The role of infant isolation calls (i-calls) in mother–infant communication in Myotis lucifugus, the little brown bat, was investigated in a natural nursery colony near Westport, Ontario. Analysis of isolation calls showed considerable individual variation, compatible with the hypothesis that the calls contain individual signatures. Presentations of isolated infants or recordings of their i-calls elicited specific rather than general responses, and females were selective about the young they would retrieve and nurse. Infants, however, were less selective, attempting to nurse from any convenient female. Retrievals of isolated infants by females was usually preceeded by careful inspection, which included olfactory cues. Our results suggest that female M. lucifugus selectively nurse their own young, having recognized them by a combination of olfactory and acoustic cues. We also describe a short i-call (<10 ms long) that elicits a high level of flight response from newly volant young and appears to be a "distress" call.

Apple leafcurling midge (Dasineura mali) (ALCM) can seriously damage apple tree leaves. Insecticides may be applied to the soil in spring to kill ALCM emerging from overwintering sites. ALCM emergence was studied in the Waikato, Hawke's Bay, Nelson, Canterbury and Central Otago over two seasons (1998/99 and 1999/ 2000) using cages placed over the soil beneath apple trees. ALCM and its egg parasitoid (Platygaster demades) emerged over a similar period of time. Emergence in southern districts began later and over a shorter period. A single soil treatment with diazinon, reduced the numbers of ALCM emerging from treated soil, but also very few P. demades emerged.

Summary This case report discusses a successful partial splenectomy for treatment of a splenic abscess in a horse. A 2‐year‐old Thoroughbred colt was hospitalised 5 weeks after an episode of severe colic that was followed by gradual weight loss and anorexia, pyrexia for 5 days and dehydration on the day of referral. A large splenic abscess was identified ultrasonographically. Following initial medical treatment, an exploratory laparotomy was performed. Multiple adhesions were released and a partial splenectomy conducted to remove the abscess. Migrant metallic wires penetrating from the small intestine into the splenic parenchyma were found to be the cause for the adhesions and the abscess. This paper summarises the potential advantages of utilising a partial vs. a total splenectomy and highlights the potential complications of these surgical procedure in equines.

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The duration of development of the parasitoid Encarsia citrina (Craw) (Hymenoptera Aphelinidae) on its hosts greedy scale Hemiberlesia rapax (Comstock) and oleander scale Aspidiotus nerii Bouché (Hemiptera Diaspididae) and of Signiphora merceti (Malenotti) (Hymenoptera Signiphoridae) on greedy scale was determined at five constant temperatures Weibull functions were fitted to the cumulative distribution of parasitoid emergence times and development rates for 5 50 and 95 emergence were calculated Development rates for each parasitoidscale combination were described by the same linear regression equations for 50 emergence and for 95 emergence Developmental threshold and thermal constant for 50 and 95 emergence of parasitoids was 103C and 3638 D and 103C and 4412 D The threshold and thermal constant for 5 emergence varied from 93C to 123C and 2254 D to 3282 D Duration of development in the field was simulated using 13 months of hourly temperatures recorded at Te Puke

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Two generations of greedy scale (Hemiberlesia rapax) and oleander scale (Aspidiotus nerii) were found between December and May on unsprayed kiwifruit vines in the Waikato. Few first generation scale insects of either species infested fruit with second. generation scale infesting fruit from late January onwards. The relative abundance of the 2 species on leaves and fruit differed with oleander scale infesting leaves to a lesser degree. A greater proportion of oleander scale settled on the ventral surface of leaves and they were found in more protected sites on wood than greedy scale.