A survey of the upper Eel River watershed in the high North Coast Ranges of California resulted in the identification of four species of Chaoboridae and 12 species of Culicidae. The boreal species Mochlonyx cinctipes (Coquillett), Eucorethra underwoodi Underwood and Aedes fitchii (Felt and Young) were collected south of previously known distributions within the Pacific Coast Ranges of North America. Biogeographical, physical, seasonal and water quality characteristics of the larval habitats are described. We also describe and discuss species associations and the taxonomic, distributional and ecological details of the new records both within the study area and in comparison to other localities in North America.

Insects represent an abundant and diverse group of community members throughout terrestrial ecosystems. Because of their abundance and diversity, insects can be useful for monitoring and assessing change and disturbance within ecosystems. However, to utilize insects as indicators of change, the individual insect components present within ecosystems must be identified. We compared the use of several passive (non-baited) trap types on two sagebrush steppe sites in southern Idaho. Species of insects in 12 orders were captured at the two sites, with the most abundant numbers captured in the orders Microcoryphia, Hemiptera, Diptera, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera. A combined total of 23,579 insects were captured during the 3, 5-day sample periods, of which 3342 were beetles (Coleoptera). Pitfall traps and Japanese beetle traps provided the most information on abundance and richness of both the overall insect and beetle communities present on the sites. Blue Japanese beetle traps proved very effective at capturing beetles, especially members of the Melyridae. Monthly comparisons indicated that different taxa may be best sampled during different months, but more individuals were captured in June versus May at both sites and June captures provide the highest numbers for ordinal and beetle family richness at both sites.