When in 1948 I first made the acquaintance of the mite about to be described I was intrigued with the idea that a form morphologically so similar to those described by Oudemans, 1915 and Hirst 1928 should come from such a different habitat. Whilst recognizing the totally different geographical areas, sphagnum bogs of boreal Canada as opposed to humid forests of tropical Ceylon and Malaya, the question arises as to whether the micro-habitat in which these three species live is so totally different. From the published material available (vide Thienemann 1928-29), which I admit is not very extensive, there does not seem to be much chemical difference between the waters of Nepenthes and those of Sarracenia. The similarity of these two micro-habitats is further substantiated by the fact that copepods of the genus Parastenocaris have been found in the pitchers of Sarracenia which closely resemble those described by Menzel 1921, Chappius 1931 and Thienemann 1928-29 (quoting from Ghosh, no reference given) from the water of Nepenthes. The question of distribution over such great distances and over what must be long ages poses certain difficulties which can only be answered when we know more about the past history and distribution of pitcher plants and mites. The possession of an hypopial stage by all three species does offer some help in the problem but the further question of how the Canadian mites have adapted themselves to the rigours of a northern winter is difficult to understand.

This note reports an extension in the known distribution of the species Ancistrocerus parietum (Linnaeus) in Canada, and a few observations on its nesting habits.

A. parietum is a European species that, according to Requaert (1943), was recently introduced into North America, it being first recorded from Ithaca, N.Y., in 1916. Bequaert suggested that the species was gradually extending its range in North America. He noted its occurrence in the northeastern United States, as far west as Michigan and as far south as Ohio and New Jersey. He noted two Canadian records (Montreal and Kamouraska County, Quebec).

Six North American species of leafhoppers of the genus Aphrodes were listed, with 36 synonyms, by Oman (1949). Examination of the male genitalia has revealed not more than four species. Because of the extensive individual variation it is often difficult to identify some of the species on external characters alone. The male genitalia, however, show good specific characters (Figs. 1-5).

With the increased availability of radioisotopes and their application to the study of insect behaviour and dispersal, the possibility of using a radio-active tag on grasshoppers was investigated. Preliminary studies on the distribution of radio-active phosphorus (P32) in Melanoplus mexicanus mexicanus (Sauss.) and Camnula pellucida (Scudd.) were carried out by Murray (1949) and Fuller (1950). The P32, in the form of phosphate ion, was placed on food plants in drop form, or the leaves were dipped in an aqueous solution containing the phosphate ion. When this was fed to the grasshoppers over 50 per cent of the activity was excreted, but the amount retained was distributed throughout the body. The highest activities were recorded for the thorax and the metathoracic legs. The radio-activity apparently had no ill effects on the grasshoppers. However, more specific data were required to determine how well the applied activity is taken up and how long it is retained.

On page 158, Vol. 86, lines 20-25 should read as follows:—

11. Shape of body tadpole-like; 2 reddish-brown spots on top of head; yellow-green dorsolateral stripe (fat bodies) on abdomen and part of thorax—Nematinus unicolor (Marlatt)

Shape of body not tadpole-like; markings on head as in Fig. 3; yellow-green addorsal line (fat bodies) on body; 3 yellow-green lines (fat bodies) on posterior segments…Pristiphora siskiyouensis Marlatt

While examining the collections of immature stages of Simuliidae made at Jasper, Alta., in 1932, by Mr. J. D. Gregson, Livestock Insect Laboratory, Kamloops, B.C., I recently found a female pupa of the rare and remarkable family commonly called “mountain midges”. The group consists of a single genus, Deuterophlebia Edwards (1922), in which four Asiatic and two North American species are recognized, although there are, also, a few records of unidentified larvae and pupae. Muttkowski (1927) first recorded the family on this continent, and Pennak (1945, 1951) and Wirth (1951) have described the two Nearctic species. Pennak (1945) has also summarized the published information on the distribution, habits, and morphology of the group.

In tests of bacteria pathogenic for defoliating insects, previous workers used water suspensions of the microorganisms and contaminated the foliage fed to the insects hy dipping or spraying (1, 2). Where a quantitative result is sought such procedures have some limitations. The waxy cutin present on leaf surfaces, and this is especially true of the foliage of coniferous trees, encourages the formation of surface droplets and makes it extremely difficult to achieve uniform spreading of the bacterial suspension. In addition; the cutin interferes with the adhesion of the dried suspension to the leaf surface. To overcome these difficulties, certain adhesive agents, such as peptones, milk solids, albumin, etc., have been used, but these too are open to objection. If it is desired to reproduce as closely as possible a natural infective process, the use of protein products introduces a new variable and occasionally renders the foliage unpalatable to the insect.

This paper deals with two sawfly species, Neodiprion americanus banksianae Roh. and N. lecontei (Fitch), important defoliators of pines in eastern North America. It is concerned chiefly with the reactions of the larvae to light and forms part of an investigation of their behaviour in response to physical factors of the environment.

Early in September, 1953, an examination of 370 first-generation pupae of the onion maggot, Hylemya antiqua (Mg.), collected from large field rearing cages at St. Jean, Que., revealed that 41, or 11.1 per cent, were parasitized. The parasite was identified as Spalangia rugosicollis Ashm. Dr. O. Peck, Systematic Entomology Unit, Entomology Division, Ottaiva. Dr. Peck (in litt.) stated that this is the first record of this parasite attacking the onion maggot and thatthe Nearctic species in this genus have been greatly confused.

The main objective of the present work was to investigate the ability of grasshopper nymphs to escape an environment devoid of food plants and to reach a suitable food supply, either as a result of random dispersal or by marching. The immediate interest was in movement over recently tilled surfaces. It was also desired to investigate the external factors that might influence such movement.

A chlorotic spotting of the foliage of black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis L.) is widespread in the coastal regions of British Columbia. The spotting first appears in June and new spots continue to develop during July and August. By mid-July, spotting occurs on virtually all plants, although its incidence varies considerably and, on some plants, only a few leaflets are affected.

An apparently undescribed Amphorophora was received from Richard Stace-Smith of the Canada Agriculture Plant Pathology Laboratory, Vancouver, B.C., Canada. This species produced leaf symptoms on Munger black raspberry, Rubus occidentalis, which differed from anything associated with the feeding of Amphorophora rubi (Kaltenbach). An examination was made of the material by Professor M. A. Palmer, Dr. F. C. Hottes and the writer. This failed to place this blackberry aphid as a described species. Therefore, it is here described as new.

In August, 1953, the proprietor of an earthworm-propagating establishment in Vancouver, British Columbia, reported that her propagating boxes were infested with small, dark-brown beetles. Specimens of the beetles were identified by Professor M. H. Hatch, University of Washington, as of Quedius (Microsaurus) mesomelinus (Marsh.), Coleoptera, Staphylinidae.

During the summer of 1951, a number of full-grown larvae of the European corn borer, Pyrausta nubilalis (Hbn.), that died while being held in cold storage lor experimental use at the Entomology Laboratory, Chatham, Ontario, were forwarded to the Kingston laboratory for diagnosis. Microscopic examination showed that the dead larvae cnntaincd a hard core of fungous mycelium.