26k Canadian Arctic Expedition, 1913-18 



In the harbour creek per lid larvae were noticed. In the ponds mosquito 

 larvae {Aedes sp.) were almost full grown; those placed for rearing (No, 109) 

 began pupating two days later, and the adults emerged during the first week 

 in July. Large dipterous larvae (tipulid) burrowing in the mud were also seen 



June 11-20, 1915 



On June 18, the first bumblebees (queens) of the year were noticed, but 

 none were caught. On the same day some small flies (Fucellia punctipennis) 

 were seen half jumping, half flying on the loose sand of an exposed slope. 

 Minute diptera were observed on a snow-free, gravelly flat, but they did not 

 congregate in swarms. Though flying insects were few, large numbe."s of other 

 insects were found under stones, in plants, etc. In such places the earlier 

 Carabid beetles, spiders, mites, collembola, etc., besides an occasional weevil 

 or insect larva (tipulidse, curculionidae, nematidae), were frequent. In rotten 

 driftwood were found the mite Rhagidia gelida and different collembola (Onchi- 

 urus 12-punctatus, Achorutes tullbergi.., etc.). Caterpillars found under stones, 

 on plants, etc., were placed for rearing. One of these (Rearing 51) proved to 

 be parasitized, but lived for about two months, and even began its cocoon ; 

 when two large hymenopterous cocoons burst forth, their host died, though- 

 slowly. Ponds became richer in invertebrates as the month progresses. At 

 first only a few collembola (Isotoma palustris) are seen upon the water, or a 

 couple of dytiscid beetles are busily digging or swimming in waterholes. Mud- 

 and freshwater-algae support a rich life of microscopic animals (worms, rotifera, 

 etc.). 



Most of the temporary ponds are barren of microscopic life; it seems to be a 

 question of suitability of the bottom mud more than of anything else. 



On June 18, collembola (Achorutes armatus, Folsomia quadrioculata, Tetra- 

 canthella wahlgreni), dytiscid-beetles, or larvae and many copepods (Cyclops 

 magnus) were found in a pond, and, the first time this year, mosquito larvae 

 (Aedes nearcticus) only a few days old and 3-4 mm. long. Some of the mosquito 

 larvae were placed for rearing (Rearing 59) ; at the end of the month the largest 

 had doubleiiheir length, and they began pupating ten days later. The first-reared 

 imagines emerged in the middle of July; their pupa stage is thus of very short 

 duration. In the mud of this pond were found two days later a white dipterous 

 larva and white oligochaete worms ; the water temperature was then 44 . 1. 

 degrees F., (air 32.2 degrees F., noon). 



June 21-30, 1916 



The first female mosquitoes (Aedes sp.) appeared on June 21, and by the 

 end of the month became numerous and very annoying, especially in low-lying 

 and sheltered places. The first crane-flies (Tipula sp., etc.) were also noticed 

 on June 21, and their number rapidly increased. Flies, of course, were also 

 common; and the bumblebee queens (Bombus sylvicola, B. neoboreus, etc.) were 

 busily engaged on the early flowers. Many small midges were noticed above 

 or in the creek outlet. 



Various spiders (newborn, pale, grey brown; Tmeticus alatus, etc.), mites 

 (Scutovortex nigrofemoratus) , collembola, caterpillars, etc., were prevalent. 



An almost dry pond contained, the last day of the month, besides the usual 

 dytiscid beetles and mites (Thyas stolli), many dytiscid larvae about 1mm. long, 

 and a number of mosquito pupae (Aedes nearticus), but very few mosquito 

 larvae. More interesting, however, were the entomostraca, namely, both sexes 

 of the phyllopod, Branchinecta paludosa, now almost full grown. Younger stages 

 of the same branchipod were found in a brackish pond, and many young water 

 fleas (Daphnia pulex), midge larvae and pupae were found among the thread- 

 algae in the creek outlet. In the creek back of the harbour the imagines (Nemoura 



