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Acarology is on the move! For a long time the development of Acarology as a field of biological science has been dominated by systematists and applied scientists. In the last 15 years, however, Acari have been increasingly recognized as highly suitable for the testing of theories in ecological and evolutionary sciences. The growing interest from evolutionary and molecular biologists and from population and community ecologists in mites and ticks has a strong impetus on the field of Acarology, and has already led to significant progress. This book contains many chapters that illustrate the recent progress in - mainly evolutionary and ecological aspects of - Acarology.

The 9th International Symposium on Insect-Plant Relationships (SIP-9) was once more, following the tradition established in 1958, a forum for investigators in both basic and applied entomology interested in the important and fascinating field of interactions between plants and insects. We were pleased and honoured to organise this symposium, which took place June 24--30, 1995 in Gwatt on the shores of the Lake of Thun in Switzerland. 168 participants from 26 countries from all over the world actively took part in the symposium by contributing 12 key-note lectures and a total of 141 oral presentations and posters. The favourable response and the lively interaction of the participants in all symposium activities is the clearest indication of the success of SIP-9. The organisers appreciated the enthusiasm and the willingness to collaborate shown by all participants. The following volume contains written contributions (72) of only half of all presentations. This is due to the fact that we decided to produce not only an account of the proceedings but also to publish all contributions as a special volume of the journal Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. This procedure was last adopted in 1978 for SIP-4, organised by Reginald F. Chapman and Elizabeth A. Bernays, and ensures a wide distribution of the papers within the scientific community and easy access through libraries. Inevitably we had to employ the same review procedure as applicable for the manuscripts regularly submitted to Entomologia.

G.P. MORETTI The Triennial Symposium of Trichoptera would seem to have become a regular event on the calendar. Initiated by Prof. Malicky at Lunz in Austria in 1974, they continued at Reading in England in 1977 (Convenor: Dr M.I. Crichton), the last, this year, took place in Perugia, Italy (Convenor: Prof. G.P. Moretti) and the next will be hosted by Dr J.C. Morse in Clemson, U.S.A. in 1983. The most outstanding points of the 3rd International Symposium on Trichoptera held at Perugia from July 28 to August 2, 1980 were I) the high number of participants; 2) the extent, scientific interest and coverage of the papers presented and 3) the warmth and immediate contact which drew everyone together from the first moment. Twenty-one nations (Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czechoslavakia, Denmark, France, Germany-F.G.R., Germany-G.D.R., Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States) were represented by a total of 63 trichopterologists who presented 54 papers and 8 posters during in 8 sessions chaired by M.I. Crichton, H. Malicky, A. Nielsen, O. Flint, L.

This study, the first in an intended series of anatomical investigations of the blister beetles, was undertaken primarily for the purpose of determining the changes that occur in the skeletal musculature during postembryonic larval development. The species studied, Epicauta segmenta (Say), like others belong­ ing to the coleopterous family Meloidae, is characterized by hypermetamor­ phosis (SELANDER and WEDDLE, 1969). The egg develops into an active, well sclerotized larva that searches for grasshopper eggs, which, as in the case of all species of Epicauta, serve as the sole larval food. This triungulin phase of the larval stage, as it is called, is followed by the first grub phase (Fig. 1), during which the larva continues to feed and undergoes several molts. After feeding is completed the larva commonly enters a sessile, diapausing coarctate phase in which the integument is heavily sclerotized and the appendages, including the legs, are vestigial (Fig. 2). Following this the larva attains an active second grub phase (Fig. 3) closely resembling the first grub phase in external anatomy. Normally, the second grub phase leads directly to pupation and the formation of the adult. An alternate, abbreviated developmental pattern, involving pupation immediately after the first grub phase, is also recorded in this and many other species of Epicauta.

As in most groups of insects, scientific research on the Chrysomelidae began in Europe in 1758, with the description of a few genera and species by the Scandinavian entomologists C. von Linne, I.C. Fabricius, and others. As the 19th century dawned, many systematic entomologists took up the study of chrysomelid beetles, together with other groups of beetles, and many new species and genera were described from all parts of the world. This trend has, of course, continued down to the present time. However, researches on the Chrysomelidae did not remain restricted to systematics, and many new lines of study have been followed, especially in the present century, by workers who have benefitted from the advances made in related fields of pure and applied entomology. Much has been achieved in the study of the Chrysomelidae, as elsewhere, and it is the aim of the present book to provide a summary and guide to these achievements. It is also to be expected that this book will provide a stimulus for further studies on the Chrysomelidae, so that we can anticipate continuing progress in our knowledge and understanding of this group through the endeavours of an ever-increasing number of scientists. I offer my congratulations to all concerned in the preparation of this book and my best wishes for its success.

Few branches of the biological sciences have developed to such an extent as has ecology in the recent decades. The successful development of this science is directly related to need to create a sound scientific basis by which we can control our diminishing natural resources and integrate this with the control of biological systems of the component species. Studies on the bioenergetics of ecosystems, as well as on the home­ ostatic mechanisms functioning at the populations and biocenoses levels are of great importance in this respect. The results of these studies are very significant in forestry management which deals with multiannual tree communities - forest stands. It is particularly important in this of the necessity for the possible respect for economic planning, in view prolonged maintenance of forest biocenoses as stable systems. Neither in the present nor in the immediate future can be protection of forest ecosystems consisting of natural plant and animal communities be achieved by the cultivation of resistant forms or the intensification of chemical intervention.

Proceedings of the 6th International Symposium on Insect-Plant Relationships (Pau 1986)