Monelliopsis bissellisp.nov., Monelliopsis pallidasp.nov., and Monelliopsis quadrimaculatasp.nov. are described and their relationship with other known species is discussed. The taxonomic position of the genus Monelliopsis Richards is assessed and a key for the identification of the species of this aphid genus is presented.

Six species of oribatid mites (Acari: Ceratozetidae) in six genera were recorded from a variety of arboreal habitats in western Canada, including the canopy of temperate rainforest, montane forest, and the leaves of shrubs. Four of these species are new to science and are described: Sphaerozetes winchesterisp.nov., on the basis of adults; and Dentizetes ledensissp.nov., Melanozetes crossleyisp.nov., and Neogymnobates marilynaesp.nov., on the basis of adults and immatures. Jugatala tuberosa Ewing is redescribed from both adults and immatures, a new observation being that adults have seven pairs of notogastral porose areas. The placement of the genus Jugatala Ewing in Ceratozetidae is confirmed. Latilamellobates baloghi (Mahunka) is newly recorded from North America, and the taxonomy of the genus is discussed. The major differences among these six species are presented in tabular format.

Monoterpenes affected the attraction of three sympatric species of bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) to pheromone-baited multiple-funnel traps in stands of lodgepole pine. Catches of Ips pini (Say) in traps baited with its pheromone, ipsdienol, were directly related to the release rates of 3-carene, β-phellandrene, and β-pinene. Catches of Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins in traps baited with exo-brevicomin and cis- and trans-verbenol were directly related to the release rates of 3-carene, myrcene, and β-phellandrene. Ips latidens (LeConte) exhibited preferences for traps baited with ipsenol and β-phellandrene or β-pinene but not in a dose-dependent fashion. Catches of I. latidens in traps baited with its pheromone, ipsenol, were inversely proportional to the release rates of 3-carene, myrcene, and terpinolene. Similarly, catches of I. pini in traps baited with its pheromone, ipsdienol, were inversely proportional to the release rates of myrcene and terpinolene. These results demonstrate a degree of species specificity among three phloeophagous species with respect to preferred host odours. The bark beetle predators–associates Lasconotus complex LeConte (Coleoptera: Colydiidae) and Corticeus Piller and Mitterpacher sp. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) demonstrated some measure of specificity to monoterpenes in their responses to ipsdienol-baited funnel traps. γ-Terpinene increased attraction of L. complex but had no effect on Corticeus sp., whereas α- and β-pinene increased attraction of Corticeus sp. but had no effect on L. complex.

We examined oviposition behaviour in 49 species representing 19 genera of Aphidiinae. All species are solitary parasitoids of aphids (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea). Six general types are described that differ in oviposition time, behaviour, and morphology. The Ephedrini have the least specialized oviposition behaviour within the subfamily, with Praini and Aphidiini displaying various adaptations for host capture and oviposition. Use of the forelegs to grasp and orient aphids for oviposition has arisen twice, in Praini and, independently, in the genus Monoctonus Haliday (Aphidiini: Monoctonina). Morphological modifications of the terminal abdominal segments for host capture are found in Trioxina and in several species of Pauesia Quilis (Aphidiina). A “quick” sting is characteristic of species in the genus Aphidius Nees and related genera. The greatest degree of behavioural diversification occurred among Pauesia species, including cryptic behaviour, ant mimicry, and “sneak” oviposition. Acquired chemical camouflage and mimicry of the host’s cuticular hydrocarbon pattern to avoid detection by guarding ants is found in Aclitus obscuripennis Foerster, the genus Paralipsis Foerster, and the two closely related genera Adialytus Foerster and Lysiphlebus Foerster. It is suggested that the main driving forces in the evolution of parasitoid oviposition behaviour were aphid defensive behaviour and avoidance of aggression by trophobiotic ants. The results are compared with phylogenetic relationships inferred from morphological and molecular data.

Two deer fly species, Chrysops mitis Osten Sacken and Chrysops excitans Walker, were collected by sweep-netting around human bait on five collection dates in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario. Distribution patterns of the two species at two sites (abandoned airfield and Davies bog), in two habitats (open and forest edge), and at two times of day (morning and afternoon) are analysed. Chrysops excitans was more frequently collected than C. mitis. Regardless of site, both species are more common in the morning than the afternoon collections and both are more common in the open than the forest-edge habitats. Chrysops excitans was the larger species (based on wing length measurements) and its size was constant regardless of site, habitat, and time of day. In contrast, afternoon-collected C. mitis were larger than morning-collected flies at the Davies bog site. The crop contents of 241 flies were identified using thin-layer chromatography. Using melezitose and stachyose as honeydew-indicator sugars, the relative importance of homopteran honeydew and floral nectar as carbohydrate sources for these flies was determined. We found no significant differences among species, sites, habitats, or times of day. Overall, 52.8% of C. excitans and 51.1% of C. mitis had recently fed on homopteran-derived honeydew sugars, underscoring the importance of this carbohydrate source for the haematophagous Diptera.

We examined the influence of temperature and release density on the root-boring moth, Agapeta zoegana L., a biological control agent of diffuse knapweed, Centaurea diffusa Lam., and spotted knapweed, Centaurea maculosa Lam. Moths were released at six densities (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 adult male–female pairs) in each of 2 years (1992 and 1993 cohorts) into outdoor, caged plots containing spotted knapweed. Air temperature, larval establishment and mass, and adult emergence, mass, and body dimensions were measured. Larval production increased linearly with adult release density in both cohorts. Larval survival ranged from 0 to 100% and was not correlated with release density or accumulated degree-days in either year. Date of first emergence occurred earlier as both release density and larvae per plant increased, but only for the 1992 cohort. Declining resources or increased contact among the larvae may induce early pupation. Peak emergence rate increased with release density in both cohorts. First emergence was related more closely to calendar date than accumulated degree-days. In contrast, peak emergence rates were more consistent with degree-day accumulations between cohorts than calendar date. Adult production increased with parental release density in both cohorts. Females were heavier, wider, and longer than males. Optimal A. zoegana production will be achieved with releases of greater than 1.6 male–female adult pairs per spotted knapweed plant.

Dusky wireworms, Agriotes obscurus (L.), aggregated at rows of wheat, Triticum aestivum L., spaced 1 m apart within 6 d of seeding. Wireworms also aggregated at rows of newly planted strawberries, Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne, resulting in 43% plant mortality. Wheat rows planted 8 d in advance of intercropped rows of strawberries aggregated wireworms at the wheat rows rather than at the strawberry rows. Mortality of strawberry plants protected by the previously planted wheat rows was only 5.3%. Strawberry seedlings planted 14 d before intercropping with wheat rows incurred 29.6% mortality. These data show that trap crops of wheat planted 1 week in advance of planting strawberries can effectively reduce wireworm feeding and plant mortality and can be used as an inexpensive pest management method.

An isolated stand of western white pine, Pinus monticola Dougl. ex D. Don, on Texada Island (49°40′N, 124°10′W), British Columbia, is extremely valuable as a seed-production area for progeny resistant to white pine blister rust, Cronartium ribicola J.C. Fisch. (Cronartiaceae). During the past 5 years, cone beetles, Conophthorus ponderosae Hopkins (= C. monticolae), have severely limited crops of western white pine seed from the stand. Standard management options for cone beetles in seed orchards are not possible on Texada Island. A control program in wild stands such as the one on Texada Island requires alternate tactics such as a semiochemical-based trapping program. Females of the related species, Conophthorus coniperda (Schwarz) and Conophthorus resinosae Hopkins, produce (+)-pityol, (2R,5S)-2-(1-hydroxyl-l-methylethyl)-5-methyl-tetrahydrofurana, sex pheromone that attracts males of both species (Birgersson et al. 1995; Pierce et al. 1995). The host compound a-pinene significantly increases attraction of male C. coniperda to pityol-baited traps in stands of eastern white pine, Pinus strobus L. (de Groot et al. 1998).

Granary trials to determine the efficacy of an enhanced diatomaceous earth (DE) formulation (Protect-It™) at 0.15 kg DE/t grain to control grain-feeding beetles in barley, Hordeum vulgare L. (Poaceae), were conducted at Glenlea, Manitoba. During the test, the grain moisture content ranged from 11 to 13%, and grain temperature ranged from 27 to 2 °C. The bulk density of barley was reduced 10–20 kg/m3 by the addition of diatomaceous earth. Adults of the rusty grain beetle, Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens), were released onto the top surface of the grain of each granary, producing an average density of approximately 4 insects/kg grain. Using Berlese funnels to extract insects from grain samples there was a 95% reduction in adults and an 80% reduction in larvae found in treated grain compared with untreated grain, 1 month after releasing insects into the grain. There was a 95% or greater decrease in the total number of insects caught with probe pitfall traps in the treated barley compared with the untreated barley for all sampling dates. For the confined populations, 200 adult C. ferrugineus or Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) (red flour beetle) were held in screened jars in the grain until the end of October, and there was over a 99% reduction in both insect species, compared with insects held on untreated grain. These results indicate that this diatomaceous earth formulation can control C. ferrugineus in barley in granaries at 0.15 kg DE/t grain.

The grape beny moth, Endopiza viteana (Clemens), is the key pest of cultivated grapes in the eastern United States and Canada (Gleissner 1943; Ker 1990). Laboratory techniques have been developed for large-scale rearing of this tortricid (Taschenberg 1951, 1969) using grape berries of Vitis vinifera L. (Vitaceae) and locally grown varieties. The use of grape berries is unsatisfactory because berries attract fruit flies, develop mold, and rot rapidly at normal laboratory temperatures (Taschenberg 1969). In this paper, we describe a diet for rearing E. viteana and the process that was undertaken in its development.