28k Canadian Arctic Expedition, 1913-18 



ichneumonids and an occasional sawfly (Euura arctica, etc.) are seen, but 

 bumblebees (Bombus arcticus, B. polaris, etc.) of both sexes, are the most common. 

 Butterflies now appear for the first time; they comprise species of Brenthis and 

 Oeneis characteristic of dry tundra swamp, Colias (Eurymus) species character- 

 istic of wet tundra swamp, and Erebia fasciata characteristic of tundra swamp. 

 Brenthis flies only for a short while at a stretch and is easily caught, but Colias 

 flutters along for a long time before settling. Owing to its colour Oeneis is almost 

 impossible to discern on the ground; when scared, its flight is long and nearly 

 straight. Erebia fasciata is even more difficult to catch, its flight being higher 

 and longer than that of Oeneis. Various moths (Anarta sp., Titanio sp., Napuca 

 sp., Homoglaea sp., etc.) are now out; most of them are typical of the drier part 

 of the tundra, stony patches, etc., with which their colour blends so well. The 

 large, spotted moth Hyphoraia (Bombyx) f estiva now emerges from the cocoons 

 spun to stones, plants, etc. 



Of ground insects, various caterpillars, spiders, mites, beetles, etc., may be 

 seen. A small hemiptera (Orthotylus sp.?) which resembles an aphid, takes refuge 

 in plant tufts; it is described on the next page. 



The temperature of the ponds on the 3rd, taken at 3.30 p.m. was 55 degrees 

 F. or 5 degrees higher than that of the atmosphere. The insects noticed were 

 some fly larvae and a great number of midge larvae, and pupae of various kinds. 

 Attempts to rear them were without success. Larvae and adults of the large 

 dytiscid beetle (Colymbetes dolobratus) were seen; the former were gathering food 

 on the mud bottom, but the latter preferred the rich moss encircling the ponds. 



Collembola (Achorutes sensilis) and the puparia of the fly (Mydaeina 

 obscura) (Rearing 78) are on the ponds; in the water or burrowing in the mud are 

 various mites (Eylais falcata, etc.). In the placid water of the mouth of the 

 large creek larvae of midges, ephemeroids, perlids, mosquitoes, turbellaria, etc. 

 are found; and on July 10, the Simulium larvae already mentioned had pupated 

 inside their chitinous "house"-cone attached to the same submerged stones on 

 which the larvae were found. The few pupae found were scattered over stones, 

 not many on one stone. Each pupa is fastened by the pointed end of its cone, 

 the "gills" protruding from the broad opening at the other end, the pupae thus 

 having easy access to the water. On the expansion of the creek as it leaves the 

 lake a rich growth of Hippuris, etc., from which all stages of Chironomus and other 

 midges were collected. In the lake south of the harbour, great masses of dead, 

 freshly-emerged midges were seen floating, sometimes forming almost a "carpet," 

 and supplying food for the trout and stickle-back. These flies had perhaps been 

 killed by parasites, for on placing some of them in formalin, white worms 

 (Gordius?) emerged from their bodies. Or perhaps the waves on the now com- 

 pletely open lake had caused their death. 



July 1-10, 1915 



A great number of different insects were on the wing. Many bumblebees 

 (Bombus polaris, B. sylvicola, B. neoboreus, etc.), all queens, were infested with 

 the parasitic mites (Parasitus bomborum) which also crawl over the male willow 

 catkins and the flowers of the common Pedicularis lanata. The behaviour of the 

 mites on the flowers was quite different from those on the bees. The latter 

 clung to the hairs of their host, their four pair of legs serving as grips, and they 

 drop off only when their host is put into the killing-bottle. But the mites on 

 the flowers moved freely around by the three last pairs of legs, the first pair being 

 used as constantly vibrating feelers, like a wasp's antennae. They frequently 

 scratched the abdomen with their legs, and are prone to fight. They had 

 perhaps been left on the flowers by their host and were waiting for a bumblebee 

 to which they could attach themselves. Various other hymenoptera were 

 caught and many of the butterflies and moths before mentioned which now 

 appear. Moths and Colias were first noticed on the 3rd, and soon became 



