Use of gerrids (Hemiptera: Gerridae) as primary hosts by the solitary egg parasitoid Lathromeroidea sp.nov. is established and parasitoid reproductive behaviour is described. Four species of Limnoporus (L. dissortis Drake and Harris, L. notabilis Drake and Hottes, L. rufoscutellatus Latreille, and L. esakii Miyamoto) and two of Gerris (G. buenoi Kirkaldy and G. pingreensis Drake and Hottes) were successfully parasitized in the laboratory. A greater proportion of wasps eclosed successfully from eggs of Gerris than from Limnoporus. Host size was directly proportional to both weight and body length of adult parasitoids. Sex ratios were female-biased, with males emerging before females.

Transport and dispersal of odours by air currents is considered an important factor in scolytid response to attractant sources. This viewpoint provides explanations for some puzzling field observations and data, and helps identify significant questions about scolytid flight behaviour. There is a need for "odour meteorology", which would be concerned with the rates and types of odour distribution near the ground, and would provide a basis for the most effective use of chemical attractants in natural environments.

The name Linnaemya has been used in America and to a lesser extent in Europe for a collection of rather distinct elements linked together by the following characters:

Large robust forms, 8-15 mm. long; eyes densely haired; antennae large, the third segment truncate at the tip; second aristal segment somewhat elongate; palpi reduced in length, as long as the second antennal segment or reduced to mere papillae; epistoma strongly warped forward, the antennal and oral margin axes about the same length; bend of the fourth vein with a strong appendage, the apical cell open far before the wing tip; abdomen stout, bearing at least one pair of discal bristles on the intermediate segments.

The effect of temperature on the age-specific fecundity and the survival of apterous and alate virginoparous pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), from Kamloops, B.C., was measured. Demographic statistics were estimated for 10.3°, 14.8°, 19.7°, 26.1°, and 27.8°C constant and for fluctuating field temperatures. On a 24-h-day time-scale, temperature and longevity were inversely related in both morphs; total fecundity was highest at average and low constant temperatures. On a physiological time-scale, the intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was insensitive to changes in constant temperature in the range between 10° and 20°C; temperatures above 25°C were detrimental to aphid population growth and survival. Alate virginoparae generally had a longer pre-reproductive period and achieved a lower mean total fecundity than apterae maintained under identical conditions. The usefulness of laboratory measurements for the prediction of population growth under variable field temperatures is discussed. Differences in the reproductive patterns of alate and apterous pea aphids are considered in the context of the r- and K-hypothesis of selection.

Egg-protein patterns from 23 insect species representing seven orders were obtained by acrylamide gel electrophoresis. The patterns were species specific and highly reproducible. Those for congeneric species were very similar and family resemblances were apparent. The usefulness of egg-protein patterns in phylogenetic studies and in the analysis of closely related species was suggested.

Dispersal from earwig nests includes an inter-brood dispersal by female parents and two nymphal dispersals. One nymphal dispersal occurred in nature, but was not evident in the laboratory. The two other types were associated with heightened activity and a rejection of the nest in the laboratory. This locomotory behavior, which is probably adapted for dispersal, is termed “dispersive behaviour.”

This paper describes a new species of the genus Dasiops Rondani, which is known to be a primary pest of apricot fruits in California (Moffitt and Yaruss, 1961). In common with other Lonchaeidae, the adult of this species is small (about three mm. long) and rather stout; with a shining, metallic blue-black body; the female possesses a long, piercer-wpe ovipositor (Figs. 5-7) similar to that of otitids and trypetids. Other characters that serve to distinguish the family include: black halteres, hairy frons which is narrower in the male than in the female (Figs. 1, 2), a single, reclinate upper frontal bristle, diverging postvertical bristles, a row of bristles near posterior nargin of the mesopleuron, one or more sternopleural bristles and (usually) bare ptero- and hypopleuron. The genus Dasiops can be distinguished from other genera of Lonchaeidae by the presence of tiny, forwardly directed poststigmatal bristles which arise in the depression above the mesothoracic spiracle just cephalad of the anterodorsal corner of the mesopleuron.

The Lepidoptera of Ceylon, by F. Moore, F.Z.S., Vol. I., (published under the special patronage of the Government of Ceylon) London, L., Reeve ' Co., 1880–81. 4°.

The butterflies of the East India region apper to be now in a fair way of receiving their due share of attention. We have already called attention to Distant's invaluable work on the Malayan butteflies, and to the handbook to the butteflies of India and Burmah, by Marshall and De Nicéville. On many accounts neither ofthese is so important as the earlier work on the Lepidoptera of Ceylon by Frederick Moore, Which we desire to introduce to the readers of the Canadian Entomologist, principally on account of the very considerable accession to our knowledge of the eariler stages of eastern butterflies which is here given in the plates, and also to draw attention to the notes on the natural history of the insects given by Dr. Thwantes, which are emboided in the text.

Unequal responses to acephate and carbaryl were found among four populations of Douglas-fir tussock moth, Orgyia pseudotsugata (McDunnough). Within a single population, response of almost half of sibling groups tested with either toxicant differed significantly from one another. Using electrophoresis, we related variation in sibling group responses to quantitative differences in esterase isozymes. Potential use of genetic assays in pre-spray population surveys is discussed.

The strawberry cutworm, Amphipoea interoceanica (Smith), has recently become an important pest of strawberry plants in Manitoba (Ayre 1980) and Quebec (Mailloux and Bostanian 1985). Larvae damage or kill the plants and commercial plantings are sometimes heavily damaged. Strawberry cutworm is widely distributed in North America and is broadly sympatric with a morphologically similar species, Amphipoea americana (Speyer) (Forbes 1954), which is occasionally a pest of corn (Gibson 1920). Sex pheromones of these species have not been reported, although Roelofs and Comeau (1971) found that males of strawberry cutworm were attracted to (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (abbrev. Z9- 14:Ac). A sex attractant for strawberry cutworm would provide a convenient method for monitoring population levels in the vicinity of strawberry fields.

The eastern spruce budwonn, Choristoneuva fumiferana (Clem.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is subject to a variety of naturally occurring infectious diseases including nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV), granulosis virus (GV), cytoplasmic virus (CPV), and entomopox virus (EPV), of which the most intensively studied is NPV (CfMNPV) (Cunningham 1985). If CfMNPV is ever to be deemed an effective and economical alternative to chemical pesticides for spruce budworm control, additional research is required.

Conotrachelus neomexicanus Fall occurs throughout the range of Pinus ponderosa Laws. in the central and southwestern United States. It is commonly found infesting ponderosa pine cones in north-central Colorado. C. neomexicanus is univoltine. Eggs are laid in second-year cones from May through July. Larvae mine extensively in the cones and drop to the ground for pupation in the soil. Adults emerge from the soil in late summer and early fall, return to the trees to feed on twigs, and presumably hibernate in sheltered locations during the winter A tachinid fly, Myiophasia sp. nr. ruficornis Tns., is an internal parasitoid of weevil larvae.

There have been described, thus far, three N. American moths whose larvæ produce galls, or more or ress decided enlargements of the stems of their food-plant. They are, frrst, Gelechia gallæsolidaginis, described by Riley, with cuts, in the First Mo. Rept. at page 173; accompanying the description is an account of six parasites. Second, Walshia amorphilla, described by Clemens in Proc. Ent. Soc. phil., vol. ii., page 419 ; also an account of larva habits, etc., with cuts, is given in the Second Mo. Rept. at page 132. Third, Paedisca (Euryptychia) saligneana, dsscribed by Clemens in Proc. Ent, Soc. Phil., vol. v., page 141 ; an account of it also occurs in the Second Mo. Rept., page 134.

The genus Serropalpus differs from other genera in the tribe Serropalpini in having an almost obliterated suture between the prosternum and the episternum, long slender antennae, and strongly serrate maxillary palpi which have a cultriform terminal segment. It is like Phloeotrya and Dircaea in having a short prosternum before the anterior coxal cavity.