A Survey of the Insects of White Sands National Monument, Tularosa Basin, New Mexico

Abstract

The White Sands National Monument is situated in Tularosa Basin (Fig. 1), an area of internal drainage bounded on the east and west by a series of fault ranges and by relatively high ground on the north and south. The chief deposit of the basin is valley fill. In addition to the White Sands, there are several other large areas of ecological importance. West of the White Sands and adjacent to that area is a large salt flat. At the south end of this flat is an intermittent salt lake, Lake Lucero. North of the White Sands and not quite contiguous with that area is the malpais, a recent lava deposition. South of the White Sands and separated from it by a distance of about 20 miles is a large area of reddish silica dunes. This dunes area surrounds the low Jarilla mountains and extends into the Hueco Basin to the south.