Frequently descriptive entomology suffers from a lack of precise data on specimen colour. Since colour is rarely defined and since an effective technique is available, the authors suggest that greater consideration be given colour analysis. A simple procedure is outlined in relation to colour analysis of specimens undergoing degreasing.

Although wood species was a statistically significant influence on percentages of eggs that hatched and larvae that tunneled into wood, these percentages were > 85% on most woods tested. Of eight test woods, yellow-poplar sapwood was preferred for egg-laying and was best for larval survival and growth. Slash pine was also favorable for egg-laying, survival, and growth. Beetles laid more eggs on Douglas-fir plywood and sweetgum than on shortleaf pine, but larvae did not survive in the plywood, and tunneled extensively without appreciable growth in sweetgum; larvae survived and grew well in shortleaf pine. The beetle life cycle is at least 2 years in favorable woods and may be 3–5 years in unfavorable woods.

Chrysocharis laricinellae (Ratz) is a European parasite of the larch casebearer, Coleophora laricella (Hbn.), and was one of several species introduced into eastern North America in the 1930's for biological control. Following their release, C. laricinellae and the braconid Agathis pumila (Ratz.) became established and reduced casebearer poulations drastically (Graham 1949). Both parasites are now being used for biological control of the casebearer in western North America. A. pumila was first released in northern Idaho in 1960 (Denton 1979). C. laricinellae was not intentionally released until 1972 (Ryan and Denton 1973), although it probably became established in certain areas earlier (Ryan et al. 1974). The purpose of this paper is an historical documentation of the early distribution and relative abundance of C. laricinellae, made possible largely because of an extensive, one-time survey in 1977 by entomologists of the USDA Forest Service, Northern Region (Flavell 1979).

Biosteres melleus (Gahan), Diachasma alloeum (Muesebeck), D. ferrugineum (Gahan), Opius canaliculatus Gahan, O. downesi Gahan (all Braconidae), and an undescribed Psilus sp. (Diapriidae) emerged from puparia of Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) collected in Connecticut during 1977 and 1978. Percentage parasitism ranged from 7.9 to 36.8% in flies on hawthorn and from 0.0 to 23.9% in flies on apple. It exceeded 5.0% in only 5 (22.7%) of 22 samples from apple. Higher rates of parasitism usually occurred at sites where other hosts of apple maggot parasitoids probably infested fruits on nearby plants.

A new genus, Valdiviodes, and species, V. ashworthi, of Quediini from Chile are described and illustrated. The biology of the species is briefly discussed. A key to the Chilean genera of Quediini is given.

Confined to the nearctic region the Myrmica lampra group includes two related species without worker caste that probably live as parasites in the colonies of Myrmica alaskensis. The morphological characteristics of this new group are given, and a new species, M. quebecensis, is described. The taxonomic relationships of the group within the genus are discussed; they support the conclusion that the palaearctic subgenus Dodecamyrmica must be rejected as artificial.

Studies have been undertaken with artificial food sprays in an attempt to increase the efficacy of predators against pests of corn (Schiefelbein and Chiang 1966; Carlson and Chiang 1973), alfalfa and cotton (Hagen et al. 1970), peppers (Hagen and Hale 1974), and potatoes (Ben Saad and Bishop 1976). It was believed that such sprays might attract predators into the crop ecosystem and keep them there particularly during periods when natural foods were in poor supply. Also, the availability of sufficient alternative food might induce these species to lay eggs even when natural host populations were low.

A multiple regression analysis was used to establish which weather factors and population parameters were important in determining the emergence pattern of the spring flight of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hbn.), as measured by light trap catches. Equations which estimated the slope and intercept of a line representing the probit of cumulative percentage emergence vs. degree days had as independent variables the intercept of the previous year’s regression line and the average temperature for the preceding September, December, February, and April. A comparison of methods used to estimate the emergence pattern showed that the average deviation of the average date method was 5.0 days, the average slope and intercept method 2.8 days, and multiple regression method 1.6 days.

Aphis heraclella Davis is synonymized with A. helianthi Monell. This is concluded from the following evidence: (1) the apparent lack of any morphological distinction between these taxa, (2) the phenology of host plant occupation in the field, and (3) host transfer studies.

Many factors have been examined that affect simuliid larval distribution in a stream but little has been published on interspecific competition influencing their distribution. Certain black fly species distribute themselves over a suitable substrate in a regular manner with an open space around each larva. The individuals of these species will strike at others entering within this space resulting in the departure of one or other of the combatants. This establishes a regular pattern of spaced larvae of a certain density, which may be influenced by current velocity, over areas of suitable substrate (Colbo 1979). However, larvae of other species clump without apparent spacing and less readily move when contacted.

The adult stage of Drunella allegheniensis (Traver) is described for the first time. Characters separating it from the closely related D. tuberculata (Morgan) are summarized, and the existing taxonomic key to the group is modified to include D. allegheniensis. Other species of Ephemeroptera associated with D. allegheniensis are reported along with observations on its biology.

Experimental ecologists have frequently used cages to facilitate their understanding of ecological systems. This has been particularly true of ecologists studying aphids and other small insects, and a variety of cage designs have been described, ranging from small screened tents to sleeve cages to clip cages (see Adams and van Emden, 1972). The purpose of this note is to describe a modified clip cage design that is suitable for use on irregular cylindrical surfaces as well as on leaves.

While preparing the Agrilus portion for a handbook on the Buprestidae of Canada and Alaska, an item of nomenclatural interest was discovered. I wish to thank Dr. G. H. Nelson, Pomona, California for his review of this note.

The pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), has become increasingly important as a primary pest of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., in the Lower Colorado Desert of western North America. New species of natural enemies have not become established although annual parasite releases have shown some favorable results (Legner and Medved 1979). The effects of a pyrethroid, female sex pheromone, and annual parasite releases on pink bollworm suppression were studied and compared.

An increment borer (5 mm core diam.) was adapted for collecting recently attacking ambrosia beetles, Trypodendron retusum LeC., in trembling aspen, Populus tremuloides Michx. Although increment borers have been used to collect stem nematodes and stem fungi (Cordell and Stombaugh 1966), this appears to be the first use for insect collection. Previously, ambrosia beetles were collected using a hatchet and knife which was tedious and injured many specimens.

On 20 April 1978, Mr. Paul Thompson, Program Co-ordinator, Food Production & Inspection Branch, Agriculture Canada, found a dead grasshopper in a meadow near the Canadian National Steamship Terminal at Port aux Basques, Newfoundland. The insect was identified by Dr. D. K. McE. Kevan, Department of Entomology, Macdonald College, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, as an adventive male lubber grasshopper, Brachystola magna (Girard). This is the first record of the lubber grasshopper in ~ewfoundland

The three most important flea beetle pests of western Canadian rape crops appear to be selective in choosing their overwintering sites, as the greatest densities of overwintering adults of Phyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze) and Psylliodes punctulata Melsh. were found in leaf litter and turf beneath hedges and(or) shelterbelts, while that of Phyllotreta striolata (F.) was found in these materials beneath groves of native trees. Most beetles overwintered near the surface in leaf litter and turf rather than in the underlying soil. Within a habitat, sample to sample variation for each species was usually large and the overwintering populations appear to have an aggregated distribution pattern. Winter samples over a 6-year period from all five habitat types combined or from parkland groves reflected the continuously low level of the field population of Psylliodes punctulata, and a marked increase in the field population of P. striolata that occurred in one year. Winter samples taken from hedges and(or) shelterbelts provided little information on population sizes or trends except for indicating the general low level of the Psylliodes punctulata population. Winter mortality was low for all three species. The foregoing information will be useful for developing future sampling plans so that overwintering flea beetle populations can be estimated more reliably.

Laboratory rearing of the white cutworm, Euxoa scandens (Riley), a pest of flue-cured tobacco in Quebec and asparagus in Michigan, has been hindered to some extent by a disease. This note describes the microsporidium which caused the disease and techniques that inhibit the development of the pathogen.

The first outbreak of Dutch elm disease in Manitoba was recorded in 1975 in Brandon, Selkirk, and Winnipeg (Hildahl 1977). The primary vector of the disease in Canada is the native elm bark beetle, Hylurgopinus rufipes (Eichh.). The smaller European elm bark beetle, Scolytus multistriatus (Marsh.), is considered the primary vector in most of the United States. In Canada, the latter species occurs throughout most of southern Ontario, parts of south-central Quebec, and has been recorded in New Bmnswick (Sterner et al. 1976).

Multiyear benefits or carryover effects of single treatments of Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) have been suggested in a few reports. Morris (1977) noted that over 2 to 3 years after treatment both defoliation by and oviposition rates of the spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) were lower in B.t.-treated plots than in untreated plots. Smirnoff et al. (1974) suggested that “metabolic perturbations” in survivors of B.t. treatments affected fecundity and numbers the following year. With other insects, Ruelle et al. (1977) suggested multigenerational effects in the browntail moth, Euproctis chrysorrhoea, and Pruett et al. (1980) described an “exceptional” case with the Siberian silkworm, Dendrolimus sibericus, where over-wintering larvae harbored sublethal infections of B.t., which spread to subsequent generations.