of a diffuse structure, overlying the base of each segmental nerve. They are less conspicuous than the thoracic organs and have different staining properties.

A procedure is described for obtaining free eggs and first-stage larvae of Sitophilus granarius (L.) and rearing the larvae to the adult stage on whole wheat, corn, and rice flours and on diet 2, a casein–starch-based meridic diet.

Larval growth rates of males and females reared at 29 °C and 65% R.H. on whole wheat flour were comparable although males attained a higher maximum mean weight. Days to 50% adult emergence (eclosion) were 25.5 and 26.5 for females and males, respectively.

Larval growth rates on whole wheat flour were comparable with those on whole corn flour but were better than the rates obtained on whole rice flour; however, growth on diet 2 was improved compared with that on whole wheat flour. The mean weights of 14-day-old larvae were 2.51 ±.40 mg and 1.25 ±.16 mg for those reared on diet 2 and wheat flour, respectively. Similarly, survival to the adult stage was slightly greater (79%) on diet 2 than on wheat (70%). On diet 1, a casein–glucose-based meridic diet, no larvae developed to the pupal stage.

Overwintering stages of the European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch), and the McDaniel spider mite, Tetranychus mcdanieli McGregor, on harvested apples were destroyed with ethylene dibromide using a dosage of 6 mg/l. for 4 h at 24 °C. Some control was achieved at lower temperatures but the dosage had to be increased accordingly. No injury of the fruit occurred. Taste tests showed that flavour of the apples was not adversely affected even after treatment with 10 mg/l. for 4 h.

Effective codling moth control was obtained by timing the application of insecticidesito coincide with the period of greatest larval emergence in the orchard. This occurred 6–10 days after first emergence and the latter could be predicted by heat unit summations. In 1971 and 1972 144 and 137 degree-days accumulated from the date on which the first male moth was taken in pheromone traps and the first larvae emerged, respectively.

A new genus, Dianemobius, is diagnosed, with Eneoptera fascipes Walker, 1869, as type-species, since this species is not congeneric with Pteronemobius concolor (Walker), the type-species (a senior synonym of the originally designated Nemobius tartarus Saussure) of Pteronemobius. Notes on morphology and cytology which indicate the heterogeneity of Pteronemobius are included.

Bryophaenocladius brincki (Freem.) comb, nov., B. productus (Freem.) comb, nov., B. laticaudus spec, nov., and B. digitatus spec. nov. are described or redescribed.

The new genus Tokunagaia is given for Adactylocladius Sæther 1969 pro parte, nec Sæther 1968. A new name, Orthocladius (s. str.) curtiseta, is given for O. brevisela Sæth. nec Kieff. Some new synonyms and records are given.

Winthemia occidentis Rhn. was introduced into Newfoundland to strengthen the parasite complex of the eastern hemlock looper. This tachinid has two emergence periods, one in the fall, the other in the following spring. A method was developed for rearing overwintering tachinid larvae to the adult stage. The best rearing results were obtained when the larvae were stored outdoors in jars of peat moss for the fall and winter period and removed to controlled temperature and humidity conditions in the spring, to complete development.

One larval parasite, Aphaereta pallipes (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), and three pupal parasites (Muscidifurax raptor G. & S., Spalangia nigra Latr., and Eupteromalus dubius (Ashm.) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)) developed on face fly, Musca autumnalis De G. (Diptera: Muscidae), collected near Belleville, Ont. These parasites, and four other Hymenoptera and one staphylinid, were reared from other Diptera associated with M. autumnalis. The economic value of the four face fly parasites is limited because only one (A. pallipes) finds hosts easily, none is host-specific, and few individuals that develop on face fly pupae emerge from the puparia.

Two of three species of the genus Rhantus studied were found to produce sounds while in water. Sound production by both sexes of R. gutticollis and R. binotatus occurs in a behavioral context of emigration, while R. atricolor does not produce waterborne sounds. Elevated temperature, absence of suitable bottom substrate, and high densities were effective stimuli for sound production by’ the two acoustically active species. The sounds were analyzed and a mechanism previously described as being involved in preflight warm-up of the thoracic musculature was found responsible for sound production in water. Possible functions of acoustical behavior are discussed, and new information on some aspects of the habitat ecology and general behavior of adults of the three species is provided.

The life cycles and larval feeding habits of Leucopis (Neoleucopis) pinicola Malloch and Chamaemyia polystigma Meigen were studied in northeastern Ohio. The larval stages of L. pinicola are predators of the pine bark aphid, Pineus strobi (Hartig) (Homoptera: Adelgidae). Probably there are only two generations a year, and overwintering occurs as mature larvae or pupae that are in diapause. Larvae of C. polystigma prey on the blue grass mealybug, Heterococcus nudus Green (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae), that infests perennial rye grass, Lolium perenne L. This species has three generations a year and overwinters as diapausing mature larvae and pupae.

The eggs, three larval instars, and puparia of both species are described and illustrated.

A new species, Ctenicera sleeperi, from the desert areas of southern California is described and illustrated. It is closely allied to C. pilatei (Champion), new combination, from Yucatan, Mexico; both species differ from all other nearctic species by the presence of setae on the tarsal claws and by the absence of the cubital crossvein. The differences between the nearctic species of Esthesopus and Horistonotus are discussed and illustrated. H. mitis Horn is transferred to Esthesopus, with H. pallidus Fall as a synonym.