Three new nearctic species of Simuliidae near Simulium vernum Macquart are described and illustrated: Simulium craigi n.sp., S. caledonense n.sp., and S. decolletum n.sp. Descriptions of larval polytene chromosomes are included. Notes on biology and distribution are given for each species and larval comparisons are made with three European siblings in the S. vernum complex.

The effects of age, egg development, and mating on calling behavior of the bertha armyworm, Mamestra configurata Walker, were studied at 20°C, 60% RH, and a 16-h L: 8-h D photoperiod. Most virgin females called and copulated for the first time during the second or third scotophase after emergence. The first copulation was 17.0 ± 0.2 h (mean±SE) long and was terminated within 1 h after lights off in the scotophase following the initiation of copulation. The ovaries contained the first chorionated eggs before the beginning of the second scotophase after emergence. The first egg laying occurred during the same scotophase in which the first copulation was terminated, i.e. scotophase three or four. Almost 75% of the eggs were laid by the end of the seventh scotophase after emergence. Mated females resumed calling after a refractory period of about 2 days. Once calling was resumed after copulation, most females laid eggs and called nightly, with egg laying occurring during the first 5–6 h and calling during the last 2–3 h of the scotophase. Mated females called for a shorter period during each scotophase than virgin females of the same age (1–3 h vs. 4–6 h). In virgin females, the diel periodicity of calling was advanced and the length of the daily calling period was increased with age until the seventh scotophase after emergence; thereafter, both remained relatively unchanged.

The genus Pharpa is erected to include three species of Braconidae in the subfamily Agathidinae, viz. P. dubiosum (Szépligeti), P. basimacula (Cameron), and P. simulatrix (Cameron) all new combinations. Microdus albitarsis Cameron is newly synonymized with P. basimacula (Cameron). The genus Pharpa is distributed widely throughout the neotropics from southern Mexico to northern Argentina. Phylogenetic relationships with other agathidine genera are discussed, as is the possibility that the various species represent a polytypic, conspecific, mimetic complex.

The temporal relationship between male and female emergence and the relationship between attractant-baited trap catches and emergence of the spotted tentiform leafminer, Phyllonorycter blancardella (Fabr.), were studied in commercial apple orchards in Norfolk County, Ontario, during 1983 and 1984. The onset and progression of male and female emergence was highly synchronized during each of the three-yearly activity periods. The traps were a sensitive indicator of the onset of the spring-emergence period. However, peaks in the numbers of moths trapped did not occur at times of peak moth emergence and changes in the size of trap catches were not a reliable indicator of changes in the rate of moth emergence. During the spring-emergence period, peaks in trap catch were associated with relatively high daily air temperatures.

Life tables for Coleophora laricella (Hübner) at three locations in Oregon were completed for six generations from overwintering larvae in 1978–1979 through overwintering larvae in 1984–1985. Egg densities (per 100 buds) were high (range 279–1038) at Catherine Creek, moderate (49–705) at Tollgate, and low (14–200) at Emigrant Springs. Mortality of early stages was in the order CC>T>ES and tended to equalize overwintering densities. Ten within-generation mortalities (k-values) were calculated. Adult mortality (or reduced fecundity) was always highest. The key factor at Tollgate was mortality of needleminers along with winter-to-spring disappearance. At Catherine Creek, the key factor was mortality of fall casebearers. At Emigrant Springs, the expanding population of an introduced parasite, Agathis pumila (Ratz.), indicated a change in the key factor from mortality of needleminers to parasitism. Mortality of fall casebearers at Emigrant Springs was density dependent. Parasitism caused by A. pumila and another introduced species, Chrysocharis laricinellae (Ratz.), showed characteristics of delayed density dependence.

Because egg production in Tabanus atratus, T. catenatus, T. lineola, T. quinquevittatus, and T. similis is not known in southwestern Quebec, potential fecundity and body size were evaluated respectively from the analysis of ovariole number and wing length in field-collected females. Ovariole number appears to be proportional to the third power of wing length, and fecundity indices can be derived from that relationship. Significant differences in body size and potential fecundity of the species suggest that there are different reproductive strategies within the genus Tabanus. Body size and potential fecundity varied significantly in both sampling years in T. lineola but not in T. quinquevittatus or T. similis. These results may prove useful in future studies of population dynamics or phylogeny.

Carbon dioxide increased by 9-fold on the average the number of Tabanus quinquevittatus Wiedemann females collected in canopy traps without affecting parity rates, prevalence of sperm and fructose, and stage of terminal follicle development within nullipars, pars, or both groups together. Results were consistent whether the 2 years were pooled or considered separately.

The olfactory responses of male and female diamondback moths (Plutella xylostella [L.]) to leaf extracts of the following plants were examined by behavioral and electrophysiological tests: white mustard (Brassica hirta cv. Ochre); Argentine canola (B. napus cv. Regent, B. napus cv. Westar); Polish canola (B. campestris cv. Tobin); and faba bean (Vicia faba). In behavioral tests both two-choice and four-choice situations were used. All extracts attracted more moths than the control except for Regent canola extract which attracted males only. White mustard extract was about twice as attractive as that of Regent or faba bean. White mustard and faba bean extracts appeared slightly more attractive to females than to males. Oviposition was greatly stimulated by white mustard extract, but other extracts had no significant effect. Electroantennogram (EAG) tests showed that both male and female moths perceived the plant extracts through antennal receptors. Antennae of females gave a stronger EAG response than those of males, especially to white mustard and faba bean extracts.

Rates of development of selected stages and complete development of the carrot weevil, Listronotus oregonensis (LeConte), were determined in the laboratory at controlled temperatures ranging from 17.5 to 30°C. Within that range of temperature, rates of development increased with temperature. Fitting the data to a cubic polynomial function provided an excellent description of the relationship between temperature and rate of development for all stages as shown by R2 values of at least 0.98.

Efficient sampling procedures for estimating densities of eggs of Douglas-fir cone gall midge (DFCGM), Contarinia oregonensis Foote, on individual trees as well as for orchards were developed from data collected in Douglas-fir seed orchards in 1978–1981. Egg distribution was contagious and generally fitted the negative binomial distribution on individual trees, but a common k could not be estimated. Tree and crown level affected density of midge eggs within orchards. Average density at the midpoint of the cone-bearing portion of the crown was not significantly different from the tree average. The optimum sampling pattern in an orchard, i.e. one conelet from the midpoint of the cone-bearing portion of each of 120 trees, would require 120 person-hours to process the samples when DFCGM egg densities are high (worst-case situation).

Damage at cone harvest by the Douglas-fir cone gall midge, Contarinia oregonensis Foote, was positively correlated with the number of egg-infested scales per conelet in the spring. Reducing the average number of galled seeds per cone by 1.5 increased the average number of filled seeds per cone by 1.0 in insecticide trials. Optimum sample sizes for estimating average densities of egg-infested scales were calculated to be one conelet per tree and 150 trees per orchard. The mean crowding variable was linearly related to average density so a sequential sampling technique relative to a critical density, using Iwao’s procedure, was developed for determining the need of control actions.

Sarcophagid larvae were occasionally found in pitcher-plant (Sarracenia purpurea L.) leaves from mid-June until early September during 1982–1984, in bogs located at The Pas (53°50′N, 101°15′W) and Patricia Beach (50°25′N, 96°36′W), Manitoba, and Kenora, Ontario (49°47′N, 94°29′W). Larvae were collected primarily from “new” leaves (current year's growth), but also from “old” leaves (leaves from the previous summer which retain water throughout the current season). Only one sarcophagid larva was found per leaf.

Insects are usually classified as either freeze-intolerant or freeze-tolerant (Danks 1978; Sømme 1982; Baust and Rojas 1985). Freeze-intolerant species cannot survive the formation of ice in their bodies and typically lower their supercooling points (SCP), the temperature of spontaneous ice formation, during the winter months (Sømme 1982). This is the lower lethal temperature for the insect, although prolonged exposure to temperatures above this may be harmful (Turnock et al. 1983). On the other hand, freeze-tolerant insects can survive the presence of ice crystals in their extracellular fluid and usually have nucleators that prevent supercooling below – 10°C (Zachariassen 1982).