l8 ALASKA INSECTS 



wild pea-vine (Lathy rus maritimus], with isolated clumps of 

 alder and willow. Occasional marshy spots and small ponds 

 supported a different vegetation, including Habenaria^ Nephro- 

 phyllidium cristagalli, Caltha palustris, and other aquatic 

 plants. 



Immediately in front of the village a small island stands out 

 in the bay. Upon this our party found an extensive patch of 

 strawberry plants in full bloom. Here also occurred several 

 tufts of Heracleum lanatum with the umbels partially opened. 

 This plant is a great favorite with flower-visiting insects, but 

 was not yet sufficiently advanced to welcome any guests. 



The insect fauna of Yakutat is evidently very closely related 

 to that of Sitka, but not so rich, since the environment is not so 

 diversified. In all 164 species of insects were taken, of which 

 37 were new to science, but many of these had been already 

 collected at Sitka. 



As usual the Diptera predominated in the collections, the list 

 in this group comprising 63 species. The Syrphidse were very 

 abundant. Of the eleven species secured here six had already 

 been collected at Sitka, while five appeared here for the first 

 time Chilosia borealis sp. nov. Coquillett, Chilosia alaskensis 

 Hunter, Chilosia lasiopthalma Will., Syrphus glacialis (John- 

 son), and Syrphus macularis (Zett.). This latter species, ac- 

 cording to Mr. Coquillett, is a European form not hitherto known 

 from America. 



Most of the Syrphidas were taken at the flowers of the straw- 

 berry, including Chilosia alaskensis Hunter, Chilosia lasiop- 

 thalma Will., Chilosia borealis sp.nov., Syrpftus amalopis O. 

 S., Syrphus glacialis (Johnson), Sphegina infuscata Loew, and 

 Brachyopa notata O. S. The remaining species were swept 

 from the blossoms of the salmon-berry, comprising Syrphus 

 diversipes Macq., Syrphus macularis (Zett.), Melanostoma 

 mellinum (L.), and Chilosia plutonia Hunter. 



The family Empidae was represented by eleven species, of 

 which the most common was Empis virgata Coq. Eight of 

 these had already been observed at Sitka, but three were unfa- 

 miliar Empis clauda sp. nov. Coquillett, Gloma obscura 

 Loew, and Rhamphomyia disparilis sp. nov. Coq. 



