The influence of trap position and colour on the response of the flies infesting Siberian larch cones was investigated in 1993 at two sites located in the Da Khinggan Mountains, in north-eastern China. A total of 339 flies were caught. Six Strobilomyia species were identified, and 68.4% of them were females. S. soenssoni Mich. and an undescribed Strobilomyia species were recorded for the first time in China as larch cone pests. Species-and sex-specific responses of flies to trap colour and trap position were observed. For most species, the number of flies alighting on blue traps hung within tree canopy was higher than that caught on yellow and yellow with purple striped traps placed in front of trees. Most flies trapped with blue were sexually-immature females. The temporal succession of the six species and their oviposition patterns were related to the phenology of cone development. Five different types of eggs were also described.U. S

To analyse the agonistic behaviour of Portunus trituberculatus, infrared cameras were used to quantitatively analyse the aggressive behaviour in response to different sex pairings and culture densities and mirror‐image stimulation. The results show that: P. trituberculatus has nine behaviour patterns which were correlated, and the fighting process followed a specific, rather than random, process. All nine behaviour patterns were stimulated in response to different sex pairings and culture densities, but only five patterns were induced by mirror‐image stimulation. The fighting intensity between the males was significantly higher than that between the females and male and female (p < 0.05). The fight intensity in the 8 crabs/m2 density group was significantly higher than the 4 crabs/m2 and 6 crabs/m2 groups (p < 0.05). The fighting experience had a significant impact on the subsequent fight. The probability of the winner winning again was 83.3%, whereas that of the loser winning again was only 25.0%. In the second round of fighting, the fight intensity of the loser was also significantly lower than those of the winner (p < 0.05). Thus, the fighting process of P. trituberculatus follows a certain regularity, and different sex pairings and culture densities have a significant impact on fighting intensity. Fighting experience also has a significant impact on subsequent agonistic behaviour, with a winner–loser effect.

To solve the problems involved in the mass artificial incubation of redclaw crayfish eggs, we developed a recirculating mechanical pulling device to explore the technology of artificial incubation, including the egg stages, egg densities, attachments and incubator sizes. The eggs were separated and sterilized with 3000 ppm formaldehyde, and the water temperature was 28–29°C. The results were obtained: (1) the hatching rates or survival rates of the groups with 7 pairs of appendages and well‐formed eye pigments were significantly higher than those of the egg‐nauplius group; (2) the hatching rates of eggs incubated at densities of 300 eggs/incubator box were significantly higher than those of eggs incubated at 700 eggs/incubator box. The survival rates of eggs incubated at densities of 300 or 500 eggs/incubator box were significantly higher than those for eggs incubated at 700 eggs/incubator box; (3) the survival rates of the group whose incubator received a sponge attachment were significantly higher than those of the group without a sponge attachment; (4) the survival rates of the group with 2.5‐ or 3‐cm width of the upper end of boxes were significantly higher than those of the group with 4 cm; and (5) the eggs with 7 pairs of appendages or well‐formed eye pigments were selected, with a density of 300–500 eggs/incubator box, and the box was 2.5‐cm wide at the upper end. After hatching, sponge attachments were inserted. The hatching rate and survival rate were 85.34% and 61.31%, and a total of 240,031 specific pathogen‐free seedlings were cultivated.