Vol. 37, Number 4 - Yale University

ALASKA, YUKON,
AND THE
NORTHWEST
TERRITORIES
Coordinator: Kenelm W. Philip (KP)
Contributors: Clifford Ferris (CF), Kicky
Patterson (RP), Joe Zeligs (JZ), and collectors
forthe Alaska Lepidoptera Survey.
Notes: Previously unreported localities or
species are emphasized. Collecting was done by
Alaska Lepidoptera Survey volunteers unless
noted. Species names follow Lepidopterists'
Society Memoir #3.
Note regarding Alaska Lepidoptera Survey:
K. Philip spent 20-30 May collecting in the
southern Yukon Territory (Lake Laberge), and the
Haines area in Southeastern Alaska. C. Ferris
and K. Philip, with logistic support from the U.S.
Bureau of Land Management, spent10-29 June
in the lvotuk Hills near OtukCreek, North Slope,
Alaska. Only a reconnaissance of the beginning
of the season was possible, owing to long periods
of cold and snow. K. Philip collected the Nabesna
Road on 14-15 July.
YUKON TERRITORY
Weather: In thesouthern Yukon, spring was
appreciably behind Interior Alaska, possibly
because of the higher elevation. At Lake Laberge,
21-30 May, the season wasjust beginning.
Damaged collecting sites: The roadside
stripjust west of the Bear Flats Lodge (old mile
1,167Alaska Highway, current km 1,877.6) is an
excellent spot for Colias kluanensis, but it has
been stripped of its vegetation during highway
construction, and may take some time to
recover. Another good roadside area, along the
dirtroad that runs south on the west side of
Burwash Creek, has been severely impacted by
gravel quarrying.
BUTTERFLIES
ALASKA HIGHWAY - Cracker
Creek, km 1,593, 21 June (JZ),
Hesperia manitoba, Colias
philodice, C. canadensis, C.
krauthiikluanensis, Euchloe
creusa, Everes amyntula,
Glaucopsyche lygdamus,
hcaeides idas, Plebeius
saepiolus, Agriades rusticus,
Clossianafigga, Oeneis chryxus.
Bear Creek summit, krn 1,659,21
June (JZ), Hesperia manitoba,
Pontia occidentalis, Pieris napi,
Colias philodice, Colias
canadensis, Euchloe ausonides,
Glaucopsyche lygdamus,
Lycaeides idas, Plebejus
saepiolus, Clossianafigga,
Euphydryas anicia, Erebia
epipsodea. Three miles north of
White River, km 1,883, 22 June
(JZ), Pyrgus centaureae,
Carterocephalus palaemon,
Parnassius eversmanni,
Pterourus glaucus, Pieris napi,
Colias canadensis, Euchloe
creusa, Euchloe ausonides,
Everes amyntula, Glaucopsyche
lygdamus, Lycaeides idas,
Plebejus saepiolus, Proclossiana
eunomia, Clossianafrgga,
Clossianafreja, Phyciodes
pratensis, Coenonympha kodiak,
Erebia disa, Oeneis bore.
YUKON HIGHWAY 2 (Klondike
Loop) to Lake Laberge, 21,29-30
May (KP), additional species (see
1987,1989-90,1993 Season
Summaries), Pontia occidentalis.
ALASKA
Weather: The northern North Slope had
excellent collecting weather in June, but nearer
the Brooks Kange an early June warm spell was
followed bya month of snow squallsand cold.
Galbraith Lake had 8 inchesof snow on the
ground on 20 June. Interior Alaska had a
slightly early spring,followed by heavy rains in
June.
Damaged collecting sites: The turnoff at
Little Gerstle Creek, east of Big Delta on the
Alaska Highway, was used for pumping water for
highway construction -and most of the
vegetation was bladed off.
Range extensions: Hyfes gallii (Sphingidae)
from the lvotuk Hills, North Slope.
New collecting localities:
(1) lvotuk Hills, near Otuk Creek, on the North
Slope just outside the northwest corner of
Gates of the Arctic National Park. There is a
largegravel airstrip 1.5 miles west ofthe hills,
and a road to the base of the hills. Thereare
three ridge systems. Of the two nearest the
airstrip, the northern one is vegetated almostto
the top, while the southern and higher ridge
system is covered with fine limestone scree.
(2) Devil's Mountain Lodge, mile42 Nabesna
Road. There isan airstripatthe lodge,
surrounded by wildflowers - which is excellent
forcolias collecting. Although the lodge lies
within the Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park, it
is private property,and no Park permit is
required. However, permission should be
obtained from the owners. This locality has the
densest population ofColias krauthiikluanensis
yet found in Alaska.
Note: at this timeC. k. kluanensis is known in
Alaska only from the Nabesna Road beyond mile
28.
MOTHS
NORTH SLOPE
Ivotuk Hills, near Otuk Creek,
10-29 June (CF, KP), Aspilates
orayerius, Hyles gallii, Acsala
anomala.
INTERIOR ALASKA
Hyles gallii was unusually
abundant in the Fairbanks area,
and also turned up flying in tundra
at Twelve Mile Summit.
SOUTH-EASTERN
ALASKA
Mile 41 Haines Highway, at
Alaska - British Columbia border
station, 29 May (KP), Smerinthus
cerisyi.
BUTTERFLIES
NORTH SLOPE
Franklin Bluffs vicinity, Dalton
Highway mile 383,30 June (JZ),
additional species (see 1991
Season Summary), Pieris napi.
Colias thula was very abundant at
this site. Dan Creek, Dalton
Highway mile 331,29 June (JZ),
Papilio machaon, Pieris napi,
Euchloe creusa, Glaucopsyche
lygdamus, Clossiana polaris,
Clossiana m a , Erebia rossii,
Erebia disa, Erebiafasciata,
Erebia lafontainei. Ice Cut,
Dalton Highway mile 325, 29 June
(JZ), additional species (see 1991
Season Summary), Everes
amyntula. Ivotuk Hills, near Otuk
Creek, 10-29 June (CF, KP),
Papilio machaon, Parnassius
eversmanni, Pieris napi, Colias
thula, Euchloe creusa,
Glaucopsyche lygdamus,
Agriades rusticus, Everes
amyntula, Clossiana polaris,
Clossiana freija, Erebia rossii,
Erebia disa, Erebia fasciata,
Erebia youngi, Erebia anyuica*,
Oeneis bore, 0. polixenes.
SOUTH-CENTRAL
ALASKA
Richardson Highway, 1 mile
north of Gulkana, 23 June (JZ),
Pyrgus centaureae,
Carterocephalus palaemon,
Colias philodice, Colias gigantea,
Colias palmo, Euchloe creusa,
Everes amyntula, Celastrina
argwlus, Glaucopsyche
lygdamus, Lycaeides idas,
Plebejus saepiolus, Vacciniina
optilete, Clossianafrgga,
Clossiana freija, Clossiana
chariclea, Phyciodes pratensis,
Erebia discoidalis. Devil's
Mountain Lodge, mile 42 Nabesna
June 1995
News of the Lepidopterists' Society
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