Labopidea chloriza Uhler (1877) is synonymized with Tinicephalus simplex Uhler (1872). Labopidea brooksi n. sp. is described from Alberta and Saskatchewan. Orthotylus discolor Sahlberg, a European species now known to occur in North America, is transferred to Labopidea. Nine species currently placed in Labopidea are here removed from that genus. The new combinations are as follows: Labopidea atriseta Van Duzee is transferred to Hesperocapsus Knight, Orthotylus insignis Van Duzee is transferred to Ilnacorella Knight, Labopidea viridula Knight is transferred to Melanotrichus Reuter, and Labopidea utahensis Knight is synonymized with Diaphnidia heidemanni Knight (= Brachynotocoris heidemanni). Labopidicola n. gen. is described and Labopidea idahoensis Knight, L. planifrons Knight, L. ainsliei Knight, L. allii Knight, and L. geminata Johnston are transferred to it. Key to species of Labopidea is given.

Two soil sampling techniques were used over a 2 year period to examine the distribution of carabid beetles in a pest management apple orchard in southern Ontario. Soil coring was the most suitable technique for investigating temporal and vertical distribution patterns. Horizontal distribution of individual carabid species was best examined by sampling the rhizosphere of the cover crop only. Comparison of the soil sampling results with those obtained from pitfall traps showed that in late summer carabid larvae are subterranean in habit, as are adults of Bradycellus rupestris Say and Amara spp. Carabid density was highest (289.1 m−2) in late summer and fall, and lowest in late winter. In most samples carabid density was greatest in the rhizosphere of the cover crop and decreased rapidly with increasing depth: few beetles were found at depths greater than 30 cm. In August, densities of the commonest adult carabids were greatest close to trees in the orchard and decreased with increasing distance from trees. The distribution of carabid larvae was not related to distance from the tree, but densities of larvae were higher to the south of trees, and lower to the north.

The length of mature, fusiform plasmatocytes is a suitable character for distinguishing between last instar larvae of the closely related species Euxoa annir (Streck) and E. lutulenta (Smith). This is a consistent character for a number of Euxoa species, but unreliable in E. altera (McD) where it changed in constant fashion during this stage. The relationship between plasmatocyte length and the duration of aestivation was also examined and showed no clear correlation.

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.

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

Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker), a grain aphid, contained 25.58% dry matter, of which 31.65% was fat, 2.58% sugar, and 39.44% protein. Foliage of the host for M. dirhodum, oats (Avena sativa L.), contained one-third the amount of dry matter, less than one-third as much fat, slightly less sugar, and about three-fifths the amount of protein as M. dirhodum. Phosphorus content was the same in M. dirhodum and its host, whereas oat foliage contained five times as much potassium, and twice as much calcium and magnesium as M. dirhodum. The limiting amino acid in both grain aphid and oat foliage was methionine. Protein scores, which are estimates of protein quality, were slightly lower for oat foliage than for M. dirhodum but both are valuable sources of food for predatory insects and other animals.

The variicornis-group of Gryon is proposed for 15 Neotropical species of which 12 are new to science: atrocoxalis (Ashmead) / Grenada & Trinidad, W.I., Brazil, Colombia/; cultratus n. sp. /Brazil/; david n. sp. /Panama/; goliath n. sp. /Panama/; helavai n. sp. /Panama/; hercules n. sp. /Brazil/; masoni n. sp. /Trinidad, W.I./; neotropicus n. sp. /Colombia, Ecuador/; peckorum n. sp. /Ecuador/; rothi n. sp. /USA/; scutellatus n. sp. /Brazil/; sinop n. sp. /Brazil/; titan n. sp. /Brazil/; tridentatus n. sp. /Ecuador/; and variicornis (Fouts) /Guyana, Panama, Nicaragua, Brazil, Colombia/. The systematic position of the group within Gryon is discussed.

An electroantennogram (EAG) technique, which indicates electrochemical activity in a whole antenna, was used to study sex pheromone reception in spruce budworm moth antennae. For both males and females the EAG exhibited a phasic depolarization, reaching maximum near the end of a puff stimulation, followed immediately by repolarization which was prolonged by increasing amounts as the source concentration of the pheromone was increased. The dose–response curves for both sexes were sigmoid in shape, but they indicated that female antennae have a higher threshold and a lower peak response than that of males. Antennal response changed with age, being a regular increase and decrease for females and irregular for males.

The posterior apophyses in terminal abdominal segments of female moths form part of the sex pheromone gland in each of three species examined (Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.) (Tortricidae), Trichoplusia ni (Hübner) (Noctuidae), Orgyia leucosligma (J.E. Smith) (Lymantriidae)). Four groups of paired dorsolateral muscles are attached to the anterior or posterior apophysis and the integument. An additional group is attached to the anterior and posterior apophyses. The probable relationship of these muscles to the eversion, or protrusion, and inversion of sex pheromone glands is discussed.

Chemical treatments to kill male San Jose scale, Quadraspidiotus perniciosus (Comstock), were applied to apples, pears, and peaches in Washington, Oregon, and California respectively. Dilute sprays of diazinon applied just prior to or at first emergence of overwintered males and 7 or 14 days thereafter were compared with normal sprays directed against scale crawlers. In all instances, treatments for male scale gave control equal to that provided by a single spray timed to control first generation crawlers.

Although the male sprays were effective, they do not fit well into current pest management programs. Complications with the male sprays included timing that coincided with petal fall on earlier varieties or full bloom on later varieties with potential for kill of pollinators; possible disruption of adult predators stressed by overwintering, and russeting of Golden Delicious apples from immediate post-bloom sprays. In all three crops, post-bloom male sprays would also be an added seasonal treatment. Current practices utilize pre-bloom sprays, or combine scale crawler control with sprays for codling moth, Laspeyresia pomonella (L.), peach twig borer, Anarsia lineateila Zeller, and/or mites in June.

Mating, oviposition, and flight in the satin moth, Leucoma salicis (L.), were studied in an aspen forest in Maine during 1975 and 1976. Adult eclosion normally occurred between 0800 h (EST) and 2300 h, with males emerging earlier both daily and seasonally. Female calling behavior and mating occurred shortly after sunset on the day of eclosion. Mating lasted ca. 19 h, terminating prior to sunset; low temperatures extended the period of mating. Multiple mating was observed in males and females. Oviposition normally occurred between 1600 and 2330 h. The largest egg masses were the first laid, with sequentially smaller masses laid on following days. Confined females laid an average of 4.6 egg masses containing a total of 650 eggs. Female flight normally followed oviposition of the first egg mass; thereafter, the period of daily flight often preceded oviposition. Male flight started at 0500 h, peaked between 1600 and 2100 h, and ended at 0130 h. Adult longevity under confined field conditions averaged 8.6 days for males and 9.4 days for females.

Dimilin (25% wettable powder) was mixed in water and sprayed from a Grumman Agcat aircraft equipped with four micronair units at the rate of 70 g (active ingredients) / 4,67 L/ha (1 oz/0.5 U.S. gal per acre) on two stands of trembling aspen, Populus tremuloides Michx., heavily infested with forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria Hübner. The material was applied when the insects were in the first and second instars and the trees were starting to flush. Spray deposit analysis using a dye, Rhodamine-B, in the spray mix and spray plates in the plots indicated that conditions for spraying in the morning were better than those in the evening as expected. Total control of the forest tent caterpillar with very little defoliation of the trees was achieved.

In laboratory tests on the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens), EL-494®, a new moult-inhibiting insect growth regulator, was found to be more active than Dimilin. The EC50 determined by diet tests was 0.205 ppm for the 3rd, 0.249 for the 4th, 0.287 for the 5th, and 0.486 for the 6th instars. Stadial sensitivity was not detected.

In greenhouse tests this compound was found to be resistant to leaching and UV-degradation; the compound remained active on spruce foliage for at least 15 days. In preliminary field tests EL-494 showed good potential as a control agent.

A vehicle-mounted trap for collecting airborne insects is described. Air enters at 1.9 m wide × 0.7 m high funnel and escapes through 12.5 mesh/cm nylon netting; insects are concentrated and directed into a removable receiving bag. The trap is durable, inexpensive, simple to construct and install, and can be transported in a station wagon or pickup truck.

Ametropus neavei McDunnough populations apparently inhabit only large rivers. In the Athabasca River of northeastern Alberta, Canada, the species has an univoltine life cycle, with some overlap of generations. There appears to be an extended emergence period (June and July), the nymphs are found in flowing water at depths greater than 0.5 m, and the population is almost entirely small-particle detritivores.

A new genus and species of Heptageniidae (Ephemeroptera) is based on a series of nymphs and reared female adults from the Saskatchewan River, Saskatchewan. Descriptions of female and nymphal Macdunnoa nipawinia n. gen., n. sp., of the subfamily Heptageniinae, are given along with notes on the biology. The genus has no close North American relatives, but is allied to heptageniid genera from southeast Asia.

Companionate planting is one of many insect control strategies propounded by organic growers. A variety of herbs are purported to possess repellent properties to many insect pests of vegetables (Rodale 1975; Yepsen 1976; Hill 1976; Anonymous 1977a). According to Atsatt and O'Dowd (1976), repellent plants are members of plant defense guilds which prevent herbivores from locating their hosts. Perrin and Phillips (1978) reviewed the elements of natural pest control characteristic of mixed cropping systems and outlined suggestions for transferring these elements to “agronomically acceptable” monocultures. However, very little work has been done to substantiate these claims and field evidence of the protective properties of companionate plants is, therefore, warranted. This becomes all the more important because of the dramatic increase in home gardening recently in North America. It is estimated that 33 million home and community gardens were grown in the United States during 1976 and 1977 (Anonymous 1977b). Here we describe the results of field experiments in which we sought to quantify the effect of companionate plants against major lepidopteran pests of cabbage in southside Virginia.