What’s Buzzin’

What can you see around Western Montana right now?

Small-eyed Sphinx Moth (Paonias myops)

The name of this sphinx moth is a bit misleading. The moth has normal eyes, not small at all, but the eyelike spots on the hindwings could be considered small. These handsome […]

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Snakefly (order Raphidioptera)

These beautiful and seemingly elusive insects get their name from the long “neck” of the adults (part of their thorax). You can tell it is a female from the long […]

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Meadow Fly (genus Chrysotoxum)

At first glance, this Meadow Fly could be mistaken for a yellowjacket. Despite its wasp-like markings, there are characteristics that give it away: short antennae, large, forward-facing “fly eyes,” and […]

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American Idia Moth (Idia americalis)

Karen discovered two of these moths resting under the lid of her compost tumbler. One flew to a nearby tree and demonstrated how effective its camouflage is, practically disappearing on […]

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Glover’s Silkmoth (Hyalophora columbia gloveri)

Minnette and her daughter Emma, an enthusiastic bug hunter, spotted this beauty while they were shopping at Caras for some new plants! The Glover’s Silkmoth can be found on both the eastern and western slopes […]

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Salt Marsh Tiger Moth (Estigmene acrea)

The name of this elegant moth reflects its frequency in coastal salt marshes (tidal marshes) along the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf Coasts. But really, they can be found in any […]

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White-dotted Prominent (Nadata gibbosa)

Aptly named, White-dotted Prominents have a pair of white dots at the end of a kidney-shaped spot on their smooth yellow and tan forewings. They are common and widely distributed […]

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