Insect Life on the Western Arctic Coast of America L9k 



With the exception of Chantry island all the islands in the outer harbour al 

 Bernard harbour arc composed of gravel, sand, and boulders and are less than 25 

 feet high. Chantry island is about 85 feel high and of a composition Bimilar to 



the higher part of the mainland coast. 



The rock exposures and areas covered by limestone fragments are barren of 

 vegetation, except for lit liens, and vegetation is besl developed in the valli 

 and on the sandy slopes, wound the ponds or lakes. On Chantry islandare found 

 most of the plants and insects represented on tin- mainland. The smaller islands 

 in the outer harbour, however, are too exposed for the developmenl of much 

 vegetation and are unable to support some of the plants found on the mainland 

 Consequently, 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 larvae 



Spiders (Lycosa sp.) 



Carabid beetles (Amara brimnipennis) 



Lepidopterous and dipterous pupal skins 



On Chantry island were collected in the middle of June, 1916: 

 Bombus spp. (B. sylvicola, etc.) 

 {Gynaephora larvae) Lepidoptera 

 Collembola 

 Mycetophilid larvae 



Mosquitoes and midges (larva: and pupae) 

 Dytiscids (adults and larvae) 



Mites (Bdella dccipieiis. Thyas stolli, Curvipes reighardi, Hydrophantes '■■ 

 Copepods (.Cyclops magnus) 

 Ostracods 

 Cladocera (Daphnia sp.) 



Newly born nauplii and metanauplii of the fairy-shrimp (Bra eta 



paludosa) were found hiding among the stones in some of the ponds on < haiury 

 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 invertebrate life, those on the higher pari of the island being 

 very barren of life. 



A comparison of the weather during September of 1914 and 1!»!"> and it- 

 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 il 

 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 firsl fori night, 

 resulting in the immediate and lasting freezing over of land and water ami the 

 subduing of plant and insect life. The milder weather at the end of Septeml 

 was not sufficient to resuscitate them. 



VEGETATION AROUND BERNARD HARBOl 



The vegetation found here i< similar to that on the coast farther w< 

 will be treated in the same way here (compare pp. 7 8 



1G579— 2{ 



