Palaeopsychops dodgeorum sp. n. from the Early Eocene Okanagan Highlands of Quilchena, British Columbia, Canada is described. The systematic position of the genus Palaeopsychops Andersen, 2001 is discussed, interpreting this as most closely associated with Polystoechotidae. Osmylites protogaea (Hagen 1862) is considered as nomen nudum and an objective synonym of Osmylites excelsa (Oppenheim, 1888), syn. n.

Termite surveys from Buck, Culebra, Mona, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas, and Vieques islands yielded 1,564 colony samples from 274 sites. Twenty-one species were recorded including: Cryptotermes brevis, Cryptotermes havilandi, Cryptotermes rotundiceps, Cryptotermes undulans, Glyptotermes liberatus, Glyptotermes pubescens, Incisitermes bequaerti, Incisitermes furvus, Incisitermes incisus, Neotermes intracaulis n. sp., Neotermes mona, and Procryptotermes corniceps (Kalotermitidae); Coptotermes havilandi, Heterotermes sp., and Prorhinotermes simplex (Rhinotermitidae); and Anoplotermes n. sp. undescribed, Caribitermes discolor, Nasutitermes acajutlae, Nasutitermes costalis, Parvitermes wolcotti, and Termes hispaniolae (Termitidae). Of these, twelve are West Indian endemics, six have endemic ranges that include the tropical American mainland, and three are nonendemic pests. Distribution maps and keys based on the soldier caste and the winged imago are provided. Neotermes intracaulis, a new species from St. Croix, is described from the imago and soldier. Additional descriptions or redescriptions are given for G. liberatus (imago), I. incisus (imago and soldier), Ca. discolor (imago and soldier), and Pa. wolcotti (imago). An understanding of West Indian termite biogeography relies on current faunal distributions and the few fossil termites available from Hispaniola. Over-water dispersal of termites on flotsam is the most plausible mechanism for contemporary distributions, however, vicariate speciation cannot be discounted for species that are poor dispersalists. Faunal composition of Puerto Rican and the Virgin Islands termites suggest a biogeographical origin that is derived from both western and southern mainland sources.

We tested whether ant-provided enemy-free space was a possible mechanism to explain the distribution of myrmecophilous aphids and soft scales in jack pine forests of north-central Michigan. Populations of the aphid Cinara banksiana Pepper and Tissot decreased significantly when the Allegheny mound ant, Formica exsectoides Forel, was excluded from their colonies. A combination of inclusion/exclusion experiments indicated that mound ants provided enemy-free space for aphids against mirid predators. In the absence of ants, mirids were a significant source of mortality to aphids. When ants were present, significantly more aphids survived in the presence of mirids than when ants were not present. Additional direct benefits to aphids provided by ant tending were not detected. In contrast, the soft scale, Toumeyella parvicornis (Cockerell), did not gain enemy-free space from the lady-beetle Hyperaspis binotata (Say) in the presence of ants during this study. Lady-beetle larvae increased in number over 2 yr, and consumed large numbers of scales, which resulted in similar decreases of scale populations between ant-absent and ant-present treatments. This study indicates that an ant species can show differential effectiveness in providing enemy-free space to myrmecophilous homopterans.

Color variation has been reported within many species of Lepidoptera, and may be important in larval thermoregulation. Researchers have reported seasonal melanization and lack of yellow pigmentation in monarch larvae (Danaus plexippus L.). While the latter results from a recessive autosomal mutation, the source of variation in larval melanization is unclear. We measured the proportion of black, white, and yellow coloration on monarch fifth instars when larvae were reared in warm (32–22°C), control (27–17°C), or cold (20–10°C) temperature treatments. We found that temperature had a significant effect on monarch larval coloration. Larvae reared in a cold environment had more black and less white and yellow pigment than those reared in a warm environment. Because coloration affects absorption of radiant energy, color variation in response to temperature may be an ectothermic adaptation to suboptimal thermal conditions.

We tested several methods for assessing the mating status of male obliquebanded leafrollers, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). In four experiments, we established that the technique developed to determine mating status of male spruce budworms, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), can be used for C. rosaceana populations in western and eastern North America. Section seven of the primary simplex of the ductus ejaculatorius appeared opaque, with either a white or yellow coloration in virgin C. rosaceana males, but was clear for up to 6 days after copulation in mated males. This technique was used successfully to determine the mating status of males captured in pheromone-baited traps during the first flight of C. rosaceana in two consecutive seasons. In three laboratory experiments, we determined that the presence or absence of sclerotized bars on the surface of spermatophores dissected from female C. rosaceana is a reliable indicator of the mating status of the females’ partner. Spermatophores produced by virgin males had sclerotized barring, whereas those from once-mated males did not. This technique was used to demonstrate that the mating status of males mated to tethered, virgin females did not differ between pheromone-treated and nontreated control plots.

Details on the natural history and behavior of Nordus fungicola (Sharp) in Barro Colorado Island, Panama are presented. These beetles have bright coloration and wave their abdomen conspicuously. They feed on small drosophilid flies or fly larvae, and the typical grooming behavior after feeding is described. Beetles interacted aggressively with ants of the genus Ectatomma, and a preliminary experiment shows that beetles may use chemical secretions for defense. Male–male and male–female interactions, and copulatory courtship are described. Males were not observed guarding females after mating. Females are not receptive after copulation.

Feeding behavior of the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens), in multiple exposures to Foray 48B formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner subsp. kurstaki (Btk) was studied in the laboratory. A significant proportion of fourth- and fifth-instar larvae that were exposed to a Btk-contaminated food completely abstained from feeding on that food, even if these larvae had not previously been exposed to Btk-contaminated food. The occurrence of this behavior was higher in fourth-instar than in fifth-instar larvae and decreased with increasing fifth-instar weight. It is suggested that only larvae that have a reduced appetite can successfully abstain from feeding on the Btk-contaminated food over a 24-h period and that active ingredients of Btk or fermentation byproducts associated with the crystal/spore suspension are involved in the process. Spruce budworm did not exhibit aversion learning to Btk, which lead us to conclude that the field efficiency of multiple Btk applications should not be reduced by the behavioral response of spruce budworm larvae.

We investigated the patterns of total lipid, glycogen, hemolymph carbohydrate, and trichloroacetic acid-precipitable protein contents starting 8 h before puparium formation and throughout the whole metamorphosis of the Medfly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). In addition, during the early stages of metamorphosis, we measured the activity of acid proteinases and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), an important enzymatic link between amino acids and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Lipids accumulate during the larval-dispersal phase and the first 20 h of the prepupal stage. Thereafter, levels decline slightly throughout the pupal stage and first half of the pharate-adult stage, and drastically decline toward the last hours of metamorphosis. Glycogen and hemolymph carbohydrates are highly used from the moment the larvae leave the diet until the mid-pupal stage, then glycogen increases toward the mid pharate-adult and decreases again to low levels at the moment of adult emergence. Protein levels decrease during the prepupal stage (coinciding with a rise in acid proteinase activity) recovering toward the pharate-adult stage. GDH activity increases during the prepupal stage, attaining maximal activity at the onset of the pupal stage and then declines to low levels. This high GDH activity may be linked to the conversion of glutamate to α-ketoglutarate while proteins are being broken during tissue histolysis. Our results are discussed in view of the differential utilization of metabolites during metamorphosis.

Three Nearctic and six Palearctic populations of Delia radicum L., two Palearctic populations of D. antiqua Meigen, and one Palearctic population of D. floralis Fallen were used to evaluate the range of intraspecific variation in the chorionic ultrastructures of the egg of D. radium, and to compare the chorionic ultrastructures of these eggs with those of the two other species. High variability in the mean size of the egg and hatching slit were found among populations of D. radicum. The D. radicum populations observed were not homogenous for quantitative variables but the qualitative variables showed less variability. Two patterns of antimicropylar poles were observed for D. radicum: the Random and Flower patterns. These two patterns were observed in all Nearctic populations and, among the Palearctic populations, only in the French and the English populations. The other Palearctic populations had only the Random or the Flower pattern. These results support the hypothesis that the North American populations originated from north–western Europe. Our results demonstrate that the three species, D. radicum, D. floralis (Fallen), and D. antiqua (Meigen), have specific chorion, micropyle, and antimicropyle patterns. The eggshell of D. radicum is more similar to that of D. floralis than that of D. antiqua.

Effects of ingesting Cry 1Ac, a δ-endotoxin from Bacillus thuringiensis, on the larval midgut of lightbrown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana (Walker), were studied using light and electron microscopy and related to feeding behavior and growth. After larvae had ingested Cry 1Ac, epithelial midgut cells displayed fine protrusions from microvilli and loss of microvilli, expulsion of columnar cells into the midgut lumen, and, finally, rupture and disintegration of these cells. All of these effects were observed within 1 h of larvae being placed on the Cry 1Ac diet. As larvae continued to feed on this diet for 3 d, the midgut underwent disruption and recovery cycles. Midgut changes, feeding behavior, and growth of these larvae were compared with those of larvae on control diets and larvae starved for 3 d. Starvation induced a decrease in the size of midgut cells but no cell lysis, rupture, or disintegration. Larvae on the Cry 1Ac diet produced more frass than starved larvae but ate very little during the first 12 h. During the remainder of the 3-d observation period, larvae on the Cry 1Ac diet showed some recovery of feeding behavior but after 3 d had a similar mean weight to that of starved larvae. After 3 d on the Cry 1Ac diet or starving for 3 d, larvae were allowed to feed on the control diet for a further 7 d. Midgut cells of larvae of both treatments recovered to normal size and shape, but larvae initially given Cry 1Ac diets made a significantly greater weight gain than larvae that initially starved.

Adult males, pupae and larvae of Tanytarsus acifer sp.n., T. aigos sp.n., T. angulatus Kawai, T. bathophilus Kieffer, T. becki sp.n., T. boltoni sp.n., T. challeti Spies, T. confusus Malloch, T. dendyi Sublette, T. epleri sp.n., T. gibbus sp.n., T. guerlus Roback, T. harperi sp.n., T. lestagei Goetghebuer, T. martini sp.n., T. mendax Kieffer, T. messersmithi sp.n., T. nearcticus Butler, T. neoflavellus Malloch, T. occultus Brundin, T. pelsuei Spies, T. sepp sp.n., T. volgensis Miseiko and T. wirthi sp.n., and adult males and pupae of Tanytarsus bayi sp.n., T. dispar Lindeberg, T. gracilentus Holmgren, T. gregarius Kieffer, T. inaequalis Goetghebuer, and T. lobiger sp.n. as well as adult males of Tanytarsus appendiculatus sp.n., T. chloris sp.n., T. herrmanni sp.n., and T. pathudsoni sp.n. are diagnosed and described. T. islandicus Malloch is a new junior synonym of T. lestagei. Paratanytarsus fatigans Johannsen comb. n. and Paratanytarsus varela Roback comb. n. were previously placed in Tanytarsus. Provided under each species is a list of new synonymies, and references to previous reviews. Keys to all stages of the included species are presented as well as comments on their distribution. Most of the adult males examined fit well in the European species groups, but a phylogenetic analysis needs to be conducted to see if these groups hold for the immature stages.

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), consists of two sympatric strains (rice and corn) that are morphologically identical. To facilitate strain identification, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method was developed to detect FR, a reportedly strain-specific element found in the nuclear genome in large tandem-repeat clusters. The efficacy and accuracy of the PCR method were tested on inbred laboratory lines of both rice and corn strains. Although it was previously thought that FR sequences were exclusive to the rice strain, we were able to isolate homologous sequences in a subset of the corn strain population. Even in these cases, the PCR method detected strain-specific amplification patterns, indicating that the distinction between rice and corn strains is caused by differences in copy number and organization in the genome rather than simply the presence or absence of FR. A second polymorphism detectable by PCR was also found that distinguishes between rice and corn strain laboratory colonies. The availability of PCR-based methods for detecting strain- and population-specific molecular markers will facilitate studies on strain distribution in the field and the examination of strain-specific behavior.

The red-headed pine sawfly, Neodiprion lecontei (Fitch), is a gregarious diprionid common in eastern and north-central North America. Larvae of this species have been shown to use trail pheromones to maintain colony structure. Herein we report the results of further studies of group foraging behavior, showing that tactile cues or contact chemoreception also play a role in maintaining colony structure. Video-based activity records reveal a pattern of synchronized, continuous daily feeding punctuated by short periods of quiescence. Y-maze experiments and video examination of group movement revealed that exploring larvae are strongly influenced in the selection of new feeding sites by the presence of conspecifics at those sites. Larvae settled and initiated feeding more quickly at feeding sites at which conspecifics were already present. This was also true when freeze-killed groups of conspecifics were used, suggesting that physical contact and not active signaling plays a role in group cohesion. In the absence of conspecifics, larval site selection is influenced by trail pheromones deposited by earlier-exploring larvae. Our studies suggest red-headed pine sawflies use two-tiered or hierarchical communication cues necessitated by the loose manner in which groups colonize new feeding sites. Trail pheromones may help foraging larvae relocate their colony or its general vicinity, but foragers tend to remain active until they physically contact conspecifics.