Twenty species of black flies are now recorded from the Maritime Provinces of Canada. These include five species of Prosimulium, two species of Cnephia, and 13 species of Simulium. With the exception of S. vernum Meigen, all species have been previously recorded from maritime Canada. The known biology of these black flies is summarized and includes information on overwintering stages, larval and pupal habitats, adult emergence and feeding habits, and seasonal occurrence and abundance.

Telenomus phymatae n. sp. is described from the New World (Canada, USA, Colombia /S.A./), reared from the eggs of Phymata sp. (Heteroptera: Phymatidae).

A study on techniques for rearing Glischrochilus quadrisignatus (Say) in the laboratory showed that provision of adequate moisture and control of fungal diseases were essential. Most field-collected adult females oviposited regardless of when the collections were made, but there were large variations in the preoviposition periods. Hibernating beetles collected in the spring had a much shorter preoviposition period than beetles collected in the autumn and early winter. The high viability of eggs laid by overwintering females kept separate from males indicated that the beetles mated in the fall. Three consecutive generations occurred when beetles were reared in crocks supplied with corn and tomatoes in a greenhouse. At 21°C, the incubation period for eggs averaged 4.1 days, the larval period 21–22 days, and the pupation period 11.8 days. Newly developed adults remained in the soil for an average of 11.2 days before emerging.

Pyrrhalta viburni (Paykull), a native of Eurasia, is reported for the first time as established in North America. In the Ottawa, Ont., area (including Hull, Que.) adults were very abundant and causing considerable damage to cultivated varieties of Viburnum opulus L. and moderate damage to the native V. Rafinesquianum Schultes. Photographs, a comparison with the similar species, P. luteola (Müller), and a brief note on egg laying are given.

Two localities in central Alberta yielding insects of Paleocene age are described. About half of the 176 specimens obtained are coleopteran larvae; many of the adults and larvae are members of aquatic groups.

The venom apparatus was examined in 160 species of female Braconidae. The venom apparatus is illustrated for females of 26 representative genera and those of the remaining females are described.

Our findings indicate that there are two types of venom apparatus present in Braconidae. Type 1 is found in females of subfamilies having more ancestral character states: Doryctinae, Spathiinae, Braconinae, Opiinae, Rogadinae, Alysiinae, and Ichneutinae. Typically, type 1 venom apparatus consists of a cone-shaped reservoir which is surrounded by many longitudinal and circular muscles and lined with a relatively thick cuticular intima, gland filaments, and a venom duct. Type 2 is found in females of subfamilies having more derived character states: Cheloninae, Microgasterinae, Agathidinae, Macrocentrinae, Helconinae, Neoneurinae, Centistinae, Paxylommatinae, and Euphorinae. Typically, type 2 consists of a thin-walled reservoir surrounded by relatively few muscles, two gland filaments, and a venom duct.

The Aphidiinae is the only subfamily in which the females examined have both types of venom apparatus represented. Of those genera examined, only females of Praon have type 2, while females of the remaining genera have type 1 venom apparatus.

Braconid females with type 1 venom apparatus are either ectoparasitoids or endoparasitoids which pupate within the host remains, while those females with type 2 are endoparasitoids which pupate outside the host remains.

Harminius castaneus Fairmaire was described as a Eucnemidae, but all subsequent authors placed it among the Elateridae, usually as a valid genus and species near Athous. Neither the original description nor the illustration bear any resemblance to the species currently called castaneus. No original material could be found, therefore it is questionable as to what species Fairmaire described. To conserve nomenclatorial stability, application is being made to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature to set aside any previous type-species designation and to designate spiniger Candèze as the type-species of Harminius and Pseudocorymbites. Consequently, castaneus is considered as a species incertae dubia. An attempt is made to straighten out the usage of the names castaneus auct., spiniger Candèze, and florentinus Desbrochers. Previously castaneus auct has referred either to spiniger or florentinus (mostly to spiniger), whereas both are now recognized as valid species in the subgenus Harminius; gigas Reitter also belongs in the same subgenus. Pseudocorymbites Fiori is isogenotypic with Harminius and the subgenera Diacanthous Reitter and Megathous Reitter remain valid under Harminius, as in most catalogues.

The vernal migration routes of the eastern population of the monarch butterfly (Danaus p. plexippus L.) in North America were plotted from data resulting from the recapture of migrants alar tagged in the overwintering site of the Neo-volcanic Plateau of Mexico. One migrant, which had been alar tagged at Decorah, Iowa, on 3 September 1973, and recaptured 7 months later on 8 April 1974 at Richmond, Texas, led to the conclusion that this particular migrant had flown to the Mexican overwintering site and was recaptured on its return vernal flight. This recapture also gave data indicating that it was not returning to the original breeding area, from which it is concluded that although some migrants may return to the original breeding grounds many may not do so.

Black fly larvae and pupae were collected on aquatic vegetation from the Penobscot River, Maine in August 1977. Cephalic apotome measurements were made on larvae of Simulium penobscotensis Snoddy and Bauer and indicated the presence of seven instars. Simulium vittatum Zetterstedt, S. fibrinflatum Twinn, and S. penobscotensis were the principal species found. The proportion of S. penobscotensis in the samples increased with water depth to 1 m.

Rogas malacosomatos n. sp. is described and differentiated from the closely related R. stigmator Say.

Phyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze) was usually the most abundant flea beetle on crops of Argentine rape, Brassica napus L., in Manitoba, followed in order by Phyllotreta striolata (F.) and Psylliodes punctulata Melsh. These three species and small numbers of Phyllotreta bipustulata (F.) were present on volunteer rape in the spring. A few specimens of a fifth rape-eating species, Phyllotreta robusta Lee, were trapped in April after hibernating. The three main species were recorded in all 16 localities in which samples of flea beetles on rape crops and/or volunteer rape were collected. Details of seasonal life history of each species are presented, as well as data on the abundance of the three main species throughout the year on rape crops, in overwintering habitats and on volunteer rape in spring. The relative abundance of P. cruciferae, P. striolata, and Ps. punctulata in different rape-growing areas of Manitoba is discussed.

Annual ice blocks erosion characterizes James Bay coastline. Within the sampled area, the estuarine Rupert Bay shores are flooded by fresh or brackish tides, and James Bay shores by saline water. Nineteen mosquito species were found in typical larval associations, related to the vegetation of their temporary shallow water breeding sites. In the tidal zone, Ae. implicatus is characteristic of fresh or brackish water marshes, while Ae. cantator and then Ae. dorsalis are dominant in the salt pitted marshes. In the supra-littoral zone Ae. punctor is characteristic of Salix Candida and S. pellita unit; at the foot of the supra-littoral slope, Ae. communis and Ae. pionips characterize the S. planifolia unit. An ecological map of a section of Rupert Bay illustrates where are located the typical littoral mosquito species. The ecological status of each mosquito species found in this area is also discussed, taking into account previous data from all the subarctic continental zones.

An interesting, highly unusual chalcidoid wasp was found recently for Dr. L. Masner in material collected for him by Mr. F. M. Oliveira from Brazil. This unique specimen proved to belong to an undescribed genus in the subfamily Aximinae of the family Eurytomidae. It keys to the genera Axima Walker and Conoaxima Brues in Burks’ (1971) key to the genera of Eurytomidae, but differs in a number of morphological characters discussed below.

The structure and sculpture of this unique female specimen are illustrated by scanning electron photographs, the wings and antennae by macrophotography.

Unequal responses to acephate and carbaryl were found among four populations of Douglas-fir tussock moth, Orgyia pseudotsugata (McDunnough). Within a single population, response of almost half of sibling groups tested with either toxicant differed significantly from one another. Using electrophoresis, we related variation in sibling group responses to quantitative differences in esterase isozymes. Potential use of genetic assays in pre-spray population surveys is discussed.

A key to species for adults and figures of the three North American Cinygma are presented. New distribution records are given; the range of C. lyriformis McDunnough is extended to Alaska and the genus in the Palearctic is discussed. Nymphs are undescribed except for C. integrum (Eaton). The life history of the latter is given for Oregon. Nymphs of all size classes are present throughout the year but adult emergence is restricted to mid May to mid July. Nymphs apparently are restricted to a submerged wood habitat.

Types of nine species of Sarcophagidae are redescribed, two species belonging to the tribe Microcerellini, six to Johnsoniini, and seven to Sarcophagini; Harpagopyga rufipes Dodge is transferred to Notochaeta. In addition to the female holotype, the male of Harpagopyga diversipes (Coquillett) is also described.

The western Canadian species of Athous are described and illustrated in detail. Notes are given for the other western nearctic species including the description of a new subspecies, A. rufiventris brighti, from Arizona. A key to the species and subspecies north of Panama is presented.

A lectotype is designated for Athous varius Lane. Several new synonymies are proposed: Athous excavatus carmeli Van Dyke is a synonym of excavatus (Motschulsky) and excavatus angelicus Van Dyke is a synonym of axillaris Horn; orophilus Harold (= montanus LeConte) and nugalis Fall are synonyms of nigropilis Motschulsky.

Two names have been overlooked by North American cataloguers: Athous fallianus Reitter, an unnecessary replacement name for Athous aterrimus Fall and which now becomes a new synonym of aterrimus; and Athous debilitatus Candèze, a necessary replacement name for Athous debilis LeConte and which is now recognized as a valid species, Conoderus debilitatus (see section on species previously described in Athous).

A temperature-dependent model for predicting green peach aphid population development in potato fields was devised and tested. A laboratory estimate of generation time was utilized to derive expected generation number from field accumulated degree days (1975–77). Different aphid populations were produced in replicated field plots (1975–77) with various application rates of the systemic insecticide, aldicarb. Density data from these plots were regressed on the expected number of generations to derive prediction equations. These equations were coupled in a Fortran computer program with a degree day algorithm. Weather forecasts, therefore, provide input for future aphid population predictions. The model is being used to evaluate various control strategies and to decide on spray dates from weather forecasts.

Hemithea aestivaria, “the common emerald” in Britain, is common throughout most of Europe and in Eastern Asia. The larva feeds on many herbaceous plants before hibernation and on a wide variety of woody plants in the spring.

Forty of the distinctively-marked larvae were collected on cherry, apple, wild plum, and species of Rubus and Crataegus at Burnaby, New Westminister, and Langley, in British Columbia, between 1.IV.78 and 18.V.78. A sample reared produced a male that was identified by Dr. K. B. Bolte, Biosystematics Research Institute, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, as of Hemithea aestivaria, a species and genus apparently not recorded previously from North America.

Larvae of a flower fly, Syrphus corollae Fab., consumed an average of 113.5 cal of pea aphid biomass during 8 days at 20 ± 1°. Sixty-six per cent of consumption occurred on days 6 and 7. Sixty-four per cent of consumed energy was assimilated by the larval body, ca. 55% was converted into larval tissue and 10% was used for body maintenance. When starved, larvae reapportioned some available energy from production to maintenance and developmental time was extended. Each larva destroyed an average of 59 adult aphids which represents conservation of 19.7 cal of pea plant net primary productivity/day.