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A total of 781 species of Microlepidoptera belonging to 41 families are reported for the territory of Omsk Region. The most numerous is the Tortricidae family represented by 255 species, then Crambidae (94 species), Gelechiidae (70), Pyralidae (66), Pterophoridae (44), Depressariidae (32), Gracillariidae (29), Tineidae (25), Elachistidae (14), Adelidae and Elachistidae (8 species in each family), Yponomeutidae, Ypsolophidae, Ethmiidae and Cosmopterigidae (7 species in each family), Scythrididae and Oecophoridae (6 species in each family), Eriocraniidae (4), Nepticulidae, Momphidae and Epermeniidae (3 species in each family), Prodoxidae, Glyphipterigidae, Lyonetiidae and Choreutidae (2 species in each family), Opostegidae, Incurvariidae, Roeslerstammiidae, Argyresthiidae, Plutelliidae, Acrolepiidae, Bedelliidae, Parametriotidae, Chimabachidae, Cryptolechiidae, Batrachedridae, Blastobasidae, Autostichidae, Galacticidae (1 species in each family). 10 species are new to the Omsk Region. Agonopterix purpurea (Haworth, 1811) and Aethes flagellana (Duponchel, 1836) are reported from the territory of Omsk Region as new to the Asian Part of Russia; Fomoria weaveri (Stainton, 1855) reported from the territory of West Siberia for the first time., The author is thankful to colleagues and friends: S.Yu. Sinev, A.L. Lvovsky, S.V. Baryshnikova (all from St. Petersburgh), V.V. Dabatolov, O.E. Kosterin, P.Ya. Ustjuzhanin (all from Novosibirsk), R.V. Yakovlev (Barnaul), V.V. Anikin (Saratov), N.I. Kirichenko (Krasnoyarsk), E.J. van Nieukerken (Leiden, The Netherlands), M.G. Ponomarenko (Vladivostok) for their help with determination and useful disscussions on this project; K.B. Ponomarev, V.V. Rogalev, S.M. Saikina (all from Omsk), V.Yu. Teploukhov (Bolshiye Uki, Omsk Oblast), O.N. Kholodov (Krasnyi Oktyabr`, Omsk Oblast), A.A. Salnik (Ermak, Omsk Oblast), for their valuable help, good company during the expeditions and data supply.

Mikrolepidopteren gehörten seit der ersten Hälfte des 19. Jahrhunderts zum Gegenstand entomologischer Forschung in Eberswalde. Zentren der Forschung waren zunächst die Forstlichen Lehranstalten und Institute, später auch das Deutsche Entomologische Institut. Außerdem war die Eberswalder Gegend stets Anziehungspunkt für viele Mikrolepidopteren-Spezialisten, die nicht an einschlägigen wissenschaftlichen Instituten arbeiteten. In der vorgelegten Arbeit werden die Forschungsergebnisse aus der Vergangenheit regionalfaunistisch ausgewertet und durch Ergebnisse aktueller faunistischer Forschungen zu einem Verzeichnis der Microlepidoptera der Diluviallandschaften um Eberswalde ergänzt. Das Verzeichnis umfasst mit 863 Arten aus 47 Familien 57 % der im Land Brandenburg nachgewiesenen Mikrolepidopteren-Arten, darunter ein Neufund für Deutschland: Clepsis coriacanus; 13 Neufunde für das Land Brandenburg: Coleophora adjectella, Colephora sylvaticella, Coleophora ramosella, Mompha terminella, Monochroa arundinetella, Bryotropha umbrosella, Anarsia innoxiella, Telephila schmidtiellus, Cydia gemmiferana, Acrobasis legatea, Pammene herrichiana, Pammene ignorata, Schreckensteinia festaliella; und 45 Wiederfunde im Land Brandenburg. Die Autoren konnten 332 Arten erstmals im Eberswalder Raum nachweisen. Für 531 Arten wurden ältere/historische Nachweise ausgewertet. Das Vorkommen von 408 dieser Arten konnte bestätigt werden. Die Funddaten sind tabellarisch dargestellt und sowohl Naturräumen des Gebietes als auch Messtischblättern zugeordnet., Beiträge zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology, Bd. 70 Nr. 1 (2020)

The published records ofEriocraniachrysolepidellaZeller, 1851,Incurvariakoerneriella(Zeller, 1839) andLamproniaaeneella(Heinemann, 1870) from Chuvash and Karelia Republics in Russia are based on misidentified specimens. This finding, along with earlier reports on the widespread occurrence of errors, even in the most authoritative works, calls for a critical approach to published data in order to stop spreading and citing false information across future publications.

Pheromone receptors (PRs) are essential in moths to detect sex pheromones for mate finding. However, it remains unknown from which ancestral proteins these specialized receptors arose. The oldest lineages of moths, so-called non-ditrysian moths, use short-chain pheromone components, secondary alcohols, or ketones, so called Type 0 pheromones that are similar to many common plant volatiles. It is, therefore, possible that receptors for these ancestral pheromones evolved from receptors detecting plant volatiles. Hence, we identified the odorant receptors (ORs) from a non-ditrysian moth, Eriocrania semipurpurella (Eriocraniidae, Lepidoptera), and performed functional characterization of ORs using HEK293 cells. We report the first receptors that respond to Type 0 pheromone compounds; EsemOR3 displayed highest sensitivity toward (2S, 6Z)-6-nonen-2-ol, whereas EsemOR5 was most sensitive to the behavioral antagonist (Z)-6-nonen-2-one. These receptors also respond to plant volatiles of similar chemical structures, but with lower sensitivity. Phylogenetically, EsemOR3 and EsemOR5 group with a plant volatile-responding receptor from the tortricid moth Epiphyas postvittana (EposOR3), which together reside outside the previously defined lepidopteran PR clade that contains the PRs from more derived lepidopteran families. In addition, one receptor (EsemOR1) that falls at the base of the lepidopteran PR clade, responded specifically to β-caryophyllene and not to any other additional plant or pheromone compounds. Our results suggest that PRs for Type 0 pheromones have evolved from ORs that detect structurally-related plant volatiles. They are unrelated to PRs detecting pheromones in more derived Lepidoptera, which, in turn, also independently may have evolved a novel function from ORs detecting plant volatiles.

A new species of Eulophinae,Pnigalio eriocraniaeLi & Yang,sp. n., is described and illustrated. This new species is a larval ectoparasitoid ofEriocrania semipurpurella alpinaXu (Lepidoptera, Eriocraniidae), a leaf miner in birch trees,Betulaspp. (Betulaceae), in Qinghai Province, northwest China. The biology of the new species and a key to the known species from China are provided.

Kurz, Michael (2015): On the systematic position of Electrocrania Kusnezov, 1941 with the description of a new species from Baltic amber (Lepidoptera: Micropterigidae). Zootaxa 4044 (3): 446-450, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4044.3.7

This checklist documents the 2367 Lepidoptera species reported to occur in the province of Alberta, Canada, based on examination of the major public insect collections in Alberta and the Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes. Records from relevant literature sources published since 1950 and from selected older works are also included. The entry for each species includes the scientific name, the author and year of publication of the original description, occurrence status, provincial distribution (according to ecoclimatic region), and adult phenology. The most recent taxonomic references are given, and common names are listed for butterflies and conspicuous moth species. The sources of specimen- and literature-based records are provided for each species. An additional 138 species whose occurrence in Alberta is probable are appended to the list. For 1524 of the listed species and subspecies, annotations are given, with selected information on taxonomy, nomenclature, distribution, habitat, and biology. An additional section provides details on 171 species erroneously reported from Alberta in previous works. Introductory sections to the volume provide a general overview of the order Lepidoptera and review the natural regions of Alberta, the state of knowledge of their Lepidoptera faunas, and the history and current state of knowledge of Alberta Lepidoptera. Each of the 63 families (and selected subfamilies) occurring in Alberta is briefly reviewed, with information on distinguishing features, general appearance, and general biology. A bibliography and an index of genus-level, species-level, and subspecies-level names are provided. The list is accompanied by an appendix of proposed nomenclature changes, consisting of revised status for 25 taxa raised from synonymy to species level, and new synonymy for 20 species-level and one genus-level taxa here considered to be subjective synonyms, with resultant revised synonymy for one taxon and formalization of seven new combinations. Status is revised for the following taxa, which were previously treated as junior subjective synonyms or as subspecies and are herein raised to species status: Carterocephalus mandan (Edwards, 1863); Hesperia manitoba (Scudder, 1874); Colias elis Strecker, 1885; Nymphalis j-album (Boisduval & LeConte, [1835]); Euphydryas bernadetta Leussler, 1920; Speyeria leto (Behr, 1862); Boloria myrina (Cramer, 1777); Coenonympha inornata Edwards, 1861; Colostygia circumvallaria (Taylor, 1906); Xanthorhoe delectaria Cassino & Swett, 1922; Xanthorhoe lagganata Swett & Cassino, 1920; Scopula quinquelinearia (Packard, 1870); Spodolepis danbyi (Hulst, 1898); Hyalophora gloveri (Strecker, 1872); Smerinthus ophthalmica Boisduval, 1855; Furcula borealis (Guerin-Meneville, 1844); Furcula occidentalis (Lintner, 1878); Acronicta cyanescens Hampson, 1909; Oligia rampartensis Barnes & Benjamin, 1923; Anarta nigrolunata Packard, 1867; Anarta columbica (McDunnough, 1930); Anarta montanica (McDunnough, 1930); Leucania dia (Grote, 1879); Euxoa adumbrata thanatologia (Dyar, 1904); and Euxoa furtivus (Smith, 1890). The following new synonymies are proposed, with the valid name presented first: Xanthorhoe algidata (Moschler, 1874) (= Xanthorhoe dodata Cassino & Swett, 1920), Macaria signaria (Hubner, 1809) (= Melanolophia unipunctaria W. S. Wright, 1916; Semiothisa marmorata Ferguson, 1972; Macaria? submarmorata Walker, 1861), Speranza occiduaria (Packard, 1874) (= Diastictis andersoni Swett, 1916), Caenurgina crassiuscula (Haworth, 1809) (= Caenurgina distincta (Neumoegen, 1884)), Tarache augustipennis Grote, 1875 (= Conacontia flavicosta Smith, 1900), Acronicta dactylina Grote, 1874 (= Acronicta hesperida Smith, 1897), Acronicta grisea Walker, 1856 (= Acronicta tartarea Smith, 1903), Acronicta lupini Grote, 1873 (= Merolonche ursina Smith, 1898), Fishia yosemitae (Grote, 1873) (= Fishia enthea Grote, 1877; Fishia betsia Smith, 1905; Fishia instruta Smith, 1910), Sutyna privata (Walker, 1857) (= Anytus profundus Smith, 1900), Mniotype ducta (Grote, 1878) (= Xylophasia versuta Smith, 1895), Mniotype tenera (Smith, 1900) (= Xylophasia miniota Smith, 1908; Hadena ferida Smith, 1908), Anarta decepta (Grote, 1883) (= Trichoclea postica Smith, 1891), Protorthodes incincta (Morrison, 1874) (= Taeniocampa utahensis Smith, 1888; Orthodes akalus Strecker, 1898). The following revised synonomy is proposed, with the valid name presented first: Xanthorhoe lagganata Swett & Cassino, 1920 (= Xanthorhoe incursata var. harveyata Cassino & Swett, 1922). One new generic synonymy is proposed, with the valid name appearing first: Idia Hubner, 1813 (= Reabotis Smith, 1903), resulting in one new combination. Six species are transferred from Trichoclea Hubner to Sideridis Hubner, resulting in six new combinations.

The sensilla on the piercing ovipositor of Dyseriocrania subpurpurella are described by means of scanning electron microscopy. Two sensilla types are present: aporous sensilla digitiformia and sensilla campaniformia. This is the first mention of sensilla digitiformia on the ovipositor of a Lepidoptera. The sensilla are arranged in successive pairs on each side of the ovipositor: the sensilla campaniformia are apical, the sensilla digitiformia are subapical. All the sensilla are probably capable of recording both the cuticular stress and the mechanical contact of the ovipositor from the initial through the final steps of penetration in the leaf-host to egg-laying. The different possible roles of each sensillum type are considered in relation with our present knowledge.

The leafmining larvae of Eriocrania spp. (Lepidoptera, Eriocraniidae) develop in the expanding leaves of mountain birch, Betula pubescens subsp. czerepanovii (Orlova) Hämet-Ahti. The larva usually consumes over a half of the leaf, implying moderate foliar damage to an individual shoot. I demonstrated that in unpolluted forests, effects of damage are restricted to the mined leaf, which grows smaller and demonstrates higher fluctuating asymmetry than intact leaves. In contrast, in heavily polluted industrial barrens, mining of the single leaf adversely affects the entire shoot; timing and expression of responses depend on shoot type. In infested short shoots, intact leaves grow smaller and more asymmetrical than leaves in control shoots, whereas infested long shoots demonstrated no current-year response; this difference suggests that long shoots are more competitive than short shoots and can acquire additional resources to compensate for herbivore damage. In contrast, in the next year after damage, no consequences of mining were detected in short shoots, whereas infested long shoots produced lower numbers of axillary long shoots than controls. The detected interactive effects of pollution and leaf damage most probably result from resource limitation in birches growing on low-nutritive toxic soils.Key words: Betula pubescens subsp. czerepanovii, foliar damage, fluctuating asymmetry, Kola peninsula, leaf size, shoot growth.

Summary 1This study examined the indirect impacts of leaf-mining insects, Eriocrania spp. Zeller (Lepidoptera: Eriocraniidae) on a phloem-feeding insect, Euceraphis betulae Koch (Homoptera: Drepanosiphinae). While many insect herbivores affect one another through changes to host plant chemical composition, Eriocrania also has the potential to affect E. betulae through structural modification of a shared leaf. 2Euceraphis betulae mortality was higher when caged on leaves with Eriocrania leaf-miners. Mortality was not affected by the amount of leaf mined or elevated phenolic compound concentrations in mined leaves, but leaf-miner induced damage to the midrib was strongly correlated with poor aphid survival. In field surveys, E. betulae was significantly less abundant on mined leaves with midrib damage than on mined leaves with just lamina damage, or mine-free leaves. 3Experiments simulating leaf-miner damage on B. pendula leaves pinpointed midrib damage as being associated with higher E. betulae mortality, whereas lamina damage had no effect on aphid mortality. Disruption of phloem hydraulics is proposed as the mechanism underpinning the negative impacts on the aphid. 4Eriocrania larvae mining leaves with manually damaged midribs weighed more than those in which the midrib was intact. There was also a trend towards higher nitrogen concentrations in leaves in which Eriocrania had damaged the midrib. There could therefore be a selective advantage to leaf-miners that damage the midrib if severance improves leaf nutritional quality, in addition to rendering the leaves unsuitable to potential competitors.

Aim and location I aimed to assess changes in number and quality of suitable habitats, as well as in habitat occupancy by Eriocrania leafminers (Lepidoptera, Eriocraniidae), which have occurred in central parts of the city of St Petersburg between 1986 and 2001. Methods The study compares results of 2000/2001 with the data of 1986 (published by Kozlov, M.V., Zhurnal Obzsej Biologii (Moscow), 1988, 49, 670; Journal of Biogeography, 1996, 23, 95) and is based on (1) mapping of birch trees in two representative plots (20–25 ha) in downtown and on the periphery of the densely built city area, (2) survey of 133 isolated or semi-isolated habitats that were found suitable for Eriocrania in 1986, and (3) presence/absence records of birches (Betula pendula and B. pubescens) and Eriocrania miners in Petrogradskaya area by using 160 × 160 m regular grid (same as in 1986; 379 cells). Results Both number of habitats suitable for Eriocrania and number of birch trees in these habitats increased since 1986. Colonization of vacant habitats in the area of sporadic distribution in the years 2000/2001 exceeded the extinction rate by a factor of 4; probability of extinction was highest in low density Eriocrania populations associated with small habitat patches, like solitary birch trees in densely built areas. Proportion of the occupied habitat patches within the zone of sporadic distribution in 2000 (92.4%) was much higher than in 1986 (50.4%); thus the area of the lacuna in distribution range of Eriocrania species, associated with the historical centre of St Petersburg, has decreased since 1986. Main conclusion The data of 2000/2001 fit the prediction (Kozlov, 1996) that Eriocrania moths are able to re-colonize the city areas built before 1950s, where they have been extinct or almost extinct by the mid-1980s.

Nickel and copper concentrations in birch leaf tissues, in leafmining larvae of Eriocrania semipurpurella , and in larval faeces were measured in leaf-specific samples collected at five sites along a strong pollution gradient in the Kola peninsula, northwest Russia. Metal concentrations at the most polluted site were 3–6 (Cu) to 6–14 (Ni) times as high as at the reference site. We found variation in metal concentrations among study sites, but not among the individual trees within a site; the latter may have resulted from the large variation associated with individual samples. Approximately 48% of total foliar Ni and 35% of Cu was deposited in the leaf parenchyma and was thus available for the leafminer. Ni concentrations in larval bodies were 0.84 and in larval frass 1.30 times as high as in the leaf parenchyma. Cu concentrations in larvae were 4.76 and those in frass 3.04 times as high as in the leaf parenchyma. Last instar larvae contained 5–10% of nickel and 20–50% of copper which they may have consumed with the leaf parenchyma during their lifetime, as estimated from the mine size and metal concentration in the parenchyma. Site-specific larval weight and feeding efficiency decreased with an increase in foliar concentrations of both metals. Within-site variation in larval weight was independent of metal concentrations in larval bodies; feeding efficiency correlated with Cu concentrations in the larvae, while Ni had no effect on this character. ©

Summary 1. Competitive interactions between Eriocrania spp. Zeller (Lepidoptera: Eriocraniidae) leaf-miners and other folivorous guilds (free-living Lepidoptera and phloem feeding aphids) of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) were examined experimentally. 2. Measurements of the foliage quality were taken from the experimental trees in order to discover whether variation in nitrogen and secondary compounds (specifically total phenolics), had an effect on the strength of any competitive interactions between the guilds. 3. There was evidence for indirect interactions within the leaf-mining guild mediated by the host plant: miners in aggregations had double the mortality of single miners. Interactions with leaf-chewing Lepidoptera were limited to interference and resource removal since only damage to the leaf being mined had an effect on the miner performance. There were no interactions between Eriocrania and aphids, despite the presence of aphids reducing the quantity of foliage available by 33%. 4. The strength of the competitive interactions, either within or between guilds, was not modified by the quality of the host trees. However, biomass of emerging larvae was negatively related to increased phenolic content of host trees and positively related to increased nitrogen content. Furthermore, larvae emerged later from trees where foliage had higher phenolic content. 5. The longevity of feeding events by competitive folivore guilds and the proximity of the feeding to the miners were identified as the key factors influencing the effects of foliage damage on the performance of Eriocrania.

1. Interactions between early season leaf-miners from the genus Eriocrania Zeller (Eriocraniidae: Lepidoptera), and the leaf-chewing guild of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) were investigated. 2. Field observations indicated that a negative association between damage caused by Eriocrania, and leaf-chewers could be observed under certain conditions, namely at higher damage densities in the final week of mine development on trees with relatively high densities of mines. 3. Experimental manipulation of Operophtera brumata L. (Geometridae: Lepidoptera) densities in the field confirmed the negative association between established mines of Eriocrania, and this species of free-living folivore. 4. The behaviour of O. brumata was modified further in the presence of mines. On branches where mined leaves were present, O. brumata larvae consumed a larger proportion of leaf tissue, by continuing to feed on the same leaf longer rather than shifting to a new leaf. Increased consumption may indicate some modification of leaf quality beyond the leaves occupied by Eriocrania. Alternatively, it may indicate an association between Eriocrania, and higher quality leaf material.

We examined densities of endophytic fungi and their associations with performance of Eriocrania leaf-mining moth larvae on white birch ( Betula pubescens ) and silver birch ( B. pendula ) around a large copper–nickel smelter in SW Finland. The analysis is based on 2-year data collected from sites distributed along the pollution gradient from 0 to 10.8 km from the smelter. Endophyte densities were low near the smelter in both years, and correlated negatively with foliar concentrations of heavy metals and aerial SO 2 levels. Endophyte densities and species composition differed between years. Densities were over two times as high in 1994 compared to 1993. B. pubescens endophyte densities were higher compared to B. pendula throughout the gradient probably due to differences in leaf characteristics of the species. Site-specific correlations among Eriocrania parameters and endophyte densities revealed no consistent patterns, indicating that annual variation in their relationships may be related to other factors, such as environmental conditions and plant quality.

Species of the genus Grypocentrus Ruthe 1855 (Ichneumonidae: Tryphoninae) are generally known to be koinobiont ectoparasitoids of leaf mining sawflies (Fenusini). Only one species, Grypocentrus basalis (Ruthe 1855), is recorded from birch leaf mining larvae of the moth genus Eriocrania Zeller 1851. An analysis of the parasitoid community of the birch leaf miners, Eriocrania cicatricella (Zetterstedt 1839), E sangii (Wood 1891), E semipurpurella (Stephens 1835) and E unimaculella (Zetterstedt 1840), in Central Europe revealed a complex of 8 different Grypocentrus egg-types. Based on egg morphology and host specificity, 2 species groups each comprising four sibling-species of Grypocentrus basalis are proposed. Field data on parasitism and different oviposition patterns on host larvae support the hypothesis of the occurrence of 8 highly specific new parasitoid-species upon this primitive group of Lepidoptera.

The fifth abdominal segment of femaleEriocrania semipurpurella (Stephens) andE. sangii (Wood) contains a pair of exocrine glands. Hexane extracts of this segment were prepared from both species and analyzed by gas chromatography with simultaneous flame ionization and electroantennographic detection (EAD). For both species, the EAD active peaks were identified as nonan-2-one, (Z)-6-nonen-2-one, and (Z)-6-nonen-2-ol by means of mass spectrometry and comparison of retention indices with those of synthetic standards. Enantiomeric separation of chiral alcohols from the female extracts was achieved by gas chromatographic analysis on a cyclodextrin column. InE. semipurpurella, a mixture of (2S,6Z)-nonen-2-ol and (2R,6Z)-nonen-2-ol (2: I) was found, whereas inE. sangii (2S,6Z)-nonen-2-ol was the predominant enantiomer and only traces of theR enantiomer were indicated by the antennal response. In field tests, a blend of the three compounds was not attractive to conspecific males. A subtractive assay showed that the alcohol in various enantiomeric mixtures was the only attractive compound, whereas addition of (Z)-6-nonen-2-one to the alcohol completely inhibited the attraction of both species. A trapping experiment including a wide range of ratios between theR andS enantiomers showed that baits containing 95-100% of theS enantiomer were attractive to maleE. sangii, whereas males ofE. semipurpurella were attracted to all tested ratios of the enantiomers. However, the response profiles of maleE. semipurpurella differed between populations from southern Sweden, south Finland, and the Kola Peninsula in Russia. In south Sweden males were maximally attracted to a racemic mixture of the alcohols. At the Kola PeninsulaE. semipurpurella was attracted to baits containing 95-100% of theR enantiomer. In south Finland all tested ratios between 0 and 100%R enantiomer trappedE. semipurpurella, but the trap catches appeared to be bimodally distributed with peaks around 15 and 70%R enantiomer. The trapping results suggest the existence of pheromone races or sibling species among the specimens identified asE. semipurpurella.

The relationships between chemical composition of birch foliage, individual performance and population density of both solitary and gregarious species of Eriocrania leafminers (Lepidoptera: Eriocraniidae) were studied in the vicinity of the Harjavalta copper-nickel smelter, southwestern Finland. The contents of heavy metals (Cu, Ni, Fe and Zn) in birch foliage exponentially decreased with the distance from the factory whereas the content of manganese showed the opposite trend. Performance parameters of Eriocrania miners were correlated neither with the distance from the pollution source nor with the foliar content of heavy metals. However, larval masses of both solitary and gregarious species were highest at the zone of moderate pollution. The levels of total nitrogen and total carbon and the carbon: nitrogen ratio in birch leaves showed no clear patterns in relation to distance from the factory. Feeding efficiency of solitary larvae increased with higher foliar nitrogen content but decreased when the carbon: nitrogen ratio was high. Survival of solitary Eriocrania species was negatively correlated with total leaf carbon content. However, the population density of solitary miners showed a negative correlation with total foliar nitrogen and a positive correlation with the carbon:nitrogen ratio. Performance of the gregarious E. haworthi was not correlated with the chemical composition of birch leaves, whereas population density was highest close to the factory complex and correlated positively with the levels of copper and nickel in birch leaves. Consequently, pollution-induced changes in measured host plant chemicals were unlikely to affect population densities of Eriocrania miners via altered larval performance.

1. Eriocraniidae – sparkling archaic sun moths Minute (8–13 mm wingspan) moths with vestigial mandibles. The elongate–oval wings are often iridescent and are covered with long, hairlike scales. Th e wings are usually held like a tent over the body when at rest. Th is group can be separated from most other moths by the vestigial mandibles, and from the Acanthopteroctetidae by the presence of ocelli. Adults are diurnal, and most species fly early in the spring. Larvae are leaf blotch miners. Twenty-four species of eriocraniids are known worldwide, all from the Holarctic. Th irteen species occur in North America; only one is known from AB. The family was revised by Davis (1978a); a few more species may await discovery. 1 * R Eriocrania semipurpurella (Stephens, 1834) M Apr – L May – B – T: Davis (1978a) L: Pohl et al. (2005) C: NFRC, UASM Acanthopteroctetoidea 2. Acanthopteroctetidae – archaic sun moths Small (11–16 mm wingspan) slender moths with vestigial mandibles. Adults often resemble small caddisflies, but may be brightly marked. Th ey can be separated from most other moths by the vestigial mandibles, and from the Eriocraniidae by the absence of ocelli. Little is known of the biology of this group; one California species is a leafminer on Ceanothus spp. (Rhamnaceae). Five species of acanthopteroctetids are known worldwide; four of these are restricted to western North America. One species is known from AB, and another is likely to be found here. Th e family was revised by Davis (1978a); a few more species may await discovery. 1.1 * P Acanthopteroctetes tripunctata Braun, 1921 Jul M – – T: Davis (1978a) 2 * R Acanthopteroctetes bimaculata Davis, 1969 E Jun m B – T: Davis (1978a) L: Pohl et al. (2004b) C: NFRC Hepialoidea

Direct or plant-mediated interactions between herbivores may modify their spatial distribution among and within plants. In this study, we examined the effect of a leaf-chewing geometrid, the autumnal moth (Epirrita autumnata), on two different herbivore groups, leaf rolling Deporaus betulae weevils and Eriocrania spp. leafminers, both feeding on mountain birch (Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii). The exact locations of herbivores within tree canopies were mapped during three successive summers. In the first 2 years, some trees were artificially colonized by eggs of the autumnal moth to induce both rapid and delayed resistance in the foliage. The natural infection levels of the pathogenic rust fungus (Melampsoridium betulinum), potentially involved in species interactions, were also recorded. At the level of the whole tree, the density of D. betulae leaf rolls was lower in trees infested by the autumnal moth in the same year. However, the feeding locations within trees were partly segregated: D. betulae favoured shadier branches, while E. autumnata preferred the sunny parts of the canopy. The autumnal moth did not affect current- or following-year density of leafminers at the tree or branch level. Trees infected by rust had fewer leafminers in the same summer than noninfected trees. There were no interaction effects between defoliation by the autumnal moth and rust infection, and no delayed effects on the abundance of other herbivores the following year. Taken together, these findings suggest that the autumnal moth has a negative, partially plant-mediated impact on D. betulae, and can reduce the extent of current-year defoliation caused by D. betulae. This may be beneficial for the mountain birch, since the greater part of D. betulae damage occurs around or after the end of the larval period of the autumnal moth, which may be a critical time for tree recovery after moth outbreaks.

Extracts from different body parts of adult femaleEriocrania cicatricella (Zett.) were tested for electrophysiological activity on conspecific male antennae. Extracts from the Vth abdominal segment, containing a pair of exocrine glands, elicited the largest electroantennographic response when compared to extracts of other body parts. Female extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography with simultaneous flame ionization and electroantennographic detection (EAD). The EAD active peaks were identified as (Z)-4-hepten-2-one, (2R)-heptane-2-ol, and (2R)-(Z)-4-hepten-2-ol by coinjection on a gas chromatography and by comparison of mass spectra with those of synthetic standards. In field tests, a blend of these three pheromone components was highly attractive to conspecific males, and a subtractive assay confirmed that the unsaturated alcohol is the major pheromone component, whereas no definite behavioral activity could be assigned to the ketone or the saturated alcohol. A bait containing the two alcohols withS-configuration was attractive to maleE. sparrmannella (Bosc), whereas no males ofE. cicatricella were found in these traps. The sex pheromone compounds inE. cicatricella are chemically similar to pheromones reported in Trichoptera and they are produced in homologous glands.

We tested the hypothesis that air pollution may affect population densities of birch-feeding leafminers via changes in ant predation. Foraging activity of three ant species (Formica rufa, F. fusca and F. lemani), predation rates and population densities of both solitary and gregarious Eriocrania (Lepidoptera: Eriocraniidae) miners were investigated at 13 sites around the Harjavalta copper-nickel smelter, SW Finland. Ant species differed in their distribution patterns relative to pollution. However, the total percentage of birch trees foraged by ants (all species combined) showed no correlation with the distance from the factory complex. As a result, no clear trends in predation rates were apparent in relation to the distance from the pollution source for either solitary or gregarious Eriocrania species. Densities of the solitary Eriocrania species tended to increase with the distance from the pollution source whereas densities of the gregarious E. haworthi peaked close to the factory complex. No corresponding differences in predation rates between solitary and gregarious miners were found. Ant predation, thus, did not explain density patterns of Eriocrania miners in the polluted area.

We estimated correlations between birch foliage quality, individual performance, and population density of Eriocrania miners in southwestern Finland around a factory complex emitting large quantities of sulphur dioxide and heavy metals. The study area included 13 sites in different directions and at varying distances (0–11 km) from the pollution source. As an indicator of foliage quality, we used the ratio between the final larval mass and mass of frass produced during the whole larval time and interpreted a high ratio to mean high-quality diet. The highest quality of birch foliage and the highest larval masses were found at the zone of moderate pollution based on levels of heavy metals in birch leaves. Population density was not correlated with the distance from the pollution source either in 1991 or 1992. Changes in miner density from 1991 to 1992, but not density as such, correlated positively with birch foliage quality for the parental generation in 1991. Therefore, although foliage quality modified the density, site-specific abundances of miners were affected strongly by other factors. Heavy metal concentrations of leaves may function as a factor because they correlated negatively with population density of Eriocrania .