Application of petroleum oils prior to oviposition by overwintering pear psylla, Psylla pyricola Foerster, reduced oviposition by 98% for up to 5 weeks. The delay of oviposition and reduction in subsequent egg and nymph densities were inversely proportional to the rate of oil used. The reduced oviposition rate was due primarily to inhibition of oviposition by oil deposits on the host, not adult mortality. No commercially important deleterious effects of oil treatments were detected on several pear varieties.

Certain aspects of the reproductive ability of sterilized and unsterilized tobacco budworms, Heliothis virescens (F.), of a laboratory strain and a field strain, tested as single pairs, were studied; special attention was given to those females of pairs that mated but did not reproduce and to the distribution of sperm in the reproductive tract at various times after mating. Most of the sperm from the first two successful matings reached the spermatheca, but after three or more matings, substantial amounts were also present in the bursa copulatrix and(or) seminal duct. Ca. 18% and 35% of the unsterilized laboratory strain and field strain pairs, respectively, did not reproduce; 4.6% and 20.6%, respectively, locked or failed to mate. The percentage of mated pairs was reduced by the presence of a field strain female in crosses of the strains. Exposure to irradiation and chemosterilants reduced fertility but had little effect on mating frequency in either strain. Percentage egg hatch was the same for the untreated insects of both strains.

This paper reviews the taxonomic relationships among taxa within the superfamily with particular reference to previous discussions of Craspedolepta Enderlein, 1921. The genus is considered to belong within the tribe Aphalarini Löw. The paper also identifies the Nearctic species which should be included within the genus Craspedolepta.

Host selection by the hickory timber beetle, Xyleborus celsus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), was studied using axe-girdled, herbicide-treated, and healthy black hickories, Carya texana (Buckley), 10–25 cm D.B.H. Many more beetles were caught on sticky traps placed on treated trees than on sticky trees placed on untreated trees. Traps on treated trees 17 cm D.B.H. or larger caught more beetles than traps on trees 10–15 cm D.B.H. The interval between treatment and initial beetle attack varied with season. Beetles were not attracted to window flight traps baited with 118 ml of 95% ethanol.

The susceptibility of female spruce budworm moths to ULV aerial sprays of aminocarb and phosphamidon was dependent on the proportion of the total complement of eggs a female had laid. Females which laid few eggs were not killed by the insecticides whereas spent and almost-spent females were killed. Methods are described for determining the number of eggs a female has laid, the number of eggs she has to lay, and her total fecundity. These methods are used to evaluate the efficacy of ULV aerial sprays against budworm moths.

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).

Scelio spp. are important parasites of grasshopper eggs in many countries of the world. However, no information regarding these species is available for Pakistan. Therefore, a study was undertaken to record incidence, distribution, and biology of important species of Pakistan during 1970–74. Some species of Scelio such as S. hieroglyphi, S. sp. ? mauritanicus, Scelio sp. B and C, S. sp. nr. popovi, and Scelio sp. A are restricted in distribution; the first four species are host specific while others can parasitize many hosts. S. aegyptiacus, S. sp. nr. serdangensis, and S. sp. ? tristis are polyphagous and found in many areas of Pakistan. Mortality ranging between 3% and 69% of grasshopper eggs due to factors other than parasitism also occurs. Large sized egg-pods are partially parasitized as grasshopper nymphs also emerge along with the parasites, whereas in pods with fewer eggs nothing except the parasites emerge and are called fully parasitized. Of the nine species of Scelio reared from 3708 egg-pods of 16 grasshopper species, biology of S. aegyptiacus, S. hieroglyphi, and Scelio sp. A was studied which is almost identical in all the species. Immature stages comprising egg, 2 larval instars, and pupa of S. aegyptiacus are developed at 31.5°C ± 3 in 2–3, 10–11, and 7–8 days respectively. The female has the capacity to lay 121–135 eggs. Prior to oviposition, mating lasting 1–2 min takes place and a hole is drilled in the froth-plug. Freshly laid egg-pods are preferred over old during parasitization.

The following new taxa are described: Neoepicorsia fuscalis n. sp., Peru; Epicorsia chicalis n. sp., British Honduras; Protepicorsia quincemila n. sp., Peru; P. sordida n. sp., Bolivia; Ceuthobotys n. gen., type-species C. penai n. sp., Peru; Adoxobotys n. gen., type-species A. cacida (Dyar), n. comb., described in Pionea, also including A. discordalis (Dyar), n. comb., likewise described in Pionea, and A. cristobalis n. sp., Mexico; Hahncappsia suarezalis n. sp., Bolivia.

Pyrausta furvulalis n.n. is proposed to replace P. furvalis Hampson, 1913, nee Eversmann, 1842. P. furvulalis belongs in Neoepicorsia, becoming Neoepicorsia furvulalis (Munroe), n. comb.

Noorda flavidalis Hampson and Psara melanosoma Hampson are transferred to Protepicorsia, forming new combinations. P. melanosoma is sunk as a new synonym of P. flavidalis. P. flavidalis and the closely related P. sordida are the first reported mimetic Protepicorsia.

Phlyctaenia praxitalis Druce, Botys lautalis Lederer, and Boeotarcha fallalis Schaus are transferred to Hahncappsia as new combinations. H. fallalis is sunk as a new synonym of H. lautalis.

Lectotypes are designated for Psara melanosoma Hampson and Phlyctaenia praxitalis Druce.

The new and transferred taxa are characterized, differentiated, and illustrated.

Pitfall trapping was carried out in a southern Ontario apple orchard for 3 years. The three commonest carabids collected were Harpalus affinis Schr., Pterostichus melanarius Ill., and Amara spp. Variation in activity was related to mean air temperatures in P. melanarius but not in the other two species. The use of pitfall traps in enclosures showed that none of the above species use flight as the principal means of locomotion. Immature H. affinis adults probably undergo a dispersal flight in July. Amara spp. and P. melanarius both fly within the orchard to some extent.

Polyacrylamide gel (6%) electrophoresis (at pH 8.2) of the thoraces of adult Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood revealed three xanthine oxidase (XO) phenotypes and six aldehyde oxidase (AO) phenotypes. Each enzyme was postulated to be under the control of a single locus, XO with two alleles and AO with three alleles. Gene frequencies were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for both loci in two laboratory populations. Breeding experiments provided direct evidence for single locus control of each enzyme. No significant differences in phenotype frequencies were observed between the colony maintained at the University of Alberta, Canada and the parent colony at the University of Bristol, England. A colony of highly inbred flies from the University of Bristol had only one phenotype of AO and of XO.

Airplane application of the insect growth regulator CGA 13353, a juvenile hormone mimic used experimentally against spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.), did not drastically reduce percentage parasitism in field samples of that host, but there was some evidence of susceptibility. Exploratory sampling of maple defoliators suggested that one species and its parasitoids suffered some mortality, but another species and its parasitoids did not. The treatment did not influence the viability of ant colonies.

Infections of Nosema pyrausta (Paillot 1927) Kotlan 1928, in egg masses of Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner) used to artificially infest maize did not significantly decrease the ability of the infected larvae to migrate to adjacent plants. When 25% of the egg masses placed on the plants contained N. pyrausta, the resulting larvae had an incidence and an intensity of infection significantly greater than those of the controls. If 100, 75, 50, and 25% of the infesting eggs were infected by N. pyrausta, the number of larvae per plant were reduced by 72.0, 44.0, 29.3, and 38.7% respectively. N. pyrausta was transmitted via contaminated frass. The result was a reduction in populations of O. nubilalis larvae.

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.

Chrysonotomyia (Achrysocharella) is represented in North America by three species groups. The formosa group includes damastes (Walker), formosa (Westwood), and ovulorum (Ratzeburg); the punctiventris group includes punctiventris (Crawford), gracillariae n. sp., hyphantriae n. sp., and borealis n. sp.; and the diastatae group includes diastatae (Howard). Keys, descriptions, host records, and comparison of the subgenera Achrysocharella Girault and Chrysonotomyia Ashmead are included. New synonymies and new combinations of names representing material incorrectly placed under Achrysocharella are also included.

We found a constant spatial distribution of percentage plants without cotton fleahoppers (Pseudatomoscelis seriatus (Reuter)) with Y = ae−bx for 0.019 to 5.4 mean per plants fitted with and without data source variables of fields, dates (years and weeks of 1 year), life stage, sample size, and location. Results include a sampling plan.

Oviposition by Trichogramma californicum Nagaraja and Nagarkatti into physiological saline encapsulated in paraffin droplets is influenced by the concentration of the liquid, population density of the parasite, and the addition of sugars, vitamins, and amino acids. Oviposition occurred within a concentration range of 0.43–1.28% NaCl, but there was no significant difference in the number of eggs deposited. Chances of oviposition generally increased with the increase of population density of the parasite and a minimum density of T. californicum females was required for oviposition. A phenomenon of enhancement, such that oviposition in any one vial is confined to one of the three droplets exposed, is recorded for certain media. However, this phenomenon was removed by addition of RNA, casein hydrolysate, or by use of Grace’s tissue culture medium without insect plasma and Grace’s modified medium with bovine and egg derivatives. Eggs deposited into 2 paraffin droplets containing modified Grace’s medium developed to the second instar larval stage.

Second-stage nymphs of the leaffooted pine seedbug, Leptoglossus corculus (Say), were highly susceptible to most of 34 topically applied insecticides, twenty-six chemicals ad Ld50 values of less than 5 μg/g of body weight. Nine insecticides — aldicarb, aminocarb, azinphosmethyl, carbofuran, dicrotophos, FMC 45498 ((−)-(Cyano) (3-phenoxyphenyl)-methyl (+)-cis-3-(2,2-dibromovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylate), monocrotophos, propoxur, and SD 43775 (Cyano(3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl-4-chloro-alpha-(1-methylethyl)benzeneacetate) — had LD90 values of less than 1 μg/g of body weight. There was good agreement between the relative toxicities of insecticides applied topically to the leaffooted pine seedbug in these laboratory tests and the effectiveness of several insecticides previously tested in the field.

The photoperiodic reaction in North American codling moth populations displayed clinal-type variation similar to populations in Europe. A latitudinal shift of 10° to the north corresponded to an increase of 1.25 h in the critical photoperiod. Intrapopulation variance in diapause response appeared to be similar in populations of different origin. The critical photoperiod was not constant for a geographic population but varied between years probably due to the modifying effect of prediapause temperatures. In Michigan and other areas in the northeastern United States with similar climate the codling moth is essentially bivoltine with considerable yearly variability in second generation emergence. A graphic model is presented which gives an estimate of voltinism and the proportion of diapausing first-generation larvae based on the seasonal heat unit total at the time of diapause initiation. From an analysis of original data and historical phenological records an algorithm was developed which describes the relationship between effective temperatures and the variance of second generation emergence and which can predict population curves for climatically different years. Use of this predictive method in conjunction with monitoring information provided by a pheromone trap is discussed.

In this paper, a discussion of aspects of the external morphology of Nearctic Craspedolepta Enderlein, 1921 (Homoptera: Psylloidea) is presented. The discussion concerns those structures of the head, thorax, abdomen, and genitalia which were investigated during the course of a systematic and taxonomic study of the genus. It includes, where appropriate, reference to and comparison with other publications on psyllid morphology, especially where the current study illuminates previous discussions of psyllids.

The digestive section of the midgut of Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood contains a phosphatase with a pH optimum of approximately 9.2 and with low substrate specificity; the enzyme was classified as an alkaline phosphatase (E.C. 3.1.3.1).

Polyacrylamide gel (6%) electrophoresis (at pH 8.9) of the digestive portion of the midguts of adult G. morsitans morsitans revealed three alkaline phophatase phenotypes. Midgut phosphatase was postulated to be under control of a single locus (designated alkph) with two alleles. Gene frequencies were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in two laboratory populations while a third, highly inbred population had only one phenotype. Phenotype frequencies were not significantly different among females of various ages from the Edmonton colony. Breeding experiments provided direct evidence for single locus control of midgut phosphatase.