An extraction method, timed counts taken from broadleafed forbs, and counts taken on apple sucker leaves were evaluated as sampling methods to estimate populations of the predatory phytoseiid mite Amblyseius fallacis Garman in the ground cover of commercial apple orchards. All three gave comparable density estimates at moderate and high population levels. The extraction sample technique was most effective in measuring low population densities, however the timed vegetational procedure was deemed the most practical method for monitoring these mites for pest management purposes. With respect to predator distribution in the ground cover, mites were aggregated somewhat in the heterogeneous understory, but were almost randomly distributed on apple sucker leaves. Predators were equally likely to find prey irrespective of location beneath the tree canopy. They showed little preference for different plant species with the exception of a higher incidence than expected on apple (Malus) and possibly on grape (Vitus sp.) and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia).

The crucifer flea beetle, Phyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze), is a pest of major economic importance on cruciferous crops in Canada. Laboratory and field tests were conducted to assess the effectiveness of insecticides which have been, or currently are used in Ontario, or which might have potential for its control. Twenty of 22 insecticides tested in the laboratory were toxic or moderately toxic by direct contact against adults. Carbofuran was 55 times and eight other insecticides 2.9 to 5.5 times more toxic than endosulfan. Of eight insecticides tested as soil treatments, diazinon, carbofuran, and dieldrin were most toxic to adults. All insecticides were less toxic in organic than in mineral soil. In field studies, concentrations of DDT and dieldrin typical of those found in mineral soils used for crucifer production in Ontario in the late 1960’s reduced crucifer flea beetle damage to radishes. As organochlorine insecticide residues decline a higher percentage of crucifer flea beetle population will survive necessitating greater emphasis on control. Two sprays of parathion, carbaryl, or endosulfan significantly reduced crucifer flea beetle damage to radishes in the early part of the growing season under moderate insect pressure. These control programs were less effective during warmer weather and(or) under severe crucifer flea beetle pressure. Soil applications of terbufos, carbofuran, and oxamyl protected cabbage grown in seed beds from attack. The latter was slightly phytotoxic. Planting–water treatments using azinphosmethyl, diazinon, and oxamyl protected cabbage transplants against early season crucifer flea beetle attack. On late cabbage, fensulfothion, azinphosmethyl, carbaryl, endosulfan, and chlorfenvinphos gave good protection.

Three new species of Oxyporus are described from North America, O. ashei from North Carolina; O. kiteleyi from Québec, Massachusetts, and Georgia; and O. neomexicanus from New Mexico. All species are illustrated and a key is presented for the determination of all the species of the genus from America, north of Mexico.

The following new taxa of Quediini (Staphylinidae) are described: Heterothops giulianii spec, nov. (California), and Acylophorus (Acylophorus) zdenae spec. nov. (Illinois, Louisiana, Texas). A revised key to North American species of Heterothops Steph. is presented as well as revised couplets for the keys to the genera of Quediini and species of Acylophorus. A lectotype is designated for Quedius compransor Fall.

Additional data on taxonomy, bionomics, and geographical distribution of many species are presented.

Nesting materials for use by the alfalfa leafcutter bee (Megachile pacifica Panzer) were compared. When all experimental designs were combined, the leafcutter bees nesting in grooved solid woods, such as pine and fir plywood, and in the polymers, styrofoam and polystyrene, produced a greater percentage of viable cells (i.e., cocoons) than those nesting in drilled boards, soda straws, K3 particle board, aluminum, or corrugated paper. Pine and polystyrene are the only nesting materials now used commercially in Western Canada and chalcidoid parasites occur in low numbers in them because the hives are made precisely. Cells can be mechanically removed from laminated grooved nesting boards so that a loose-cell system of bee management is feasible. Although more expensive initially, these boards are competitive with other nesting materials as they can be reused.

Synthetic sex pheromones were evaluated in apple orchards against the pests Spilonota ocellana (D. & S.), Archips argyrospilus (Walker), Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris), and Pandemis limitata (Robinson). Significant correlations between spring larval counts and captures of males in summer in pheromone traps occurred only at moderate to high population levels. Correlations between captures of males in summer and fruit damage occurred only with S. ocellana. The attractants for S. ocellana, A. argyrospilus, and C. rosaceana appear satisfactory but that for P. limitata, possibly due to species identification uncertainty and low populations, requires further evaluation.

Resistance of 360 varieties of Phaseolus vulgaris L. to Empoasca kraemeri (Ross and Moore) was tested in the greenhouse. Thirty promising varieties were subsequently evaluated for resistance in the field when 30 days old. Seedlings in the greenhouse were infested with field collected adults for 3 days, and the resistance was tested against first generation nymphs. A highly significant positive correlation existed under greenhouse conditions between the numbers of nymphs present on the plant and the plant damage (expressed as quality) under low, but not high infestation pressure. No such relation was found in the field. There was no correlation between numbers of nymphs found on the 30 varieties in the greenhouse and the field, but there was a highly significant correlation in the damage (quality). No correlation was found in the field between the numbers of nymphs and the plant height or volume. A rank correlation test showed that quality (resistance) of the plants was highly significantly related in the greenhouse and field tests.

The chaetotactic nomenclature proposed by Lindquist and Evans (1965) for the Gamasina, using the family Ascidae as examplar, is adopted for use in the family Phytoseiidae. Probable setal homologies were determined by: examining and comparing ontogenetic relationships in both the Phytoseiidae and Ascidae; standardizing the shape and size of the dorsal shield of exemplars from 7 genera of Phytoseiidae and one of Ascidae in order to compare standardized, transformed setal positions; examining the spatial relationships between setal and pore positions. The technique used to standardize the shape and size of the dorsal shield is described. The setal nomenclature adopted for each of the genera of Phytoseiidae is discussed and presented in diagrammatic form. Ventral chaetotaxy in the Ascidae and Phytoseiidae is also discussed.

Snow depth is the most important environmental factor in the survival of overwintering Rheumaptera hastata (L.) pupae in interior Alaska. Pupae spend the winter in the leaf litter where litter temperatures are directly related to snow depth at given air temperatures. Winter survival is also dependent on the cessation of pupal development (diapause) and the development of cold-hardiness which is induced by certain physiological processes such as supercooling and changes in glycerol and carbohydrate levels. Glycerol content and supercooling are dependent on changes in carbohydrate levels which in turn are directly related to changes in the rate of pupal development prior to diapause.

Adults of the sweetclover weevil, Sitona cylindricollis Fähr., injure seedling, vegetative, and yearling sweet clover, Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam. In field cage tests an infestation of 1 weevil: 7 seedlings at the cotyledon stage destroyed less than 5%, and an infestation of 1 weevil: 1 seedling destroyed 100% of the seedlings. Significant reduction of seedlings was caused by infestations of I weevil: 3 or 5 seedlings depending upon growing conditions. An infestation of 4.5 to 9 weevils per emergent second-year plant caused a significant reduction, and an infestation of 18 weevils per plant caused almost total destruction of second-year forage yield. In the Canadian mid-west, weevil populations seldom exceed these minimum threshold values, therefore the weevil should not be considered a deterrent to either stand establishment or to stand retention in the second year. Defoliation of vegetative clover by weevils at the beginning of and mid-way through the critical period, which extends from 15 August to 20 September, caused a 50% loss of second-year forage yield. Because of cultural practices associated with sweet clover production in western Canada this may be the most severe type of injury wrought by the weevil.

Four insecticides effectively controlled the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), but differed in their effects on other pest species and on predators. Two days after treatment, methidathion, dimethoate, and malathion reduced populations of all the pest species, but pirimicarb gave no control of the weevils Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) and Sitona scissifrons Say. Methidathion reduced populations of all predators, dimethoate reduced populations of all predators except Aeolothrips fasciatus (Linnaeus), and malathion reduced populations of all the predators except Nabis alternates Parshley. Pirimicarb reduced only the populations of syrphids. Of the insecticides tested, methidathion was the most disruptive to predators and pirimicarb the least.

In February 1976, first instar nymphs of a mealybug were found overwintering in bark crevices of cherry trees at Penticton, B.C. As these were much smaller than and distinctive from overwintering second and third instar nymphs of the apple mealybug, Phenacoccus aceris Signoret, which were present in large numbers, they were collected and reared to the adult stage on small cherry trees in a greenhouse. Mature fernales were identified by Dr. W. R. Richards, Biosystematics Research Institute, Ottawa as the Comstock mealybug, Pseudococcus comstocki (Kuwana).