Insect Life 07i the Western Arctic Coast of America 19k 
With the exception of Chantry island all the islands in the outer harbour at 
Bernard harbour are composed of gravel, sand, and boulders and are less than 25 
feet high. Chantry island is al)out 85 feet high and of a composition similar to 
the higher part of the mainland coast. 
The rock exposures and areas covered by limestone fragments are barren of 
vegetation, except for lichens, and vegetation is best developed in the valleys 
and on the sandy slopes, around the ponds or lakes. On Chantry island are found 
most of the plants and insects represented on the mainland. The smaller islands 
in the outer harbour, however, are too exposed for the development of much 
vegetation and are unable to support some of the plants found on the mainland. 
Conseciuently, their insect life is also very limited (PI. VIII, fig. 2). 
The following insects were collected on the harbour island during the middle 
of May, 1915; 
Ichneumon suturalis (wasp) 
Brenthis and Noctuid larvEe 
Spiders (Lycosa sp. ) 
Carabid' beetles (Amara, hrunnipennis) 
Lepidopterous and dipterous pupal skins 
On Chantry island were collected in the middle of June, 191G: 
Bomhus spp. (B. sylvicola, etc.) 
iGynaephora larvae) Lepidoptera 
Collembola 
Mycetophilid Larvae 
Mosquitoes and midg-es (larvte and pupae) 
Dytiscids (adults and larvte) 
Mites (BdclJa dccipiens, Thyas stolli, Curviiies reic/hurdi, Hydrophantcs ru'ber) 
Copepods (Cyclops luagniis) 
Ostracods 
Cladocera (Daphnia sp. ) 
Newly born nauplii and metanauplii of the fairy-shrimp (Branchinecta 
paludosa) were found hiding among the stones in some of the ponds on Chantry- 
island. The temperature of the margin water in the ponds at about 2 p.m. 
was 50 degrees F. (air 44 degrees F.). There was a considerable difference in the 
ponds in regard to invertel)rate life, those on the higher part of the island being 
very barren of life. 
A comparison of the weather during September of 1914 and 1915 and its 
influence upon the vegetation and insect life at Bernard harbour is interesting. 
In 1914 the generally mild weather allowed plants to keep their flowers and ripen 
their seeds far into the month, and to live until October. Although snow fell 
in the latter half of the month, most of it soon melted, and freshwater pools did 
not freeze over until the end of the month. The more hardy of the insects, 
coleoptera, hemiptera, and also spiders, moved freely around on the ground, 
though few flying insects were seen after the first week of September. 
But in 1915 stormy and wintry weather prevailed during the first fortnight, 
resulting in the immediate and lasting freezing over of land and water and the 
subduing of plant and insect life. The milder weather at the end of September 
was not sufficient to resuscitate them. 
VEGETATION AROUND BERNAKD HARBOUR 
The vegetation found here is similar to that on the coast farther west, and 
will be treated in the same way here (compare pp. 7-8). 
16579— 2i 
