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Most major modern families of Hymenoptera were established in the Mesozoic, but the diversifications within ecologically key trophic guilds and lineages that significantly influence the character of modern terrestrial ecosystems – bees (Apiformes), ants (Formicidae), social Vespidae, parasitoids (Ichneumonidae), and phytophagous Tenthredinoidea – were previously known to occur mostly in the middle to late Eocene. We find these changes earlier, seen here in the early Eocene Okanagan Highlands fossil deposits of western North America. Some of these may have occurred even earlier, but have been obscured by taphonomic processes. We provide an overview of the Okanagan Highlands Hymenoptera to family level and in some cases below that, with a minimum of 25 named families and at least 30 when those tentatively assigned or distinct at family level, but not named are included. Some are poorly known as fossils (Trigonalidae, Siricidae, Peradeniidae, Monomachidae), and some represent the oldest confirmed occurrences (Trigonalidae, Pompilidae, Sphecidaesensu stricto, Peradeniidae, Monomachidae, and possibly Halictidae). Some taxa previously thought to be relictual or extinct by the end of the Cretaceous (Angarosphecidae, Archaeoscoliinae, some Diapriidae) are present and sometimes abundant in the early Eocene. Living relatives of some taxa are now present in different climate regimes or on different continents.

A total of 2702 individuals representing nine species of Pteromalidae (Chalcidoidea) plus at least one species of Diapriidae, Trichopria haematobiae (Ashmead) (Diaprioidea), were reared as pupal parasitoids of filth-breeding flies in bovine manure during a 2-year study in northern Tamaulipas, Mexico. The Pteromalidae included two undescribed species of Spalangia Latreille plus Spalangia cameroni Perkins, S. drosophilae Ashmead, S. endius Walker, S. nigroaenea Curtis, Muscidifurax raptor Girault and Sanders, M. zaraptor Kogan and Legner, and Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (Rondani). Spalangia nigroaenea accounted for 71% of all the pupal parasitoids and all six Spalangia species for 94% of the parasitoids over the 2 years. Based on its preponderance, S. nigroaenea is recommended as a candidate for inundative releases within integrated pest management programs to help control fly pests of cattle in northeastern Mexico.

The species of the genusEntomacisFoerster in North America north of Mexico are revised. Nineteen species (12 new), including 8 species of the Holarctic-wideperplexaspecies group, are keyed, described, and figured. These taxa areE. ambigua(Brues),E. apopkaensissp. nov.,E. arcticasp. nov.,E. cellariasp. nov.,E. cepasp. nov.,E. eorariasp. nov.,E. floridana(Ashmead),E. grandiclavasp. nov.,E. longii(Ashmead),E. mellipetiola(Ashmead),E. parambiguasp. nov., andperplexagroup membersE. californica(Ashmead),E. microbipunctatasp. nov.,E. notioxerasp. nov.,E. oulasp. nov.,E. parvasp. nov.,E. perplexa(Haliday),E. sapratasp. nov., andE. subemarginata(Ashmead).Hemilexodes canadensis(Harrington) is synonymized underEntomacis mellipetiola(Ashmead) (syn. nov.). The status ofEntomacis latipennis(Ashmead),E. filiformis(Ashmead), andHemilexis jesseiMann is reviewed. New character complexes, particularly chaetotaxy, are emphasized for Diapriidae species taxonomy.

The African psiline Coptera silvestrii var. robustior (Silvestri) is elevated to species status. Both males and females of it and of Coptera silvestrii silvestrii (Kieffer) are redescribed. Lectotypes for both species arc designated. Coptera magnificus (Nixon) is recognized as a junior subjective synonym of C. robustior (new status). The status of Coptera silvestrii nigricornis (Nixon) is reviewed. Six additional psiline species, all originally described in the genus Galesus Haliday, are transferred to the genus Coptrera Say, where they form the following new combinations:Coptera elgoni (Risbec. 1950): Coptera macrophtalma (Risbec, 1950); Coptera ornata (Risbec, 1950); Coptera microphtalma (Risbec, 1950); Coptera bignonae (Risbec, 1954); and Coptera toboi (Risbec, 1954).

Results of a 2-year survey in Alberta, Canada, identified a parasitoid fauna of filth flies distinct from that generally reported for cattle confinements in the United States. Twenty-two feedlots were surveyed using freeze-killed sentinel house fly pupae. Parasitism averaged 0.25%. Ten species of hymenopterous parasitoids were recovered. As a percentage of the total number of pupae parasitized, these species wereMuscidifurax raptorGirault & Saunders (37.4%),Trichomalopsis sarcophagaeGahan (23.9%),Urolepis rufipes(Ashmead) (18.5%),Muscidifurax zaraptorKogan & Legner (6.9%),Nasonia vitripennisWalker (6.5%),Trichomalopsissp. (3.7%) (Pteromalidae),Phygadeuonsp. (2.9%) (Ichneumonidae),Dibrachys cavus(Walker) (0.1%) (Pteromalidae),Synacrasp. (0.1%) (Diapriidae), and an unidentified Braconidae (0.1%). No differences were detected among natural regions of the province. Three categories of seasonal activity are identified which expand on previous groupings of species by their geographic distributions. The abundance ofT.sarcophagaeand rarity of species ofSpalangiaLatreille, 1805 are in marked contrast to results of surveys conducted in the United States. This difference suggests that species used to manage populations of pestiferous flies associated with livestock in the United States could be inappropriate for use in Canada.

The species of the genus Spilomicrus in America north of Mexico are revised. A generic diagnosis of Spilomicrus, key to genera of Nearctic Spilomicrini, and key to Spilomicrus species in America north of Mexico are given. Four species-groups are defined, viz. distinctus, exul, formosus, and stigmaticalis. Character states, variation, distribution, and relationships of each species are discussed. Twelve of 21 species are recognized as new: S. boweni, S. crassicornis, S. distinctus, S. exul, S. inornatus, S. palustris, S. pumilio, S. robustus, S. sanbornei, S. stepheni, S. superbus, and S. sylvicola. Nine previously known species are redescribed: S. antennatus (Jurine), S. atriclavus Ashmead, S. bifoveatus Kieffer, S. brevicornis (Ashmead), S. flavicornis Ashmead, S. formosus Jansson, S. ruficornis (Provancher), S. stigmaticalis Westwood, and S. virginicus Fouts. The males of S. brevicornis and S. virginicus, as well as the females of S. flavicornis and S. ruficornis, are described for the first time. The following new synonymies are proposed: S. antennatus (= Basalys californica Ashmead), S. atriclavus (= S. foutsi Masner, S. kiefferi Fouts), and S. stigmaticalis (= S. armatus Ashmead).

Microdon albicomatus Novak are obligate temporary myrmecophiles, passing their immature life in the nests of ants. Second and third larval instars are aggressive mimics of ant brood (Garnett et al. 1985). Larvae physically and chemically (Garnett et al. 1985; Stanley-Samuelson et al. 1990) resemble the ant cocoons upon which they prey and are transported with the ant brood by the worker ants.

Biosteres melleus (Gahan), Diachasma alloeum (Muesebeck), D. ferrugineum (Gahan), Opius canaliculatus Gahan, O. downesi Gahan (all Braconidae), and an undescribed Psilus sp. (Diapriidae) emerged from puparia of Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) collected in Connecticut during 1977 and 1978. Percentage parasitism ranged from 7.9 to 36.8% in flies on hawthorn and from 0.0 to 23.9% in flies on apple. It exceeded 5.0% in only 5 (22.7%) of 22 samples from apple. Higher rates of parasitism usually occurred at sites where other hosts of apple maggot parasitoids probably infested fruits on nearby plants.

Ecitovagus gibbus, new genus and new species of diapriid wasps (Diapriinae, Diapriini) associated with the army ant Neivamyrmex nigrescens (Cresson) in Arizona, is described. Taxonomic and ecological relationships with other ecitophilous diapriids are discussed.

The habits, biology, and distribution of Mimopria species are discussed and new data presented; M. campbellorum n. sp. from Brazil (Para) is described and compared with M. ecitophila Holmgren. A key to distinguish the two species is given.

The genus Ismarus Haliday of the New World is revised. Twenty-one species are recognized, described, and keyed, of which the following 16 are new: I. brevicornis n. sp. ♂ (Mexico), I. clarkae n. sp. ♀ (Canada), I. dux n. sp. ♂ (Panama, Costa Rica), I. flavicrus n. sp. ♀ (Mexico), I. flavigena n. sp. ♂ (Canada, U.S.A.), I. gibsoni n. sp. ♀ (Canada, U.S.A.), I. gracilis n. sp. ♀ ♂ (Mexico, Panama), I. helavai n. sp. ♀ (Panama), I. masoni n. sp. ♀ ♂ (Mexico), I. mexicanus n. sp. ♀ ♂ (Mexico), I. neotropicus n. sp. ♀ ♂ (Brazil), I. porteri n. sp. ♂ (Argentina), I. orion n. sp. ♀ (Mexico), I. rex n. sp. ♀ ♂ (Mexico), I. varicornis n. sp. ♀ (Brazil), and I. vigil n. sp. ♂ (U.S.A.). The hitherto unknown males of I. americanus Fouts and I. nevadensis Kieff. are described. I. rugulosus Foerst., I. halidayi Foerst., and I. flavicornis (Thorns.), previously known from Europe, are recorded from Canada and the U.S.A. Higher classification, interrelationships, and world distribution of Ismarus are discussed.

Two hundred and thirty-nine primary types of Ceraphronoidea (11), Evanioidea (1), Proctotrupoidea (226), and Trigonaloidea (1) housed in the Canadian National Collection were examined and listed. These were contributed by the following authors: Masner (108), Townes (41), Muesebeck (25), Harrington (16), Johnson (9), Dessart (7), Huggert and Masner (6), Masner and Huggert (5), MacGown (5), Johnson and Masner (3), Ritchie and Masner (3), Mineo (2), Provancher (2), Ashmead (1), Bin and Johnson (1), Dessart and Bin (1), Fouts (1), MacGown and Nebeker(1), Sharkey (1), and Viereck (1). Lectotypes are designated by L. Masner for the following Harrington species: Aphanogmus salicicola, Lygocerus pallipes, Aclista caudata, Eritrissomerus pallipes, Sactogaster varipes, Baryconus bicolor, and Baryconus cinctus; and for Pentacantha canadensis Ashmead. The following new generic combinations are also proposed by L. Masner: Acanosema caudata (Harrington) and A. crassicornis (Harrington) from Aclista; Amblyaspis pallipes (Harrington) from Eritrissomerus; and Trimorus canadensis (Ashmead) from Pentacantha.

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Blood-sucking horse flies and deer flies of the family Tabanidae are important pests of livestock and man in Hastings County, Ontario. In a survey made during 1951-56, immatures of 29 species were collected and reared to obtain information on their insect parasites and other biotic control agents in different habitats. Most of the tabanid specimens were found at five sites where populations were high. The periods of pupation and emergence of Chrysops and of the larger tabanids are shown. The most numerous biotic agents found were two egg parasites, Trichogramma minutum Riley and Telenomus emersoni Girault. Parasites of the larva were a tachinid, Phorostoma novaeangliae (West) and Bathymermis sp., a nematode parasite of Chrysops spp. There were two pupal parasites: Diglochis occidentalis (Ashm.) (Pteromalidae) and Trichopria sp., probably tabanivora Fouts (Diapriidae). There is evidence that both these parasites attack the mature larva of the host.

In this second paper on the North American Proctotrupidœ, I have taken up the sub-family Platygasterinœ, comprising, for the most part, small black species, all parasitic in larvæxs belonging to the Dipterous families Cecidomyiidœ and Tipulidœ.It will be seen that I have recognized in our fauna species in all of the described genera but Iphetrachelus Haliday, and one new genus parasitic on Cecidomyious hickory galls.

Bionomic and phylogenetic research on the Tabanidae is hampered by an inadequate knowledge of their immature stages, the larvae and (or) pupae of only 154 of the approximately 2000 world species being known. The present study is an attempt to partially rectify this situation in North America where it is almost as acute as elsewhere.By means of hand-searching or using a specially designed sieve and multiple Berlese funnel, larvae were obtained from 219 wetland habitats of various types in Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and New Jersey. Many of the larvae were then reared to the adult stage to provide conclusive species identification. During the rearings larval and pupal exuviae were retained and preserved. These together with accurately associated whole preserved larvae and the immatures of several species obtained from other sources were the basis for detailed general descriptions of tabanid larvae and pupae, keys and diagnostic descriptions of these stages as well as descriptive comments on the habitats of the 36 species of Chrysops, 1 Merycomyia, 19 Tabanus, 7 Atylotus, and 18 Hybomitra which are included in the paper. The larvae and pupae of 43 species are described for the first time.In discussing the phylogenetic implications of these larvae and pupae several evolutionary trends and the high degree of concordance between these stages and the adults is pointed out, which lends considerable support to the present classification based solely on adults. The non-alignment of the immatures of some species suggests their improper placement. However, this cannot be proved until the immature stages of many more species covering a broader spectrum of the family are known.Parasitism involving Carinosillus tabanivorus (Hall) (Tachinidae), Villa lateralis Say (Bombyliidae), Diglochis occidentalis Ashm. (Pteromalidae), and Trichopria sp. (Diapriidae) accounted for approximately two per cent of the mortality of reared specimens.

Four females of Phaenopria popei oviposited into a one-day-old puparium of Dictya sp. Adult progeny emerged 18 days later at 19-25 °C. Host flies include Dictya, Elgiva, and Sepedon, and probably Tetanocera (all Sciomyzidae).

RecentIy I received from Dr. Clifford O. Berg a series of specimens of a diapriid reared from puparia of Sepedon fuscipennis Loew, a sciomyzid fly, the biology of which he has been investigating at Sodon Lake, Oakland County, Michigan. The species falls in Phaenopria as that genus is currently recognized, and it is apparently ancdescribed. At the suggestion of Dr. Berg, I am naming it in honor of Mr. Gustavus D. Pope, the owner of Sodon Lake which he has made available for research to the Cranbrook Institute of Science for a period of three years. Mr. Pope, who is a trustee of the Cranbrook Institute, has a serious interest in the research sponsored by that organization and has done a great deal to make it possible. It is, therefore, with particular pleasure that I dedicate this new species to him.