Larvae of Neoacarus occidentalis Cook, the first known larval Neoacaridae, are described, and host association and distributional data for the species are provided. A provisional diagnosis for the genus Neoacarus and remarks on possible phylogenetic affinities of Neoacaridae are presented based upon new knowledge of larval morphology.

The species of the holarctic genus Pyracmon Holmgren are revised. These are presumably all parasites of soil dwelling larvae of Coleoptera. Pyracmon sepiellum (Holmgren) is a parasite of Macropygon piceus LeConte (Dascillidae) and P. ctenicerae n. sp. is a parasite of Ctenicera destructor (Brown) (Elateridae). Seven species are recognized of which two are described as new, namely bucculentum (Holmgren), fumipenne (Zetterstedt), truncicola Thomson, and heteropus (Thomson), all from Europe, nigrifemur n. sp. from Japan, sepiellum (Holmgren), Holarctic, and ctenicerae n. sp. from western North America. The species are described, keyed, and figured based on characters of the adults. The final instar cephalic structures of larvae of sepiellum and ctenicerae are described and figured, these being the first descriptions representing the genus. Relationships of the genus Pyracmon with other members of the subfamily Campopleginae are discussed.

Pupae of winter moth, Operophtera brumata (L.) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), from southwest England were subjected to nine temperature treatments in the laboratory. The pupal period of about 180 days was unaffected by changes in mean temperatures between 9.5 °C and 16.8 °C. Adult emergence was delayed at a mean temperature of 17.7 °C; no pupae survived at mean temperatures above this. These results are compared with conflicting statements in the literature about the relationship of length of the pupal period with temperature.

No pupae died when exposed to temperature cycles of 20°–25 °C in the early part of the pupal period. The same temperatures near the time of adult emergence caused increased mortality. The duration of the pupal period was unaffected by exposure of pupae to 12 h (rather than diurnal) temperature cycles.

Sample concentrating chromatography is a technique designed for trace analysis of organic compounds without the conventional concentration procedures such as nitrogen blowing or vacuum distillation. This method is uniquely suited for quantification of single insect pheromone production. Depending on temperature, gypsy moth females produced from 2.4 to 4.0 μg of sex pheromone (7,8-epoxy-2-methyloctadecane) per day.

Detailed generic descriptions are given for all stages of Brillia Kieffer. Keys are presented to separate them from those of allied genera, Eurycnemus Wulp, Euryhapsis Oliver, and Xylotopus Oliver. The known stages of five Nearctic species, including one new species Brillia laculata, are described. Two species-groups, the flavifrons group and the modesta group, are defined.

A new carabid species, Pterostichus (Melanius) castor, is described and characterized. The species appears to be restricted to beaver houses in eastern North America. The new species is closely related to P. ebeninus Dejean but can be distinguished from that species mainly by the form of the pronotum. Lindroth's key to Pterostichus of Canada is modified to include the new species.

Adult Japanese beetle populations were sampled continuously during the summers of 1978 and 1979 in two agricultural stations in eastern North Carolina. Patterns in trap capture were used to develop a conceptual model of the movements of this insect in agricultural areas. A partition of land area is proposed, based on four categories of sites from the point of view of suitability to this insect's reproduction and survival: (1) intensive production sites, (2) marginal production sites, (3) migration alleys, and (4) adult feeding sites. This partition is suggested as a framework for discussion and study of the population dynamics of the insect.

The influence of sex ratio on the reproductive ability of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, was examined under laboratory controlled conditions. The optimum sex ratio was found to be 0.50 (F/T) displaying the highest rate of oviposition and egg production. The fertility of the eggs laid was linearly dependent on the number of males present in each ratio. Unmated females lived longer and began oviposition later than mated females. The percentage of the total egg production retained by the females was highest for the 0.17 and 0.83 ratios and may be attributed to a stress-related impairment of reproductive behaviour.

The multiple funnel trap, an efficient, collapsible, non-sticky trap for scolytid beetles, consists of a series of vertically aligned funnels with a collecting jar at the bottom. The trap compared favorably with sticky traps and Scandinavian drainpipe traps for three species of ambrosia beetles and the mountain pine beetle. Minimum maintenance required for this trap allows for high efficiency in pheromone-based research, survey, and mass trapping of scolytid beetles.

The optimal release rate of the aggregation pheromone, lineatin, for trapping Trypodendron lineatum (Olivier) was 40 μg/24h. Sticky vane traps were more efficient than three other trap types for T. lineatum and Gnathotrichus retusus (LeConte). For G. sulcatus (LeConte), a multiple funnel trap was more efficient than a sticky cylinder trap but no better than vane traps or Scandinavian drainpipe traps. Placement of bait in the middle or bottom of drainpipe traps increased their efficiency in capturing T. lineatum and G. sulcatus. Multiple funnel traps and drainpipe traps releasing lineatin at 10 μg/24h, with an additional dispenser releasing lineatin at 30 μg/24h 1.5–2 m away from the trap caught more T. lineatum than traps releasing lineatin at 10 μg/24h, and were as efficient as traps releasing the pheromone at 40 μg/24h. Thus, the beetles respond strongly to the trap silhouette once attracted to its vicinity. In late April traps placed 15–25 m inside the forest margin caught more T. lineatum than traps at the margin, probably intercepting overwintering beetles before they left the forest. A few strategically placed vane traps among numerous multiple funnel or drainpipe traps are recommended for mass trapping of ambrosia beetles in timber processing areas.

Leaf samples were taken from crowns of sugar maple trees at selected vertical and horizontal positions and at each cardinal point. No significant differences in numbers of mines, cuts, or cases of Paraclemensia acerifoliella (Fitch) were observed among the cardinal points of the crown. Most of the mines were found on leaves located near the base of the crown and close to the tree bole. Significantly more mines/leaf were found on samples 0.6 and 1.2 m from the bole than at 2.4 m and outward to the edge of the foliage. The highest number of cases/leaf was found 1.2 m from the bole. One and two months after the leaf-mining stage both case-bearing larvae and leaf damage were more prevalent from the bole outward to a distance of 3 m.

One complete generation of Simulium vittatum (Zett.) was reared in each of two trials using a Cornell automated rearing system. Insects reared from eggs oviposited in the laboratory by field-collected females constituted the parental generation. The feeding regimen used to rear the parental generations resulted in a shorter mean developmental time, larger adults, and a higher potential fecundity of females than obtained in previous rearings of S. vittatum in this system. Adults of both parental rearings mated and produced offspring with net reproductive rates of 0.048 and 0.027 for the first and second trials respectively. None of the eggs oviposited by F1 adults embryonated, due to the small number of F1 females and the low insemination rates.

This note deals with four reddish species of European Psallus Fieber known to occur in Canada. Psallus roseus Fabricius was discovered in 1970 in British Columbia, and P. lepidus Fieber and P. jlavellus Stichel were discovered in 1976 in Nova Scotia and are now reported for the first time from the Nearctic region. They were probably introduced accidentally into this country some time ago with nursery stock. The fourth species, P. falleni Reuter, misidentified in North America as P. alnicola Douglas & Scott, is probably naturally Holarctic in distribution. The four species are redescribed, vesicae, left claspers and two adults are illustrated, and a key to separate them is provided.

Several species of Lygus (Hahn) that occur in Saskatchewan are serious and continuing pests of alfalfa grown for seed. They are readily controlled by any one of several insecticides, but the efficiency of this control is dependent upon knowing their seasonal development and occurrence on the crop.

In the years 1976 and 1978, at three locations in Saskatchewan, populations of Lygus in alfalfa seed crops were sampled at 5- to 7-day intervals throughout the period of insect activity. In 1979 and 1980 samples of bugs were taken occasionally from the same locations, and in all years from other locations in the province. A sample consisted of 0–700 specimens collected by either a 38-cm sweepnet in not less than 25 and as many as 200 random sweeps, or a D-Vac sampler in not less than 3 m2 in spring and after harvest when sweep-sampling was not possible. Collected specimens were preserved in alcohol, sorted, and identified. Additional data, not previously published, were available from a similar mid-1950's study of Lygus seasonal occurrence in alfalfa seed crops in the Torch River district of northeastern Saskatchewan.