Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia

Marshall, J.

English

A decade of pest control in British Columbia orchards

Schmid, F.

Guppy, Richard

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, PROC. (1951), VOL. 48, AUG. 15, 1952 41 
W alker, E . :M. 1927. The Odonata of the 
Canad ian Cordillera. Provo :\lus. of Natural 
History, Victoria, B.C. 
W alker, E. :M. and Ricker, W. E. 1938. 
Notes on Odonata from the Vicinity o f 
Cultus L ake, B.C. Can. Ent. 70. 
Whitehouse, F. C. 1948. Catalogue of the 
Odonata of Canada, Newfoundland and 
Alaska. Trans. Royal Cdn. Inst. , Z7, No. 
57. 
W agner, J . 1936. The Fleas of British Col-
umbia. Can. Ent. 68 (9). 
1940. Beitrag Zur Kenntnis der Flohe von 
Brit. Kolumhien, Zeitschrift fur Parasiten -
kunde, 11 (4). 
AN ANNOTATED LIST OF TRICHOPTERA COLLECTED ON 
SOUTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND 
F. SCHMID 
Museum of Zoology, Lausanne (Switze rland) 
and 
RICHARD GUppy 
Wellington, B.C. 
Although Trichoptera have been 
the object of considerable study, those 
of l';orth America are not very well 
known. Faunistic data, in puticul ar, 
are often lacking and many described 
species are unknow n except fOl · the 
type se ries. 
In t he hope of C"l ntribut ing a little 
to t he knowledge of these insects 
we offe r the following li st of species 
collected on Southern Vancouver Is-
land, n.c. These specimens were 
taken, ove r a period of three year~, 
by the junior author. Where no other 
indi ca tion is given, the specimens 
w ere u suallv taken around the house 
and g rounds, at lights, or by beating 
foli age. Many, however, were cap-
tured near st rea ms or o ther bodies 
of wate r, w hich were evid entl y t heir 
natural habi tat. As some of these 
places have no name s we have adopted 
th e fo ll owing system of numbering. 
(3) Small moderately rapid stream, 
permanent water, ve ry shaded by 
hu shes, a t sea level. 
(4) Nea rly the same as (3), but 
oft en dry in late summer. 
(6) Sma II rapid stream, with still 
pool, very clear, gravelly bottom, 
perm;tnent water. 
(7) More rapid tha n (6). Mos t col-
lecting on this stream was carried out 
a long a stretch running over a shelf 
of solid rock, with many small "pot 
holes" created by erosion. 
(10) Small shallow muddy pools at 
about 900 feet elevation, thickly 
grown with sedges, always dry i~ 
summer. 
(11) Very small strea m falling over 
steep rock cliff. Water seems to be 
permanent, though very low in sum-
mer. 
For other streams along which 
some collecting was done, we have 
used the names found on maps of the 
district. 
RHYACOPHILIDAE 
Rhyacophila angelita Bk s. Fairly common in 
July. Wellington (4), Nanaimo, Chase R., 
Englishman R. Falls, Aug. 26, 1950. 
R. grandis Bks. Very common, June to Oct. 
\Vellington (3, 4, 7), Nanaimo, Chase R. 
and Mill stone R 
R. norcuta Ross. Common. Forbidden P la-
teau, Aug., Engli shman R. Fall s, Aug. 
26, 1950. Wellington (7), June and Oct. 
R. orela Ross. Common. \Vellington (7), 
M t. Benson, Sept. 19, 1950, Engl ishman R. 
Falls, Aug. 26, 1950. 
R. t1accua Milne. Ve ry common, July to Oct. 
\ Ncllington (6, 7), Engli shma n R. Falls, 
Nanaimo, Chase R. Nanoose Creek, Nan-
oose Bay, Mt. Benson. 
R. vaefes Milne. We llin g ton (7), June 15, 
1950, 2 t t. 
R. verrula Miln e. Common. Wellington 
(6, 7, 11), June and Oct., Englishman R. 
Falls, Aug. 26, 1950. 
R. vuzana J\Iiln c. Fairly common, July and 
Au.g. Wellington (4, 11), Nanaimo, Chase 
R, En glish man R. Falls. 
GloSJosoma penitum Bks. Wellington (3, 11), 
June 13, 1950, 2t t and 2<;? <;? 
Palaeagapetu.r gllppyi Schm. Mt. Benson, 
Aug. 19, 1949, 1 t. 
PHlLOPOT AMIDAE 
D olophilodes pallidipes (Bks.). :Ovrt. Cokely 
(Arrowsmit h) Aug. 10. 1948, 1 t. Forbid-
den Plateau, Aug. 1950, 1 t and 1 <;? 
D. dorclIs (Ross). Wellington (10), July 27, 
1950, I t and 1 <;? . 
Wormaldia gabriell'l ilks. Very common. 
Nanaimo, Chase R. and Millstone R., Sept.-
Oct. 1950. 
42 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, PROC. (1951), VOL. 48, AUG. 15, 1952 
PSYCHOMYIIDAE 
PolycentfOpus variegatus Bks. Wellington (4), 
June 30, 1949 and July 4 1950 also occa-
sional specimens late Jul~ thro'ugh Sept. 
P. flavus Bks. Forbidden Plateau Aug. 1950 
4~~. ' , , 
P. interruptus Bks. Very common. Welling-
ton, July-Aug. 
P. remotus Bks. Forbidden Plateau A g 
1950, 2 ~ ~ and 2'i' 'i'. ' u. 
LEPTOCERIDAE 
Tfiaenodes baris Ross. Wellington, July 21, 
1949, July 27, 1950. 
Mystacides alafimbriata H-Gr. Forbidden Pla-
teau, very common, Aug. 1950. 
LIMNEPHILIDAE 
Colpotaulius seclttdens Bks. Wellington, Aug. 
1, 1948, 1 'i'. 
Grammataulius betteni Griff. Wellington occa-
sional in Sept. and early Oct. ' 
LlmnephiluJ externUJ Hag. Fairly common 
Wellington (11), Sept. 28, 1950 and at 
light mid July through Sept. ' 
L. fUJcoradiatus Schm. Forbidden Plateau 
Aug., 1950, 1 ~ and 1 'i' . ' 
L. hanimani Dks. Very common, Wellington, 
Aug.-Sept. 
L. insularis Schm. Wellington, Sept. 28, 1948, 
1 ~ ; Sept. 23, 1949, 1 ~ . 
L. indiviJuJ Walk. Wellington, June 25, 1948, 
1 ~ ; Sept. 10, 1948, 1 ~. 
L. lopho Ross. Forbidden Plateau, Aug., 1950, 
1 ~ and 1 'i'. 
L. nogus Ross. Wellington, extremely abund-
ant during Sept. and Oct. Coloration of 
this species is rather variable. 
L. .sericeus (Say). Wellington, fairly common 
In late Sept. 
L. Jitchensis Ko!. Wellington, very common 
July to Sept. This species also is very 
variable in coloration. 
L. occidentalis Bks. We,Ilington, rather scarce, 
Sept.-Nov., one speCimen, June 21. 
Lenarchus vastus Hag. Wellington, very com-
mon Aug. to Oct. Nearly all specimens 
were taken at light, hence are mostly 
females. Their breeding haunts were not 
discovered. 
L. rho Milne. Welling.ton, rather rare, July 
to Sept. Ten speCimens emerged from 
larvae taken from pool (10). 
L. cinnamoneus (Schm.). Wellington, Aug. 12, 
1948, 1 ~. 
HaleJochila taylori Bks. Said to be rare, this 
species \\as common at Wellington in 1950, 
coming frequently to light during Septem-
ber and ,october. A short visit to a muddy 
lake in October netted about a dozen 
specimens. Some were bred from larvae 
taken from this lake, and from the partly 
caved-in well of the abandoned whaling 
station at Hammond Bay. The species 
evidently requires deep, still, permanent 
water, with abtmdant aquatic vegetation. 
CliJtoronia magnifica Dks. Wellington, Sept. 
12, 1950, 1 ~; Mt. Benson, June 11, 1950, 
1 'i' . The natural habitat appeasr to be 
mountain lakes. On the Forbidden Plateau 
the species is very conspicuous during 
August, large numbers being on the wing 
each evening at dusk. 
Clostoeca disjuncta Bks. Not common, Welling-
ton May 11, 1949 and June 17, 1950; Mt. 
Denson July 5, 1949, 1 ~. 
Chyranda centralis Bks. Fairly common For-
bidden Plateau, Aug. ' 
HespefOphylax designatus Walk. Wellington, 
Sept. 17-20, 1950, 2'i' 'i'. Forbidden Plateau 
Aug., fairly common. 
H. occidentalis Bks. Not cummon. Welling-
lon, June 15, 1950, 1 ~, also from (4) Sept.-
Oct., 1948; Mt. Benson, June 11, 1950, I'i'. 
Glyphopsyche i1'Yorata Fabr. Fairly common 
Wellington, March, April and early .May: 
Goldstream, April 2, 1950, 1 'i' . 
PsychoR!ypha ul/a (Milne). Very common, 
Wellington Sept.-Oct. and March-April. 
Reared from (3). 
P. bella (Bks.). This species is difficult to 
collect; it is reluctant to take wing, stays 
close to its breeding haunts, and never 
comes to light. Specimens were reared 
from larvae taken from (6) (emergence 
date Nov. 9, 1948), and from French Creek 
(emerged Oct. 17, 1949). Adults were col-
lected at (7) Aug 21, 1949, and N anoose 
Creek, Oct. 19, 1949. Larvae were found in 
still, clear, gravelly pools, when the 
streams were low in summer. 
P. alaJcensis Bks. Wellington, fairly common 
in Oct. Two specimens emerged from 
French Creek, larvae along with the P. 
bella specimen above. 
Neophylax rickeri Milne. Common, Welling-
ton, N anaimo, Chase R., N anoose Creek 
Sept.-Nov. ' 
Ecclisomyia conspersa Bks. Wellington (7) 
common in May; Forbidden Plateau Aug: 
1950, 2'i' 'i'. 
Cryptochia pilosa Bks. Wellington (3), June 
Apatania JOrex Ross. Wellington, June 8, 
1950, I 'i'. 
Dicosmoecus gill)ipes (Hag.). Wellington (7) 
and :Millstone R Oct. 12, 1949, 6 ~ ~ . 
Nanaimo, Oct. 8-15, 1949, and Sept. 26' 
1950. ' 
D. nigrescens Dks. Wellington, Sept. 14, 1950, 
1 ~ at light, (11) Oct. 13, 1950, 1 'i'. 
D. triJ!i.r 131:5. Wellington, Millstone R., 
Englishman. R., French Creek, Nanaimo, 
Chase R, Common, late Aug.-Oct., close to 
large permanent streams, never taken else-
where. 
LEPIDOST01f ATIDAE 
Lepidostoma cascadensis (Milne). Wellington, 
June 15, 1950, 1~. 
L. hoodi Ross. Wellington, Aug. 24, 1949 
2~ t. ' 
L. jewetti Ross. Wellington, Aug. and Sept, 
not rare; Nanaimo, Millstone R, Sept. 26, 
1950. Ellglishman R., Aug. I, 1950. 
L. quercina Ross. Wellillgton JUl1e 4 1949 
1 ~. " , 
L. roafi (Milne). Very common in Sept., Wel-
lington, Nanaimo, Millstone R 
L. rhino Ross. Wellington, July 10, 1950, I ~. 
L. strop his Ross. Wellington, Sell!. 17 1949 
1 t. ' , 
L. .unicolor (Bks.). Wellington, fairly common 
m Aug. and Sept. 


An annotated pist of Trichoptera collected on Southern Vancouver Island

Banham, F. L.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, PROC. 
(1951), VOL. 48, AUG. 15, 1952 67 
Agriotella Brown, 1933 (Betarmon auct.) 
*columbiana Brown 
occidentalis Brown 
Ampedu5 Dej., 1833 (ElateI' Esch., nec Linn.) 
**apicatus (Say) 
**behrensi (Horn) (corditer auct.) 
bimaculatus (Van D.) 
**brevis (Van D.) 
carbonicolor (Esch.) 
columbiana Brown (varipilis auct., cordiJer 
auct.) 
**hoppingi (Van D.) 
**moerens (Lee.) 
nigrinus (Hbst.) (anthracinus auct.) 
oregonus (Schffr.) 
phoenicopterus (Germ.) 
**pullus (Germ.) 
rhodopus (LeC'.) 
**ursinus (Van D.) 
Megapenthes Kies., 1858 
caprella (Lee.) 
**nigriventris Lee. 
**stigmosus (Lee.) 
tartareus Lee. 
Melanotus Esch., 1829 
oregonensis (Lee.) 
Cardiophorus Esch., 1829 
**fenestratus LeC. 
*latiusculus Esch. 
*Iongior Lee. (longullis err.) 
**mimeticus Horn (edwardsi auct.) 
**pubescens B!. 
tenebrosus Lee. (amplicollis auct.) 
**tumidicollis Lee. 
Horistonotus Can d., 1860 
**sufflatus (Lee.) 
References 
Walker, Francis, 1866. List of Coleoptera. 
Lord's Naturalist in Vancouver Island and 
British Columbia, II :309-11. 
LeConte, J. L., 1869. List of Coleoptera 
collected in Vancouver's Island by Henry 
and Joseph l\htthews. Ann. Mag. Nat. 
Hist. 4(4) :369-385. 
-1877. List of Coleoptera. Geo!. Surv. 
Can. Rept. of Prog. 1875-76, pp. 107-109. 
Brodie, Bruce, 1888. List of Coleoptera col-
lected by Bruce Bailey in Kicking Horse 
Pass, Rocky Mts., e.P.R. in 1884. Proc. 
Canada Inst. Toronto, 5(3) :213-215. 
\Vickham, H. F., 1893. Report of an entom-
logical reconnaissance of southern Alaska 
and adjacent portion of British Columbia. 
Iowa Lab. Nat. Hist. Bnl!. 2 :202-233. 
Keen, J. H., 1895. List of Coleoptera collect-
ed at Massett, Queen Charlotte Island, 
B.e. Can. Ent. 27 :217-220. 
-1898. Preliminary catalogue of collec-
tion of natural history and ethnology in 
the Provincial Museum, Victoria, British 
Columbia. pp. 71-75. 
-1905. Beetles from northern British 
Columbia. Can. Ent. 37 :297-298. 
Anderson, E. M., 1914. Insects collected in 
.okanagan Valley. Proc. En!. Soc. B.e. 
4 :54-58. 
Bush, A. H., 1914. A trip up 'Mount Cheam. 
Proc. Ent. Soc. B.e. 4 :58-60. 
Brittain, W. H., 1914. Report for Okanagan 
District. Proc. Ent. Soc. B.e. 4:14-19. 
Hardy, G. A., 1927. Report of collecting trip 
to Garibaldi Park, British Columbia. Rep!. 
Mus. Nat. Hist. for 1926, pp. CI5-C26. 
-1928. Vancouver Island Elateridae. Rep!. 
Provo Mus. Nat. Hist. for 1927, pp. E16-
E17. 
Stace-Srnith, G., 1929 and 1930. Coleoptera 
from Copper Mountain, British Columbia. 
Museum and Art notes, Art, Hist. and Sci. 
Assoc., Vancouver, B.e., IV, pp. 67-74; 
V, pp. 22-25. 
Hardy, G. A. and G. e. Carl, 1944. Natural 
history of Forbidden Plateau area, Van-
couver Island, B.e. Rept. Provo Mus. 
Nat. Hist. for 1943. p. D31. 
Clark, M. E., 1949. An annotated list of 
Coleoptera taken at or near Terrace, B.e., 
Part 2. Proc. Ent. Soc. 45 :21-24. 
Fletcher, J., Gibson, A., Criddle, N., and 
W. J. Brown, 1902-34. Elateridae listed 
from British Columbia in Entomological 
Record. Ann. Rept. Ent. Soc. Ont., 32-61 
(1902-1930) . Ann. Rept. Que. Soc. Prot . 
Plants, 25 and 26 (1934). 
THE EFFECT OF CERTAIN INSECTICIDES ON THE GERMINATIO
N 
AND GROWTH OF ONIONS 
I. INSECTICIDES APPLIED TO THE SOIV 
F. 1. BANHAM2 
Field Crop Insect Laboratory, Kamloops, B.e. 
Introductiolll : The onion maggot, were undertaken at the K
amloops 
Hylemya antiqua (Meig.), has for many laboratory to provide a 
more satis-
years caused serious damage to onion factory and less expensive
 control for 
crops throughout the interior of Brit- this pest than the comm
only used 
ish Columbia. In 1950, insecticide trials caloll1el seed-treatment. 
As an ex-
1 Contribution No. 2940, Div~ion of Entomology, 
Science Service, Department of Agriculture, Ottawa, 
Canada. 
2 Assistant Entomologist. 
tensive review of the literature re-
vealed that practically no work had 
been done on the phytotoxicity of the 
68 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, PROC. (1951), VOL. 48, AUG. 15, 195 2 
insec ticides to this crop, study was 
also directed toward whether certain 
insecticides when applied to the soil 
at commonly used rates would affect 
the onions. 
The results of the latter study a re 
dealt with in this paper. In a follow-
ing paper, D. G. Finlayson discusses 
the effects of some of the newer insec-
ticides when applied as seed treat-
ments. 
Methods and Materials: The experi-
ment was conducted in clay pots in 
an insecta ry, so that attack by the 
onion maggot or other insects was 
prevented. There were six insecticidal 
treatments, the amounts being cal-
culated on an area basis as follows:-
1) Dowfume W-85 emulsion (con-
taining 83 per cent. by weight of 
ethylene dibromide) applied at 
the rate of nine U.S. gallons per 
acre. 
2) Dowfume W -85 emulsion applied 
at the rate of 4.5 U.S. gallons 
per acre. 
3) Aldrin, 2t per cent. dust, applied 
at the rate of 100 pou.nds per 
acre. 
4) Technical chlordane, 5 per cent. 
dust, applied at the rate of 200 
pounds per acre. 
5) Lindane, 1 per cent. dust, applied 
a t the rate of 100 pounds per 
acre. 
6) DDT,S per cent dust. applied at 
the rate of 200 pounds per acre. 
These six treatments and a check 
were replicated four times, g'iving a 
total of 28 pots. Each treatment was 
applied Ollce, the dust or the emulsion 
being sprinkled on and thoroughly 
mixed with sufficient uncontaminated, 
uniform, sandy loam soil for one 
seven-inch clay pot. Fifteen onion 
seeds of the Yellow Globe Danvers 
variety were planted at uniform 
depths. and at uniform spacing, in 
each pot. The pots were then set out 
in a randomized block design in an 
insecta ry tha t was covered with 14-
mesh galvanized wire screen. Equal 
amounts of water were applied daily 
to all pots. 
In determining the effects of the 
treatments on the onion seeds and 
seedlings, emergence of the plants 
from the soil, weight, height, colour, 
uniformity of the top growth, and 
plant survival were the criteria used. 
The number of emerged plants was 
recorded from thrice-weekly counts 
for each pot. Growth was determined 
by noting the total weight of all the 
plants in each pot at harvest and cal-
culating the average. Notes were also 
made during the growing season and 
at harvest on height, uniformity of 
top growth, and variations in colour 
of the top growth. 
Results and discussion: Table I 
shows the effects of the various treat-
ments on total plant weight, average 
plant weight, and total number of 
plants. None of the insecticides used 
with the pos:,ible exception of chlor-
dane, adversely affected the emer-
gence or growth of onion seedlings. 
All treatments, except that of chlor-
dane, exceeded the check treatment in 
the number of plants emerging and 
in the total weight of plant material 
produced. DDT and lindane produced 
slightly smaller plants than the 
checks, whereas the other treatments 
produced plants that were as large as 
or large r tha n those in the check. 
The total plant weights suggest that 
aldrin and the 4.5-gallon rate of 
ethylene dibromide stimulated emer-
gence and plant growth. DDT, the 
nine-gallon rate of ethylene dibrom:de 
and lindane, in that order, also showed 
indications of favourable effects, bnt 
to a lesser degree. However. in 
each instance the fa vourable effect 
was due to stimulation of emergence 
rather than of growth. 
Each of the treatments except 
chlordane stimula ted emergence some-
what. During the first three weeks, 
emergence and plant survival were 
slightly greater for ethylene dibro-
mide at nine gaJlons and 4.5 gallons. 
The chlordane caused a high mortality 
after emergence. The aldrin had a 
delaying effect on emergence for the 
first twelve days, later, emergence 
and growth appeared to be stimulated. 
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, PROC. (1951), VOL. 48, AUG. 15, 1952 69 
The DDT and lindane treatments ap-
peared to hinder rather than promote 
growth. 
to permit consistent results are neces-
sary before sound experimentation of 
this type can be undertaken. 
Summary: Five insecticides were 
Although none of the results of this incorporated into the soi l in pots to 
experiment was statistically signifl- find the effect on the germination of 
cant the r esu lts of some of the treat- onion seeds of the Yellow Globe 
In 
Danvers variety and on the growth of 
ments appeared fairly definite. the r esulting plants. All of the treat-
some instances they support and in ments except one produced more total 
other instances contradict, statements plant material than the checks, but 
mad e by other workers who have none was statistically better or worse 
written on the phytotoxicity of insecti- than the untreated check. 
cides. Much of this published material Acknowledgments: The aut h a r 
is so contradictory that it appears to acknowledges with thanks the assist-
be meaningless. Thorough investi - ance given by Dr. R. H. Handford, 
gation of such factors as plant species Officer-in-Charge, Field Crop Insect 
and variety, soil fertility, soil texture, Laboratory, Kamloops, B.c., in the 
soil moisture, fertili zers, climatic con- plannin g of the experimental work 
and in the writing of this paper. The 
ditions, and their r elationship to in- author a lso wishes to express his 
secticides is urgently required as a appreciation to Dr. G. H. Harris, Pro-
prerequisite to further work on phyto- fessor of Plant Nutrition, Department 
toxicity. A compilation of all the ma- of Horticulture, University of Brit-
teria l on the phytotoxicity of insecti- ish Columbia, for advice on the 
cides and a set of standard procedures statistical analysis of the data. 
TABLE I. 
Effect of one soil application of each of various insecticides on onion plants 
in four replications . 
. . _---- --
Total Number of plants 
Treatment Application Rate per Acre 
I At Emerged Harvest! 
- ---------- ----- -
Ch lordane 200 lb. 27 21 
5% dust 
Check ni l 30 27 
Lindane 200 10. 34 31 
1 % dllst 
Dowful11e W -85 9 U.S. gal. 35 32 
DDT, 5% dust 200 lb. 37 34 
Aldrin, 
2~% dust 100 lb. 36 33 
Dow ful11c W -85 4.5 U.S. gal. 38 32 
IDifference necessary for significance at 5% level- 14. 
2Differcnce necessary for significance at 5% leveI-O.1 56. 
3Differel1ce necessary for significance at 5% Ievcl-6.4. 
Weight of Plants at Harvest 
Averagel Total3 
(grams) (grams) 
-- --- - - - - - -- -----
0.573 12.0 
0.477 12.9 
0.465 14.4 
0.478 15.3 
0.467 15.9 
0.507 16.7 
0.559 17.9 


The effect of certain insecticides on the germination and growth of onions, I: Insecticides applied to the soil

Peach, Daniel A.H.

J. ENTOMOL. SOC. BRIT. COLUMBIA 115, DECEMBER 2018 !126
NATURAL HISTORY AND OBSERVATIONS 
An updated list of the mosquitoes of British Columbia with 
distribution notes 
DANIEL A.H. PEACH  1
Since “The Mosquitoes of British Columbia”, originally published by Dr. Peter 
Belton 35 years ago, there have been only sporadic and incomplete updates on the 
mosquito fauna of British Columbia (BC). Darsie and Ward’s (2005) “Identification and 
Geographical Distribution of the Mosquitoes of North America, North of Mexico” 
reported the presence and distribution of many species within BC but was continent-wide 
in scope and did not provide BC-specific information. It also disregarded the presence or 
distribution of several species.  
Belton (1983) recognized 46 mosquito species as occurring within British Columbia, 
discounting previous records of Culex restuans but including Aedes nevadensis due to 
specimens he had collected from the BC Interior. Darsie and Ward (2005) recognized 45 
species, discounting records of Ae. nevadensis from Belton (1983) as well as previous 
records of Cx. restuans. Since 2005, several additional species records have been made 
for BC, and a new record of Cx. restuans from southern Vancouver Island supports its 
inclusion as part of BC’s mosquito fauna, bringing the total number of species known 
from the province to 50. In several instances, the distribution of various species within 
BC has also been extended, due to new collection records in previous unsurveyed or 
undersurveyed areas.  
List of the mosquito species known from British Columbia 
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) aboriginis Dyar  
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) aloponotum Dyar (Updated distribution) 
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) campestris Dyar & Knab  
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) canadensis (Theobald)  
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) cataphylla Dyar  
Aedes (Aedes) cinereus Meigen (Updated distribution) 
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) communis (De Geer)  
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) diantaeus Howard, Dyar & Knab  
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) dorsalis (Meigen)  
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) euedes Howard, Dyar & Knab  
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) excrucians (Walker)  
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) fitchii (Felt & Young)  
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) flavescens (Müeller)  
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) hendersoni Cockerell  
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) hexodontus Dyar  
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) impiger (Walker)  
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) implicatus Vockeroth  
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) increpitus Dyar  
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) intrudens Dyar  
Aedes (Finlaya) japonicus japonicus (Theobald) (Jackson et al. 2016) (Updated 
distribution) 
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) mercurator Dyar  
 Corresponding author: Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University 1
Drive, Burnaby, B.C. V5A 1S6; dap3@sfu.ca 
J. ENTOMOL. SOC. BRIT. COLUMBIA 115, DECEMBER 2018 !127
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) melanimon Dyar  
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) nevadensis Chapman & Barr (Updated distribution, first formal 
record) 
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) nigripes (Zetterstedt)  
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) pionips Dyar  
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) provocans (Walker) 
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) pullatus (Coquillett)  
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) punctor (Kirby)  
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) riparius Dyar & Knab  
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) schizopinax Dyar (Jackson et al. 2013) 
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) sierrensis (Ludlow)  
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) spencerii spencerii (Theobald) (Updated distribution) 
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) spencerii idahoensis (Theobald) (Updated distribution) 
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) sticticus (Meigen)  
Aedes (Ochlerotatus) togoi (Theobald)  
Aedes (Aedes) vexans vexans (Meigen) 
Aedes (Aedes) vexans nipponii (Theobald) (Belton 2015) (First formal record) 
Anopheles earlei Vargas  
Anopheles freeborni Aitken  
Anopheles punctipennis (Say) (Updated distribution) 
Culex pipiens L.  
Culex restuans Theobald (McCann and Belton 2015) 
Culex tarsalis Coquillett (Updated distribution) 
Culex territans Walker (Updated distribution) 
  
Culiseta alaskaensis (Ludlow)  
Culiseta impatiens (Walker)  
Culiseta incidens (Thomson)  
Culiseta inornata (Williston)  
Culiseta minnesotae Barr  
Culiseta morsitans (Theobald)  
Culiseta particeps (Adams) (Jackson et al. 2013) (Updated distribution) 
Coquillettidia perturbans (Walker) (Updated distribution) 
Notes on new species records and distribution updates 
Anopheles punctipennis (Say) is previously known from both Vancouver Island and 
the southern mainland of BC, but Darsie and Ward (2005) seem not to have recognized 
records of this species from Vancouver Island. Surveys by Stephen et al. (2006) found 
this species to be widely distributed on Vancouver Island, re-confirming its presence 
there. 
Aedes aloponotum Dyar is known from the Fraser Valley and southern Vancouver 
Island. The distribution shown in Darsie and Ward (2005) seems to erroneously display 
the range of this species as extending up the Fraser Canyon and east to the interior of BC, 
possibly due to a mis-citation of Gjullin and Eddy (1972), who reported this species as 
occurring in the Fraser Valley. This may possibly be due to confusing the Fraser Valley 
with the Fraser Canyon. Additionally, the author has found this species from the outskirts 
of Whistler, extending the northern limits of its known range. 
Aedes cinereus Meigen was reported from every part of BC by Belton (1983), but the 
distribution displayed by Darsie and Ward (2005) does not include Vancouver Island. 
Stephen et al. (2006) found Ae. cinereus in light traps on Vancouver Island, 
demonstrating that this species does occur there. 
J. ENTOMOL. SOC. BRIT. COLUMBIA 115, DECEMBER 2018 !128
Aedes japonicus japonicus (Theobald) was first reported in BC from samples 
collected in Maple Ridge and Mission in 2014 (Jackson et al. 2016), and additional 
specimens have been collected by Sean McCann in Langley and by the author in 
Burnaby and Saanichton, with samples deposited in the Spencer Entomology Collection 
at the UBC Beaty Biodiversity Museum. This species seems to have become established 
in the Lower Mainland and southern Vancouver Island and may be spreading; if it is not 
present throughout these regions yet, it may soon become so. Whether or not it can 
become established in other parts of BC remains to be seen. 
Aedes nevadensis Chapman and Barr was reported by Belton (1983) from larval 
collections made in Castlegar. However, this record does not seem to have been 
recognized by Darsie and Ward (2005), and its presence is recorded here to remove 
ambiguity. Belton made further collections of this species just outside Manning Park, and 
the author has collected them from Pemberton and from north of Princeton. The author’s 
specimens have been deposited in the Spencer Entomology Collection at the UBC Beaty 
Biodiversity Museum. This species is likely found in dry areas of much of the Southern 
Interior of BC, although how far north its range extends is currently unknown. 
Aedes schizopinax Dyar was first reported in BC from a collection made in the 
municipality of Sparwood, near the Alberta border (Jackson et al. 2013). An additional 
specimen, collected in Williams Lake by C. Phippen, along with records from 
Washington, suggest this species may exist in low numbers throughout the Interior of 
BC. 
Aedes spencerii spencerii (Theobald) was previously believed to be present in BC 
only in the Peace River region (Belton 1983), with records from Kaslo of two specimens 
– one collected by HG Dyar and one by RP Currie (Dyar 1904) – considered dubious 
(Belton 1983). Examination of specimens in the Spencer Entomology Collection at the 
UBC Beaty Biodiversity Museum have revealed additional specimens of Ae. spencerii 
spencerii collected in the Southern Interior of BC, where it was previously believed only 
the idahoensis subspecies was found (Belton 1983). These two subspecies probably 
overlap in distribution throughout much of this region. I have also seen specimens in the 
Royal BC Museum collected from the Chilcotin. 
Aedes togoi (Theobald) is thought to be an invasive species from Asia; however, there 
is evidence that this mosquito might be indigenous to rock pools along the coast of BC 
and adjacent Washington State (Sota et al. 2015). 
Aedes vexans nipponii (Theobald) is a subspecies of Ae. vexans from east Asia that 
has recently been found in Ontario (Thielman and Hunter 2007). It is characterized by 
the presence of a median longitudinal stripe of pale scales on the abdominal tergites, 
which Ae. vexans vexans (Meighen) lacks (Tanaka et al. 1979). A specimen collected in 
Cawston by P. Belton distinctly possesses this attribute and has been deposited in the 
Spencer Entomology Collection at the UBC Beaty Biodiversity Museum. 
Culex tarsalis Coquillett was previously thought to be found only in the southern half 
of mainland BC (Belton 1983; Wood et al. 1979). However, this vector of West Nile 
virus, Western equine encephalitis virus, and other viruses, has also recently been found 
in man-made sites throughout Vancouver Island (Stephen et al. 2006) and as far north as 
the Yukon (Peach 2018). It is likely to exist in suitable habitats throughout BC. 
Culex territans Walker was reported as occurring across the south of BC by Belton 
(1983) but has also been found as far north as the Yukon (Belton and Belton 1990; Wood 
et al. 1979). Recent records extend its range to Vancouver Island (Stephen et al. 2006). 
These records imply that Cx. territans may be present throughout BC where suitable 
habitat exists. 
Culiseta particeps (Adams) was first reported by (Jackson et al. 2013) from locations 
in Pitt Meadows and the Township of Langley. Additional specimens have also been 
found in Vancouver, including an adult female collected in 1918 that was found in a 
museum collection, and larvae that were found by the author in Prince Rupert. This 
species is likely to be found all along the coast of BC. 
J. ENTOMOL. SOC. BRIT. COLUMBIA 115, DECEMBER 2018 !129
Coquillettidia perturbans (Walker) was previously known from suitable habitat 
throughout mainland southern BC (Belton 1983). Recent work by Poirier and Berry 
(2011) has revealed that this species is present as far north as Fort Nelson, and Stephen et 
al. (2006) found it throughout much of Vancouver Island, as well. These new records 
suggest it may be present in suitable habitat throughout most of BC, probably mirroring 
the distribution of host plants such as cattails (Typha latifolia) (Poirier and Berry 2011). 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
I thank Karen Needham at the UBC Beaty Biodiversity Museum and Claudia Copley 
at the Royal BC Museum for access to mosquito specimens, and the organizers of the 
Whistler Bioblitz for mosquito-collecting opportunities. I also thank two anonymous 
reviews for their constructive comments. 
REFERENCES 
Belton, E.M., and Belton, P. 1990. A review of mosquito collecting in the Yukon. Journal of the 
Entomological Society of British Columbia, 87: 35–37. 
Belton, P. 1983. The Mosquitoes of British Columbia. British Columbia Provincial Museum, Victoria, 
British Columbia, Canada. 
Belton, P. 2015. Mosquito species in BC and adjacent jurisdictions. Available from http://www.sfu.ca/
~belton/BCnames.pdf [accessed December 1, 2018] 
Darsie, R.F.J. and Ward, R.A. 2005. Identification and Geographical Distribution of the Mosquitoes of 
North America, North of Mexico. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, U.S. 
Dyar, H. 1904. Notes on the mosquitoes of British Columbia. Proceedings of the Entomological Society 
of Washington, 6: 7–14. 
Gjullin, C. and Eddy, G. 1972. The Mosquitoes of the Northwestern United States. US Department of 
Agriculture Technical Bulletin No. 1447 111. 
Jackson, M., Belton, P., McMahon, S., McMahon, Hart, M, McCann, S., Azevedo, D., and Hurteau, L. 
2016. The first record of Aedes (Hulecoeteomyia) japonicus (Diptera: Culicidae) and its 
establishment in Western Canada. Journal of Medical Entomology, 53: 241–244. 
Jackson, M., Howay, T., and Belton, P. 2013a. The first record of Culiseta particeps (Diptera: Culicidae) 
in Canada. The Canadian Entomologist, 145: 115–116. 
Jackson, M., Pyles, C., Breton, S., McMahon, T., and Belton, P. 2013b. British Columbia’s 50th 
mosquito species, Aedes schizopinaz. Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia, 110: 
38–39. 
McCann, S. and Belton, P. 2015. A new record of Culex restuans Theobald (Diptera: Culicidae) in British 
Columbia. Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia, 111: 13–14. 
Peach, D.A.H. 2018. First record of Culex tarsalis Coquillett (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Yukon. Journal 
of the Entomological Society of British Columbia In Press: 5 pgs. 
Poirier, L.M. and Berry, K.E. 2011. New distribution information for Coquillettidia perturbans (Walker) 
(Diptera, Culicidae) in northern British Columbia, Canada. Journal of Vector Ecology, 36: 461–463. 
Sota, T., Belton, P., Tseng, M., Sen Yong, H., and Mogi, M. 2015. Phylogeography of the coastal 
mosquito Aedes togoi across climatic zones: Testing an anthropogenic dispersal hypothesis. PLoS 
ONE, 10: 1–13. 
Stephen, C., Plamondon, N., and Belton, P. 2006. Notes on the distribution of mosquito species that 
could potentially transmit West Nile virus on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Journal of the 
American Mosquito Control Association, 22: 553–556. 
Tanaka, K., Mizusawa, K., and Saugstad, E.S. 1979. A revision of the adult and larval mosquitoes of 
Japan (Including the Ryukyu Archipelago and the Ogasawara Islands) and Korea (Diptera: 
Culicidae). Contributions of the American Entomological Institute, 16: 989. 
Thielman, A. and Hunter, F. 2007. Photographic key to the adult female mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) 
of Canada. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification, 4: 1–117. 
Wood, D.M., Dang, P.T., and Ellis, R.A. 1979. The Insects and Arachnids of Canada Part 6: The 
Mosquitoes of Canada - Diptera: Culicidae. The Insects and Arachnids of Canada. Research Branch, 
Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Canada:. 


An updated list of the mosquitoes of British Columbia with distribution notes

Hardy, George A.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BRlTlSH COLUMBIA, PROC. (195 5) , VOL. 50, MAY 15, 1954 15 
:-;pencer. G.] . Th e 1951 S tat li S of our KnO\d edge o f th e In sects o f British Coill mhia. Prol". 
E nt . Soc. H.C. 48, 1952: 36-41. 
H o~s , H erbert H. and George ] . Spence r. A Preliminary li st of the Tric hoptera of ]1;'ilish 
Coillmbia. Proc. En !. Soc. B.C. 48, 1952 ; 43 -5 1 ( 142 spec i<: s). 
:-;chmid, F .anel Richard G uppy. An a nn ota ted list of Trichopt cra co ll ec ted O il south e rll 
VaI1 CO UV CI- Tsland. 1'roc. E nt. Soc. B.C. 48, 1952: 41-42 (59 species) . 
\"enables, E. I' Fifty years of Entomo logy ill th e In te rior 01 British Co lumb ia. PnJl". 
En!. Soc. H.C. 48, 1952: 19-22. 
\Vaddcll . D. H. A Preliminary Li st o f th e H emipt era of the h:.ootc nay \ ·a llry. I'roc' E ll!. 
Soc. H.C. 48. 1952: 93-96. n~o spec ies). 
NOTES ON THE LIFE HISTORY OF THE SHADED UMBER 
NEPHELODES EMMEDONIA CRAM. (F. PECTINATA SM.) 
LEPIDOPTERA: PHYLAENIDAE 
G EORGE A. HARDY 
Victoria , B.C. 
Thi s m o th o tten turns up at 111\-
purch li g h t ill Saa ni ch, H.C. during 
th e month of August and Septembe r. 
]n 1951 a fema le w as captured and 
p laced in a box within which she lai(1 
a batch o f eggs. The fo llo win g' liie -
history notes were taken. 
Ova. On A ugust 29, 19S I , 200 eggs 
were deposited loose ly in the box. No 
ceme n ting material was used ; t hey 
were fr ee to ro ll about whenevel- th e 
box wa s tilted. The egg is spherica l, 
1 mm. in di a metel-, slight ly tlattened 
o n opposite sides, lik e an o range, fine -
Iv ribbed and cross - ribhed , white to 
~ream in co lo ur. chang in g' to a dull 
pink o r lead en hue by September 1 S, 
1951 As fl U signs o f ha tching were 
ohservah le on October 17, to ascertain 
t hei r condi tion (me (lr two eggs were 
dissected. This disclosed the yn llng 
larvae fullv d e veloped and lyin g curl ed 
up in a dormant condition. Head pa le 
brown. body more o r le ss tran s lu ce nt. 
1st Instar. Some ha tcheel abou t 
Februarv 16, 1952. L e ng th 1.5 mm . 
Head p;~ l e browlI , bodv li ght grey in 
colour. Th e egg shell is no t eaten. T 
had difti cul tv in - get ting the lar \"ae to 
feed d espite a \"a ri ety of plant s in 
lea f at this time o f the vea r. Finalh' 
I hey re luctant lv took U; 81"01ll1lJ sp. -
2nd Instar. Februarv 29, 1 9 .~2 . 
Length 4111111. H ead pa le' brown , body 
gTeen. darke r above than heneat h. 
:"li ghtly trans lu ce nt ; a white hr()ad 
spiracu la r lin e . i() l1 n\\'ed 1)\· t\\"() nar -
r()w o nes and a 111ediulll do rsa l line ()l 
the same CO IUllr. 
3rd Instar. March 12, 1952. Le ngth 
7 111m. .Head and body similar to t he 
la st in sta r , but the white lines edge(1 
with black. Spirac lll a r line c rea l11\" , 
spiracl es black. -
4th Instar. Ma r ch 25, 1952. Le ngt h 
12 111111 . Colo ur as befo re but bod\" 
d;, rk e r and stripes m () re c real11~' a n<1 
m o re prono unced; ill some larvae th e 
crea l11Y white of th e spiraclar lin e is 
centred by a pinkish colo ur. 
5th Instar. April 10, 1952. Le ngt h 
18 111111 . Head pale bro wn or gTeen'ish 
'with dark freck les; body colour ha s 
changed from green to illac1<. with a 
s li ght bronze refl ec ti on, in sharp con -
trast to th e white black-bo rdered . 
longitudina l stripes, each of whi ch has 
a de li ca t e pink flush superil11posed 
upo n it. 
6th Instar. Apri l 26, 1952. Length 
:t=i I11n1. Colour a nd marking as be-
fore . hut the bronzv re flecti o ns more 
ll()ticeahl e , and with' the surface of the 
skin with l11anv minut e tra nsverse 
\\Tinkle s. Full - feci about lYIa\- IS. 
Leng th 4.1 mill . tapering a li tt le to -
wards each end. Width 6 11111\. in 
middl e of hoch-. O ne la rva hurrowed 
hen eat h t he sc;i l on 1\fa\' 31. but fai led 
to pupat e. 
Remarks. Of t he 20 O\'a , th e Illa -
inrit\· hat ched. bu t the lan'ae ra pidh-
(li Ed - (,ff. On lv two finalh- re ache~1 
m at uri ty. but without the v ita lit \. tl, 
16 Er--;TOMOl.OG IC AL SOCIETY OF BRITISH COL U MBIA, PR OC. (19 53 ) , VOL. 50, MAY 15, 1954 
complete the m e tam or phus is. Pus-
sibly the food plant was not the cor -
rect one. The easte rn fo rm of N. 
elllillet/ollie! _ . the Dronzecl Cu t \\ o rm -
is reported a s feed in g un va r iou s cul-
t iv;ltecl crop s. Jud g in g Imlll thi ,; and 
th e loose ly la id ova, I wuu ld h;1 \ e 
ex pected the \I'es t ern jorm to I, e 1ll o re 
catho li c in its ta s te s th ;1I1 h;ls p ro ved 
to he th e c lse in t he prese 1l t in s t;l nce. 
.'\ Ioulti ng· \\'as \'ery d iffi cul t ;111<1 p ru-
longed , o ften la st ing for seve ral da ys; 
m a ny died beiore compl e ting t he 1lloult 
a nd some we re no t eve n ab le to CO !11 -
m ence it. At no time did the lan'ae 
spi n a silk th read "vhen !11()\' in g about 
o r ,;vh en d isllldgeel fr om the foud plant. 
T hey feel only a t nig ht, hiding unde r 
th e he rhage by day, though a t no 
tim e did 1 observe t hem hurrowing 
in to t he so il except once, ev idently fo r 
th e purpose of pupati on. \Vh en tou ch-
ed th ev snap th eir bodi es v ig o rou sly 
trllm s ide t () sid e. If a la rmed th e body 
is 10 rlll ed in to a se I11 i ci rcle w i th heael 
r ;lised, ;111<1 held mo t ionless fo r some 
t ime. 'vVhe n at rest a l()ng a g rass 
h1:td e. th e st ri pes r end e r t hem ve ry 
in conspicuous; they see I11ed to ble nd 
in til the g ra ss . O ne cause fo r the 
rapid decli ne in numbe r , s ince ma ny 
di sappea red \vi th out lea ving a ny sig n, 
ma\' ha\'e heen du e to c<l nnaIJa li sm , bu t 
nl' . proo f of thi s w as d iscovered. 
M oul ting diffic ul ty appeared to be the 
Cillse o f n1l) s t o f t he casua lti es. 
SCIENCE NOTE 
Note on a cat flea population, Ctenocepha-
lides felis (Bollche) :- On November 6, 1953, 
I treated a fri end 's basem ent for fi eas and 
du sted the Dillow on w hich th e cat sl ept, 
ove r a pap cr-, to coll ee t fiea eggs. T he hos t 
cat was quite sho rt-haired and appa rently 
ha d lOured a considerable numbe r of fl eas o n 
its hody, jud ging by its energe tic scratc hi ng. 
Sincc the a nimal was accustomed to slee p 
by .lay on several pi eces o f u pholste red furni-
ture in th e h ouse whi ch 1110s t pI'obably had 
eggs o n them, t.hese were du sted a nd vacuum 
c1 eancd by the owncr. Th e pillow yi eld ed a 
fa ir amollnt o f trash , a small amount o f dri ed 
Jl <:a b lood, fra ss and a considerable number 
of eggs with a very few r ece ntly hatched. 
wriggli ng larvae. I t was a ll promptly placed 
in a tight ly lidded tin and supplied with 
powdered fox chow biscu it and a sma ll pi ece 
of wetted b lo t t in g pa per attach ec!. to th e lid, 
fo r mo isture. By next day th e eggs " 'e re 
ha tchi ng f reely a nd the larvae burrowed in to 
th e food. The box was k ept in a table 
drawer closed so as to reduce light. at laho ra-
tory t emperatu re s, and was examined at 
int ervals_ 
In four to fiv e we eks th e larvae matured a nd 
pupated; m ilch of th e foo(l pOlnler \\'as 
ll Sc:d up by st ickin .g· to th e ou t sicl e o f the 
silk en cocoons wh ich now resemhled a hed 
o f 1'Ough see ds. F leas started to em crge and 
hY' J anua ry ~ a ll had eme rged and di ed. 
Th eir g1'Ow th was ap pa rently aFfected hy an 
in:,deq uat e ~ lI pply o f fl ea hlood o f \\"hi ('h 
no t one pa rticl e rema in cd in the rea ring cage 
and a ll the fl eas we re stunted, males averag-
in g' 1.25 to 1.5 mm. a nd fem ales only slightly 
large r. There were 902 adults and one dead 
larva in the box, g iving a possible to tal o f 
903 fi cas by th e e nd o f J a nuary. If this 
reco rd is a no rm a l infestatio n on a sho rt-
ha ired cat, the fi ea populatio n raised by a 
long-h ai red cat o r dog mu st b e truly im-
m ense . 
T o se para te out the dead fl cas, the trash 
in th e box was sifted throug h th ree g rades 
o j wi re m es h. Th e sifting y ielded, besides 
th e tlea" o ne small hym enopte ron, th ree 
cOlllpl etely aptcrous minute myce tophilids 
and o ne specimen o f the dipte rous family 
phyllomyzid ae. genus Des1llolll)za, about two 
thircls th e size o f th e norm al flies in this 
gc nu s. 
Th e presence o f the, e three other in sec t 
species is puz zlin g' unless their pupae had 
bee n ca n-i ed up to th e pillow on the cat' s 
fce t from the ea rth a round a n assor tm ent of 
plants and Imlh , recent ly du g up and s to red 
fu r th e w int er in the basement, over which 
t he ca t may hav e walked. I am not aware o f 
either hym enopterons or d ipterou s pa rasi tes 
o n fl ea larvae. Th ey w er e ce r ta inl y not in 
the fox-chow biscuit powder sup plied to th e 
larvae sin ce thi s food had heen pul veri zed. 
ste rili zed fo r a week at - 40° F. and sto red 
in a tin w ith a ti gh t lid for a year befo re 
hein g ll secl.- G. J. Spencer. 


Notes on the Life History of the Shaded Umber Nephelodes emmedonia Cram (F. Pectinata Sm.) Lepidoptera: Phylaenidae

Finlayson, D. C.

Note on Seed Production from Onion Bulbs Dipped in Insecticide at Planting

ENTOMOLOG IC .H SOCIETY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA , PROC. (195+), VOL. 51, N OVEMBER 30, 1954 21 
NOTES ON THE LIFE-HISTORY OF HESPERIA COMMA L. MANITOBA 
SCUD. (LEPIDOPTERA, RHOPALOCERA) ON VANCOUVER ISLAND 
GEORGE A. HARDY 
Victoria, B.C. 
The following notes are supplementary 
or confirmatory to what is known con-
cerning the life-history of this skipper. 
I am not aware that the life-history has 
been worked out for the Vancouver Island 
representative of the species. 
Ova can easily be obtained by confining 
a female under a sleeve of netting enclos-
ing a tuft of grass . She will lay her eggs 
on the grass, netting, and the twigs sup-
porting the net. One female thus confined 
laid forty eggs. Another group of three 
laid fifty eggs within a day or two. 
Egg. - Size 1 mm . by 0.80 mm. 
Hemispherical, attached to the grass by 
the broad base; smooth, slightly depressed 
in micropylar area, and with fine micro-
scopic reticulations. Colour, a dull chalky 
white . 
The following notes were obtained by 
observing the development of one indi-
vidual from egg to adult. A female was 
observed fluttering slowly about the grass 
in a neglected corner of my lawn in a 
manner very different from the usually 
swift and erratic flight common to the 
skippers. After a short time she settled 
well down at the base of a grass stem and, 
curving her ovipositor forward, made one 
or two trial thrusts before depositing an 
egg on the stem. She then fluttered a 
short distance away and repeated the pro-
cess. T collected an egg and placed it in 
a glass tube where the subsequent meta-
morphosis took place. 
As the larva developed very slowly 
during the early phases , the moults were 
not all observed with certainty, hence a 
chronological account follows:-
September 19, 1952. The egg, laid on 
dead grass stem, was placed in a glass 
tube for observation. 
April 24, 1953. Egg hatched. Larva, 
2 mm. in length; head very large in pro-
portion to tbe rest of the body, jet black; 
body fairly stout, spindle-shaped, pale 
beige or putty colour. 
April 29. Larva very sluggish but 
nibbles sparingly at the grass. 
May 23. Length 4 mm. Since April 
29 it seems to have had only one moult. 
It spends most of the time in a slight silken 
cell constructed among the grass blades, 
from which it makes sorties in search of 
food. 
May 27. As before. I have to keep 
on changing the grass, very carefully 
placing the fresh food alongside the cell , 
as the larva does not venture far away. 
June 5. Length, 5 mm . Head black, 
roughened with minute papillre. The first 
thoracic segment very small and narrow 
and looks like a black ring round the body. 
Body putty-coloured, thickly dotted with 
tiny black papillre. Prolegs black, claspers 
same colour as body. Two white spots 
on under-side between segments 10-11 
and 11-12. Under the microscope these 
spots appear to be made up of finely 
shredded white scales. 
July 1. Length, 8 mm. Probably in 
third moult. Although growing slowly, 
the larva is evidently in good condition. 
Colour and markings as before. 
July 14. Length, 17 mm. Obviously 
growing faster as size increases ; remains 
most of the time within its cell , which is 
enlarged to match growth. 
July 18. Length, 20 mill. I saw the 
larva in the process of mOUlting. Colour 
is darker. 
August 7. Length, 30 mm. Possibly 
the fifth moult. Head black with two light-
coloured vertical marks on vertex . Sur-
face of head roughened with minute pap il-
Ire, body smooth, dull buff colour. 
August 11. Length, 30 mm.; width, 6 
mm. Evidently in last moult. Body red-
dish, spiracles black. 
22 ENTOMOLOGIC\L SOCIETY OF BRITISH COLUMilIA, PROC. (195+), VOL. 51, NOVEMBER 30,195+ 
August 16. Size as before. Body has 
a tinge of brownish-purple with an obscure 
dark dorsal line. 
August 24. Pupated in the last larval 
cell. Pupa: Length, 20 mm .; width, 
6 mm. Wing-cases bluish-black, abdomi-
nal segments a dull pink, each segment 
with a double row of transverse fuscous 
dashcs. Cremaster a tuft of lllany out-
wardly recurved hooked hairs . The pupa 
reposed in the cell vertically, hcad u pper-
lllOSt. 
Sep tember 17. Pupa llluch darker in 
colour, the transverse abdominal mark-
ings have become merged into the general 
ground colour. 
September 19. Imago emerged from 
the pupa exactly one year from the day 
the egg was laid. The adult was a female, 
normal as to size and colour. 
Sumulary 
The skipper H. comma L. manitoba 
Scud. passed a period of seven months in 
the egg stage, i.e. , Septem ber 19, 1952, to 
April 24, 1953. The larval period re-
quired four months; growth was remark-
ably slow in the early stages. When feed-
ing, the larva never went far from its 
silken cell unless the food-supply ran out, 
then it built a new cell among fresh 
growth , Lolium and BromllS sp. 
1 was un able to ascertain what function, 
if any , the four white spots on the under-
side of the larva lllay fulfil , although they 
seem to be of a structural nature rather 
than due to pigmentation. Could they be 
scent glands? 
The pupal stage lasted for one month , 
and the pupa was enclosed in the old feed-
ing tent of the larva, an unusual feature 
in butterfly pUp<e. 


Notes on the Life-history of Hespera comma L. Manitoba Scud. (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera) on Vancouver Island

Proverbs, M. D.

Control of soft scales (Homoptera: Coccidae) in British Columbia peach and apricot orchards

Spencer, G. J.

Lice on a Bald-headed Eagle

Ross, D. A.

Evans, D.

I 'S 'I() ,\I1J1 ,(j '.I , ,\ 1. SOl, n :TY IIF BH I T I S II ('() L[ ' \II<lA. PH()\'. (195lJ). VU I.. 5G. Nu\'. 4, 1\j5~ l G 
Smith, C. N. , and H. K. Gouck, 1945. DDT to control ticks on vegetation. J. Econ. Ent. 
38: 553-555. 
Therrien, A. A., G. W. Hunter , Ill, A. P. Moon, A. L. Adams, D. E. Potts, M. G. Radke, 
J. S. Williams, and J. E. Webb, Jr ., 1953. Studies on the lone star tick. II. Prelim-
inary plot tests of potential acaricides [Abstract]. J . Parasit. 39 (No.4, Sec. 2): 26. 
Therrien, A. A. , G. W. Hunter , Ill, A. P. Moon, and A. L. Adams. 1954. Tests of poten-
tial acaric ides against the lone star tick. J . Econ. Ent. 47 : 76-78. 
ANNOTATED LIST OF FOREST INSECTS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA 
PART IX-CARIPETA SPP. (Geometridae)' 
D. A. RO SS2 and D . Evans 3 
Caripeta larvae feed on the needles 
of conifers but no appreciable defoli-
ation by any of the three loca l species 
h as been recorded in British Colum-
bia. Full grown larvae are a bout 1 % 
inches long and may have one or two 
indistinct dark transverse lines on the 
front of the head. Body colours a re for 
the most part dull, variable with 
sometimes obscure brownish X to H 
markings on the dorsum, darkest 
along their anterior a rms; setae on 
the upper body arise from small swell-
ings or tubercles that are variable in 
size . Caripeta spp . overwinter as 
pupae. 
C. divisata Wlk. - Tsuga h etero -
phylla, Pseudotsuga menzi esii , Picea, 
all native spp ., Abi es lasiocarpa, A. 
grandis, A . amabilis, Larix occiden-
talis, and occas ionally on Pinus mon-
ticola, P. contorta and Thuja plicata; 
a generally distributed species south 
of latitude 56°; some years it is num-
erou s . LARVA: h ead pale brown with 
dark h erring - bone markings; body 
ye llowish and grey or brown; in ter-
rupted off - white or yellow sub-
dorsal stripes, som etimes obscure; 
I Co n t ributio n No . 543, F o rest Biology Division, 
Resea r c h Bra n c h , Depa rtment of Ag ri c ulture , Ot· 
tawa , Ca nada. 
2 Forest Biology Laboratory, Ve rnon, B .C. 
3 Forest Biology Labora tory, Victoria , B.C. 
elongate yellow, occasionally whitish, 
black-edged intersegmental patch 
anterior to and encompassing each 
a bdominal spiracle; spiracular stripe 
may be continuous, may in part be 
suffused with reddish brown; broken 
yellowish subventral stripes; tubercles 
prominent ; tubercles ii on central 
abdominal segments, b I a c k and 
yellow. 
C. aequaliaria Grt. - Pseudotsuga 
m enziesii, Pinus ponderosa, P . con-
torta (4 records), P. monticoZa (2), 
Tsuga heterophylla (2); Southern 
B.C. and Southern V.I. , much less 
numerous than divisata. LARVA: of 
dark pigmentation; little whitish or 
yellowish colour along spiracular 
area; brownish a bout the abdominal 
spiracles. 
C. angustiorata Wlk.-Pinus con-
torta; Central B .C. and Southern in-
terior B.C. LARVA : grey or reddish 
brown ; one sp ecimen with high pro-
portion of black; dorsal stripe usually 
yellowish; irregula r yellowish pleural 
fold; central abdominal spiracles each 
narrowly encircled by an unpigment-
ed ring; tubercles ii on central ab-
dominal segments black; obscure 
transverse ridges between tubercles 
ii . 
Note on a Ground Beetle eating a new-born Field Mouse 
This information was given me by Dr. 
James Bendell of the Department of 
Zoology. 
In July 1958, Dr. Bendell was walking on 
the south side of the campus by a grassy 
roadside when he heard the shrill screams 
of a mouse. Upon locating the sound he 
found a Microtus or vole nest containing 
several blind suckling yo ung, one of which 
was being chewed by a male Carabus nem-
oralis MUll. He capture the beetle and the 
mouse so there was no question as to their 
identity . The beetle had eaten the back of 
the thigh and the abdominal wall in the 
inguinal r egion so that the body cavity 
was visible. This beetle is normally a pred-
ator on earthworms. 
- u. J . Rpeneer, Uni1!el'sit.ll oj B1'iNsh Co lum-
Il i a. r rl1l(,() l1 rrr, 


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