Specialization is an important attribute of a biological control agent. The maritime pine bast scale, Matsucoccus feytaudi Ducasse (Hemiptera Matsucoccidae), is an invasive species in Southeast France and the North of Italy. Iberorhyzobius rondensis Eizaguirre (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), is a recently described ladybird species. Both adults and larvae are predaceous, feeding on egg masses of M. feytaudi, and are strongly attracted to M. feytaudi’s sex pheromone. To evaluate the potential of I. rondensis as a biocontrol agent of the scale, we studied its niche breadth and prey range with emphasis on pine forests and hemipterans as tested prey. In this study, I. rondensis was found to achieve complete development only when fed on M. feytaudi egg masses (92.9% survival) and an artificial prey: eggs of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (27.6% survival). From the 2nd instar onwards, complete development could be achieved using other prey species, although larvae had significantly higher mortality and slower development. In choice tests, M. feytaudi was the preferred prey. Surveys of the ladybird populations in the Iberian Peninsula revealed that it was found exclusively on Pinus pinaster Aiton, the sole host of M. feytaudi. The unusual specialization of I. rondensis, among other predaceous ladybirds, makes it an appropriate candidate for classical biological control of M. feytaudi.

The host specificity of R. sanguineus (Latr.), 1806, sens, sir., and R. secundus Feldman-Muhsam, 1952, in Israel was studied.

It was found that 81 per cent, of R. sanguineus, sens, lat., found on the dog was R. sanguineus, sens, str., and 19 per cent. R. secundus, whereas on cattle, sheep and goats, 97, 94 and 91 per cent., respectively, were R. secundus and the remainder R. sanguineus, sens. str.

It is suggested that this situation exists also in other countries in the Near East, since R. secundus was very common in material from Algeria, Turkey, Yugoslavia and Iraq.

The problem of transmission of disease by R. sanguineus, sens, lat., should be re-investigated in the light of recent taxonomic data.

The following descriptions are based upon material submitted to me by the Director of the Imperial Bureau of Entomology. These species from but a very small part of the material which has gone, through the continuous efforts of Dr. Marshall, towards the growth and enrichment of the National Collection of Coccidae, and I wish to record my very best thanks to him. To Mr. E. E. Green I am indebted for his unfailing courtesy, helpful comments and gifts of material from his private collection.

The inclusion of species of the order Collembola among the list of injurious insects has, from time to time, given rise to considerable scepticism among those concerned with economic entomology. It is, therefore, thought desirable to place on record controlled experiments which leave no doubt as to the depredations of one species, Sminthurus viridis, Lubb., of this primitive group of insects. Further, our knowledge of the bionomics of Collembola is so scanty that data obtained with reference to the life-history and habits of this particular species may be of interest.

The occurrence of Eldana saccharina (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) was monitored in grids represented by plots in 12 nematicide trials in South African sugarcane fields. The trials encompassed a total of eight plant cane crops and 22 ratoon crops and were situated within commercial cane fields. Several measurements were made to characterize the damage caused by E. saccharina. These included the number of internodes per stalk, the percentage of internodes damaged and the percentage of stalks damaged. The mapping of E. saccharina infestation in plant crops of sugarcane showed that the borders of the trials were as infested as the centre, indicating invasion from outside the field plus internal spread within the field. Ratoon crops were less infested than plant crops. This could be explained by a shorter ratoon crop cycle and by the fields having areas that were more suitable for the borer than elsewhere. The location of these preferred areas could be predicted from one ratoon crop to the next but was not related to the distribution of the borer in the plant crop. This situation was thought to explain the apparent stabilization of E. saccharina infestation in ratoon cane. Because the borer was found at harvest only in stalks with more than 14 to 16 internodes, it appeared that the oldest shoots, or the shoots with the greatest growth potential, attracted the insect, possibly due to their higher nitrogen content, which would stimulate growth. All the trials were on sandy soil, and crop loss from nematodes was greater than that caused by E. saccharina.

A method of rearing Gryllus pennsylvanicus Burm. is described, designed to yield large numbers of first-instar nymphs of uniform age for toxicological investigations Nymphs are reared to the fourth instar in glass vessels containing a little soil, which prevents cannibalism, and then transferred to glass-topped stock cages having sides and floors of aluminium screening and each accommodating 250 individuals. A mixture of dog-food pellets, oatmeal and milk powder, with fresh oats or clover, is provided throughout as food, and petri dishes of moist fine sand for oviposition. After separation from the sand by sieving, the eggs are incubated in moist soil at 24°C. for one month, subjected to 4°C. for three months to eliminate the obligate diapause, and then returned to 24°C., when 70 per cent, hatch after 15–18 days. The diapause enables eggs to be stored at 4°C. until required. At 24°C., the nymphal stage lasted about 81 days, the adult males and females, which are produced in equal numbers, survived about 62 and 56 days, respectively, oviposition extended over 11 weeks and the average number of eggs laid per female was 970·6.

The populations of the most common aphid species on sugarbeet, and their principal predators, were monitored on insecticide-free study areas of the crop in south-eastern England in 1978–81. The peak populations of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) varied considerably in size from year to year and were related to the severity of the previous winter. Those of Aphis fabae fabae Scopoli, which occurred slightly later in the season, also varied greatly in size but were not strongly linked to winter temperatures. The sizes of the peak populations of Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) were similar each year. The annual variation in the level of infection by virus yellows reflected the peak populations of Myzus persicae and not those of the other aphid species. Coccinellids first appeared in the sugarbeet each year in mid-late June, as the aphid populations were developing, and their peak populations did not vary greatly from year to year. Syrphid larvae appeared later in the season than coccinellids, and their numbers seemed closely linked to those of A. f. fabae. Anystid mites were observed on most count dates in all years. The implications of the findings of the study for control of aphids and virus yellows are discussed.

The population dynamics, development of gonads, takeoff and flight behaviour of Aphis gossypii Glover were investigated in order to test whether there was variation of migratory ability in the spring population. Field surveys showed that not all the aphids overwintering on hibiscus migrated to the secondary host plants, and the host-alternating and host-specific life-cycle forms coexisted in Nanjing, China. Substantial variation in flight capacity of winged individuals, development of gonads and takeoff behaviour were found within the spring population. The frequency distribution of flight duration and the number of ovarioles per individual alatae exhibited two peaks, representing the migratory and sedentary genotypes, respectively. Significant response to directional selection on takeoff behaviour demonstrated the additive genetic component of this variation. Selection for ‘takeoff’ individuals caused a significant increase in takeoff angle from 39.8° in the first selection to 68.7° in the fifth; and, hence, screened out the migratory genotype (M), while selection for the sedentary individuals increased the rate of non-takeoffs significantly, and screened out the sedentary genotype (S). The reciprocal cross, M♀×S♂, produced hybrid offspring performing significantly steeper takeoff angles compared with those from the cross S♀×M♂, suggesting the presence of a maternal effect. On the other hand, takeoff rate was ranked as M♀×S♂=S♀×M♂>M>S, involving no sex-linkage and maternal effect. The coexistence of host-alternating and host-specific life-cycle forms of A. gossypii on the primary host has, as deduced from the present studies, a genetic basis.

Several methods for the bioassay of changes in cattle dung as insect food were defined and simultaneously assessed using Musca vetustissima Wlk. Size of emerging adults, in particular head width, was a reliable estimator of changes in the dung, but survival was not. Freezing of dung for 24 h had no effect. Flies of similar size emerged from dung placed on moist sand (field capacity moisture) and on an impermeable membrane; on dry sand, size was greatly reduced when the dung was coarse and less nutritious. The optimal method was deemed to be use of fresh dung on sand at field capacity moisture, leaving flies to emerge and die before measuring the head widths in a sample.

The attractiveness of oestriol and of a sample L-lysine to females of Aedes aegypti (L.) was tested (a) in an olfactometer of the Wieting-Hoskins type, and (b) in a free-flight cage enclosed in glass. Similar results were given by both methods, L-lysine being the more attractive at higher concentrations, but oestriol retaining its attractiveness down to much lower concentrations. When 27 L-amino acids were tested in the free-flight cage, 16 showed significantly positive stimulation. Of these lysine was the most attractive, representing a group of 11 which carried CO2 in carbaminoyl or adsorbed form or in both; the other five, of which tyrosine was the most attractive, carried no CO2.

To date, a molecular phylogenetic approach has not been used to investigate the evolutionary structure of Trogoderma and closely related genera. Using two mitochondrial genes, Cytochrome Oxidase I and Cytochrome B, and the nuclear gene, 18S, the reported polyphyletic positioning of Trogoderma was examined. Paraphyly in Trogoderma was observed, with one Australian Trogoderma species reconciled as sister to all Dermestidae and the Anthrenocerus genus deeply nested within the Australian Trogoderma clade. In addition, time to most recent common ancestor for a number of Dermestidae was calculated. Based on these estimations, the Dermestidae origin exceeded 175 million years, placing the origins of this family in Pangaea.

The pea leaf weevil, Sitona lineatus L., is periodically a significant pest of pea, Pisum sativum L., in the Palouse region of northern Idaho and eastern Washington, USA. Previous on-station research demonstrated significantly greater adult pea leaf weevil colonization, immature survival, adult emergence and plant damage in conventional-tillage compared to no-tillage plots of pea. In experiments conducted during the 2006 and 2007 growing seasons, aerial and ground adult pea leaf weevil colonization of large-scale commercial pea fields under different tillage regimes in northern Idaho and eastern Washington was examined for the first time. Initial pea leaf weevil feeding damage, immature weevil densities and subsequent adult emergence from the fields were also assessed. During both years, significantly more adult pea leaf weevils were captured in conventional-tillage than in no-tillage fields during the crop establishment period in May. No-tillage soils remained wet longer in the spring and could not be planted by growers until later than conventional-tillage fields. Pea planted under conventional-tillage emerged earlier and had significantly greater feeding damage by the pea leaf weevil than no-tillage pea. Significantly, greater immature pea leaf weevil densities and subsequent adult emergence were observed in conventional-tillage than in no-tillage pea fields. Delayed development of root nodules in the cooler, moister conditions of no-tillage pea fields likely resulted in escape from attack and injury during the critical growth stages that ultimately influence yield. Results indicate that large-scale commercial no-tillage pea fields are less suitable for colonization and survival of the pea leaf weevil and suffer less weevil damage than fields under conventional tillage.

A stretch of river with its flood plain, a habitat of Glossina morsitans submorsitans Newst. and G. tachinoides Westw. in the Sudan savannah zone of Northern Nigeria, which is an important cattle-raising area, is described.

An effective technique for the eradication of both species of tsetse has been developed, using a single application of a 5 per cent, aqueous suspension of DDT by knapsack sprayer in the places of dry-season concentration of the fly, and on the principal midday resting sites, viz., between ground-level and a height of 5 ft. on tree trunks greater than 6 in. in diameter.

Laboratory and screenhouse studies were carried out to assess the relationship between pod age and pod position of cowpea and damage by different pod bug species. The coreids Clavigralla tomentosicollis Stäl and Riptortus dentipesFabricius caused significant damage to young pods of cultivated genotypes, in contrast to the coreid Anoplocnemis curvipes Fabricius and the pentatomid Aspavia armigera Fabricius which exhibited minor feeding activity. Percent seed damage declined with pod age, the critical stage for pod bug infestation being when pods were about eight days old. Clavigralla tomentosicollis and R. dentipescaused significantly higher damage to pods located within the leaf canopy, thus behaving differently from Anoplocnemis curvipes which showed a distinct preference for pods growing above the leaf canopy. The feeding activity of Aspavia armigerawas not affected by the position of pods on the plant. Overall, the study suggests that cowpea genotypes with a short flowering period and pods held above the leaf canopy offer the most promise in the management of pod-sucking pests.

The rearing of a complete generation of Mansonia (Coquillettidia) aurites (Theo.) is described with notes on the methods used.

Variation in the leg ornamentation of the adults forming the progeny of a single egg-raft was found to cover the range usually observed in this species.

A plea is made for conformity in the use of terms describing the various kinds of aggregations of eggs.

Egg-rafts are discussed, and a tentative key is given to the eggs of six of the Ethiopian species of Coquillettidia, based on egg-raft shape.

A modification of the ‘natural’ arrangement is suggested for the Ethiopian species of Coquillettidia, based not only on adult and larval characters, but on oviposition behaviour as judged by egg-raft shape.

The possibility of natural interspecific hybridisation is mentioned.

The general slowness in many of the life processes found in the genus is put forward as an adaptation to its peculiar mode of life.

Feeding trials were conducted on three (young, mid-fill and mature) developmental stages of cowpea Vigna unguiculata ssp. unguiculata pods in the screenhouse using fourth instar nymphs and adults of Anoplocnemis curvipes (Fabricius), Riptortus dentipes (Fabricius), Mirperus jaculus (Thunberg), Clavigralla tomentosicollis Stål and C. shadabi Dolling. Anoplocnemis curvipes was observed to be the most damaging coreoid species causing a yield reduction of 26.4–51.7% followed by R. dentipes (24.4–29.4%), M. jaculus (21.9–26.9%), C. tomentosicollis (17.9–22.4%) and C. shadabi (15.9–20.4%). The fourth instar nymphs of each pod-sucking bug species caused a significantly higher cowpea yield reduction than their respective adults. Similarly, infestation on young pods compared to mid-fill and mature stages resulted in significantly higher yield reduction. The results suggest that infestation levels of two fourth instar nymphs of A. curvipes or three fourth instar nymphs of the other four pod-sucking bug species per young pod should be adequate for screening of cowpea varieties for resistance to the coreoid bugs.

Flies of the genus Atherigona spend their immature stages in decaying organic matter (species of the subgenus Acritochaeta) or in the young shoots of various Gramineae (species of the subgenus Atherigona). Descriptions are given of two and 12 new species in these two subgenera, respectively. Most of these species are from India, and are of actual or potential economic importance.

Kaduna, the future capital of Nigeria, is situated in the Northern Provinces, on the River Kaduna, at an elevation of roughly 2,200 feet. The present Kaduna is a small station (Kaduna Bridge) south of the river, but the capital now in the process of construction is some two or three miles to the north, near the small native town of Doka.

Being instructed to make an Entomological Survey of the district, with especial reference to Glossina and the resulting presence of trypanosomes in cattle, I left Lagos on 30th July 1914, reaching Kaduna Bridge on 1st August.

An isolated area of 2,200 acres of thicket and thronbush in the Central Province, Tanganyika, was treated from the air with a DDT-in-oil aerosol in an attempt to eliminate the tsetse fly, Glossina swynnertoni Aust. Eight applications of 0·25 lb. technical DDT per acre were planned to be done at fortnightly intervals.Delays due to unseasonal bad weather reduced this to seven at a slightly higher rate and over a longer-period.

G. swynnertoni was reduced from an apparent density of about 7 to zero at the end of the second application. No flies were caught after the fifth application for a period of six months.

It is not possible to say whether the few caught since then have been brought in or are the offspring of survivors of the insecticidal treatment.

This experiment was more successful than that on the Galapo Block in the same ares, to a highly significant degree, and this is attributed to the vulnerability of the smaller population present. It was doubtfully better than the first treatment of the North Block, also in this area, because the increase in population in the latter block may have been assisted by immigration.

Nausibius clavicornis (Kug.) is a cosmopolitan Cucujid that has frequently been recorded from sugar. It is commonly found in this commodity in Trinidad, where it has not been collected from any other.

The adult and other stages are described, and an account is given of the life-history on Haydak's formula at 85°F. and 75 per cent. R.H. Development has also been studied on two types of unrefined sugar.

Copulation can take place within one day of the emergence of either sex and the female may begin laying within four days of copulation. The average number of eggs laid was 275 and the overall viability was 85 per cent. The average incubation period was just under five days.

The larvae of both sexes may undergo only five moults in development, but the more usual number for females is six. When larvae are disturbed during development, both sexes tend to have six larval instars. Severe disturbance may induce a seventh moult. The mean development period from oviposition to the emergence of the adult was 30 days when there were five larval instars; when there were six, development took about two days longer. Larval mortality on Haydak's formula was low.

Ovipositing females lived for up to 163 days under controlled conditions, but males tended to outlive females by about 50 days.

On unrefined sugars (e.g., raw or yellow-crystal sugar), adults lived for almost as long (73:99) as on Haydak's formula, but oviposition was greatly reduced and the viability of the eggs was much lower. Larval mortality was high, especially in the first instar, and the total development period was greatly increased.

It is unlikely that N. clavicornis could multiply rapidly in raw or unrefined sugar, and any deterioration in stored sugar directly attributable to it would probably be small in comparison with that caused by other factors.