Production of zoobenthos, especially Chironomus, is known to increase with lake eutrophication.  However, coupling of pelagic algal production to zoobenthic production is not well understood in oligotrophic lakes.  Several investigations across lake types have revealed that lentic zoobenthos rely partially on methane-derived carbon.  In four oligotrophic arctic lakes where producers were experimentally labeled with ¹⁵N-NH₄, we studied coupling of zoobenthos to pelagic production, and also compared δ¹³C to potential food sources.  In the eulittoral zone, most taxa were tightly coupled to periphyton, showing little incorporation of methane-derived carbon or pelagic algae.  Among common taxa in offshore zones, the caddisfly Grensia and Sphaeriidae clams showed highest pelagic algal incorporation, whereas Chironomini and oligochaetes showed lowest.  Carbon mixing models indicate that methane-derived carbon was more important than pelagic algae for Chironomini in 3 of 4 lakes, and more variable in importance for other taxa.  For all taxa in all lakes, sources other than seston from either the current or the previous summer and methane accounted for the greatest proportion of zoobenthic production.  These results illustrate a need for more investigation into the role of epipelic algae and non-methane based microbial pathways in fueling benthic food webs.