The distribution, ecology, and host-plants of the European skipper, Thymelicus lineola (Ochs.), are described, and notes given on its biology and abundance in continental Europe. Agricultural practices are responsible for its virtual absence from hay-fields; however, even in undisturbed wild host-plant communities, it is never abundant, and has never required control measures as in Canada. Parasites of T. lineola are listed, with notes on their life-histories, distribution, host spectra, relative abundance, annual fluctuations, and interpopulation variations. Parasites reared were Phryxe vulgaris Fall., Thecocarcelia incedens Rond, (both attacking larvae, but sometimes emerging after host pupation), Rogas tristis Wesm. (larval parasite), Labrorychus delarvatus Grav. (larval–pupal parasite), Stenichneumon scutellator Grav. and Brachymeria intermedia Nees (pupal parasites); an undetermined mermithid was reared from larvae and also once from an adult S. scutellator. Rogas tristis was attacked by the hyperparasite Mesochorus macrurus Thoms., and S. scutellator by Gelis cursitans F. Potentialities of the more important species for biological control of T. lineola in Canada are discussed. S. scutellator, which is well synchronized with the host, regularly parasitizes 30–50% of pupae and is the most promising natural enemy for introduction, although in Canada it will compete with the native Itoplectis conquisitor (Say). R. tristis (3–57% parasitism) and P. vulgaris (8–44%), with high constancy in Europe, might be considered for introduction to Canada because of the absence there of effective native larval parasites. T. incedens, although probably a specific hesperiid parasite, is uncommon (usually 1–5% parasitism) and has low constancy in central Europe. All other species encountered are rare on T. lineola. Comparison of parasite complexes in Europe and Canada, where the host has acquired 22 natural enemies, shows that four genera are represented in both areas; of three holarctic species two have been found associated with T. lineola only in Canada, and one only in Europe.

A 4-year study in the virgin organic soils of southwestern Quebec revealed that most elaterid larvae moved from the subsurface to the top 10 in. of soil in early May, when the soil temperature at a depth of 4 in. was approximately 35°F. This upward movement readied its peak when the topsoil moisture content was 200% and the soil temperature at 4 in., 55°F. In early June, when the soil temperature reached 67°F, the larvae began to move downward and very few larvae were found in the first top layers of soil when the temperature was above 72°F. This downward movement lasted until the end of August and again the larvae moved up to feed near the surface of the soil until the first frost, usually recorded in mid-November. The data indicate that June to early September is generally the most favourable period for growing vegetables.

Two orders of insects, Lepidoptera and Diptera, are responsible for most of the seed destruction in shortleaf pine in the Georgia Piedmont. The phycitids Dioryctria amatella (Hulst), D. zimmermani (Groté), and D. clarioralis (Walker) were found in approximately equal numbers. A gelechiid, Battaristis vitella (Bsk.), was commonly found in dried cones. Three genera of cecidomyiids, Hyperdiplosis, Lestodiplosis, and Mycodiplosis, were found to inhabit cones and cause considerable damage.

An inquiline nitidulid, Coleopterus truncatus (Rand), commonly occurs in Dioryctria-damaged cones.

Mortality of larvae of the pale apple leafroller, Pseudexentera mail (Freeman), and the winter moth, Operophtera brumata (Linnaeus), that formed cocoons and pupated in soil or vermiculite treated with pathogens was determined in orchard and insectary tests. The entomogenous fungus Metarrhizium anisopliae reduced survival to less than 5% in most tests. The entomogenous nematode DD136 was slightly less effective. The fungus Beauveria bassiana had little effect. Less than 50% of the test insects survived in non-treated media.

Peculiarities of the Bolivian fly Eurychoromyia mallea Hendel are reviewed and information on the male sex is presented for the first time. Morphological characters of the adults indicate that it is a specialized decendant of a ropalomerid-like ancestor. A lectotype is designated for the species.

First- and second-instar tent caterpillar larvae are acceptable prey for many native species of ants. The amount of predation which occurs is normally related to ambient temperature. A warm period in early spring allows ants to forage actively and often leads to destruction of the caterpillar colonies whereas a cool spring curtails ant activity and allows the caterpillars to develop beyond the vulnerable period free from predation by ants. In latter instars the caterpillars are protected completely against ants by their dense setae.

A cooperative project between Forest Products Laboratories in the United States and Canada, initiated in 1966 to study the control effectiveness of an insecticide-treated termite attractant, is reported. It represents a bait method of control being developed to eradicate relatively large pockets of infestation.

Wooden bait blocks decayed by Lenzites trabea (Pers.) Fr., which attracts termites, with and without poison coating (Mirex insecticide) were installed in experimental plots at Oxley, Ont. An abrupt suppression of termite foraging occurred in plots where insecticide was used. Observations will be continued and work extended to determine whether the poison will prevent subterranean expansion of colonies and to assess its degree of effectiveness in eliminating localized pockets of infestation.

Thirteen species of Coccinellidae were found to occur in adjacent red pine plantations of five different ages near Thessalon, Ont. These populations fell into two major ecological groups corresponding to the two plantation age classes. One group (the old-field species) inhabited young plantations up to 16 years old, and the other (the old-stand species) inhabited older stands. Each group was characterized by different dominant species, Coccinella transversoguttata Falder-man and Scymnus lacustris Lec. in the younger stands, and Mulsantina picta (Rand.) and Anatis mali Auct. in the older stands. Species diversity decreased as the stands aged.

As the red pines increased in size, they became less favourable for coccinellids in general because prey density decreased. As a consequence, the predator’s search area per unit prey capture increased necessitating an increased searching capacity and mobility. Coccinellid population fluctuations were synchronized with those of the woolly pine needle aphid, Schizolachnus piniradiatae (Davidson), the major food source, due to compensative movements to and from the plantations of the adult coccinellids and the dependence of the larvae on the aphid. Starvation and cannibalism during the larval stages appeared to be the major mortality factors. Inclement weather and predation were of minor direct importance to coccinellid populations and parasitism was rare.All species, with the possible exception of S. lacustris, were univoltine.

The following new pyraustine taxa are described: Pseudebulea fentoni sadoensis n. subsp., Sado I., Japan; P. f. yezoensis n. subsp., Hokkaido, Japan; P. f. ussuriensis n. subsp., Ussuri region, USSR; P. f. koreensis n. subsp., Korea; P. hainanensis n. sp., Hainan I., China; P. lungtanensis n. sp., Kiangsu Prov., China; P. kuatunensis n. sp., Fukien Prov., China; P. k. ichangensis n. subsp., Hupeh Prov., China; Aristebulea n. gen., type-sp. A. nobilis (Moore) n. comb., described in Pionea; A. principis n. sp., Fukien Prov., China; Mimetebulea n. gen., type-sp. M. arctialis n. sp.

The following new pyraustine taxa are described: Thliptoceras formosanum n. sp., Taiwan, China; T. amamialis n. sp., Amami, Japan; T. caradjai n. sp., Kiangsu and Chekiang provinces, China; Toxobotys n. gen., type-sp. Toxobotys praestans n. sp., Hainan I.

Fifty-six species were recognized among 6886 aphids identified in 312 collections taken from strawberry plantations in Nova Scotia, 1961–1966. Forty-nine species were classed as errants and seven were classed as colonizers on strawberry. The most numerous colonizers were Rhodobium porosum (Sanderson) and Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas), averaging 71 and 18.5% respectively of all the aphids identified. The other colonizers were Aphis forbesi Weed (1.4%), Aulacorthum solani (Kaltenbach) (1.0%). Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (1.0%), Chaetosiphon fragaefolii (Cockerell) (0.1%), C. minor (Forbes) (0.2%), and Chaetosiphon sp. (0.1%).

Colonizers, mostly R. porosum, were observed on strawberry plantations from the time winter cover was removed in the spring until late in November when a winter cover was applied. Alate viviparous females were first observed during the second week of June on both old and new plantations and were most numerous during a period extending from the third week m June until nearly the end of August. Nymphs were first seen on new plantations when the first alatae were observed. Apterous viviparae reached near-maximum numbers early in July and were present, sometimes in relatively high number, until nearly the end of September. Sexuales began to appear late in September, reached peak numbers early in November, and were still present when observations were discontinued late in November. No consistent difference was noted in the numbers of aphids alighting on or colonizing plants of three different commercial strawberry varieties (Sparkle, Catskill, and Robinson). The amount of colonization was markedly greater on the commercial varieties than it was on Fragaria vesca L. (EMC). The significance of the results in relation to the control of aphid-borne viruses is discussed.

The larvae of 26 species of Aedes from Manitoba were reared at constant temperatures from a low of 10° or 15°C, to the upper lethal temperature. Various grades of adult intersexes occurred in 12 univoltine species. The lowest threshold temperature for intersex development was found in A. communis (19°C); the highest in A. fitchii (29°C). A constant rearing temperature of 30°C was lethal for all fully univoltine species from Manitoba. The zoogeographical significance of the distribution of species in North America is discussed with regard to their intersex threshold temperature.

Agrotis obesula Smith is synonymous with the European Agrotis trux Hübner. Because of the fact that it was based on a "misidentified" type species, Agrotiphila Grote should be construed as a senior synonym of Agrotimorpha Barnes and Benjamin, and not of Orosagrotis Hampson.

Dissections of larvae from a routine collection of European pine shoot moth (Rhyacionia buoliana (Schiffermüller)) made on 12 October 1965 in a small red pine plantation in Con. VII, Mills Twp., Manitoulin Island, Ont., revealed the presence of larvae of an unrecognized parasite in approximately 44% of the 103 living shoot moth larvae obtained. This compares favourably with rates of approximately 40% found by the author for Orgilus obscurator Nees, the most effective internal parasite of shoot moth in southern Ontario. No adults of the unrecognized parasite were obtained at that time, and because of severe winter kill of the shoot moth, none were obtained in a sample made in the following spring from the same plantation. However, shoot moth larvae obtained in a sample taken on 4 October 1966 yielded similar larvae on dissection, and rearings produced adult parasites which were identified by Dr. W. R. M. Mason, Entomology Research Institute, Canada Department of Agriculture, Ottawa, Ont., as Agathis binominata Muesebeck. According to Muesebeck et al. (1951), Krombein et al. (1967), and Yates (1967), the following species are hosts of this parasite: Coleophora laricella (Hübner), Epiblema desertana (Zeller) , Epinotia nanana (Treitschke) , Petrova comstockiana (Fernald), Phalonia rutilana (Hübner) , Pulicalvaria coniferella (Kearfott) , P. piceaella (Kearfott) , and Rhyacionia frustrana (Comstock). Its association with Rhyacionia buoliana apparently has not been recorded previously.

Studies on insect pests in cones of eastern larch, Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch, have revealed adelgids living inside many of the cones. Mr. G. R. Underwood of the Forest Research Laboratory, Fredericton, has identified them as Adelges strobilobius (Kalt). This is a new feeding site record, for normally this insect feeds on larch needles.