The Insects of the "Danmark" Expedition. 



45 



on the slope down towards Slorm Bay. Here there are several 

 brooks running down towards the sea and a plentiful vegetation of 

 grass, Salix, Ranunculus glacialis etc. I saw several Bombus flying 

 about, busily engaged in seeking the newly opened willow catkins. 

 They skimmed fearlessly just above the water of the brooks and 

 crawled about on the grass and mossy tufts projecting above the 

 water etc., and it even seemed that they like to stay long at the 

 places where the vegetation owing to the running water was most 

 abundant — without however wetting their wings, though their legs 

 and hairs of the trunk were continually wet. But the constantly 

 present and strong sun can now dry them quickly again. The 



Fig. 3. Plain at the Harljour. July. 



working hours of the bees are thus long at this period ; they are 

 to be seen at work during the whole 24 hours, and it is only just 

 about midnight that fewer are out flying; probably most of them 

 then rest before the next, long day's work." On the bodies of the 

 bees occur parasitic mites (Trombidium) which attach themselves to 

 the hairs of the body, and to judge from their size and number 

 one would think that they would disturb the bees in their flight 

 more than they really seem to do. 



But there are other larger, and for the Greenland insect life 

 much more important parasites now active. Now and then we 

 notice an elegant and large insect settling on the ground with a 

 rapid dart and actiл'ely moving its antennae and legs, and we then 



