While only about .25 inches in length, you should be thanking this and other dung beetle species for their tireless work. Although this particular species is a non-native from Eurasia, […]
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What can you see around Western Montana right now?
Notes from the Lab: Giving Back to Pollinators
Welcome back to the Lab! We hope that you enjoy this week’s Notes from the Lab. Before we jump in… Missoula Gives, a 26-hour online giving campaign, starts at 5:00PM […]
Read MoreGreen Lacewing (family Chrysopidae)
While these beautiful and delicate looking insects are harmless to humans, they are very capable predators that always seem to be hungry. And since they tend to feed on other […]
Read MoreSnow Fleas (genus Hypogastrura)
Kelly found snow fleas in just about every horse-hoof mud puddle in the Sapphires. She writes, “There were hundreds in each little pool of water, and they were so tiny […]
Read MoreSweat Bee (family Halictidae)
Some species of sweat bees are attracted to our sweat, alighting on our skin and lapping it up for moisture and salt. They sometimes sting if disturbed, though the sting is not very painful. […]
Read MoreZebra Jumper (Salticus scenicus)
If you spend time outside gardening, you’ve likely run into this beautiful spider before. Like other jumping spiders, Zebras have great eyesight. Their eyes can actually form detailed images, making […]
Read MoreStansbury’s Blister Beetle (Tricrania stansburyi)
We’re glad Melissa and her son admired these boldly colored beetles with eyes only, as they can ooze a liquid that can blister skin. The chemical responsible, cantharidin, is highly […]
Read MoreCaterpillar Hunter Beetle (Calosoma moniliatum)
Ground beetles in the genus Calosoma “are known as ‘searchers’ for their feverish hunting behavior” (Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America). And as their name suggests, they’re after caterpillars—often climbing […]
Read MoreEuropean Ground Beetle or Bronze Ground Beetle (Carabus nemoralis)
These European transplants, introduced roughly 150 years ago, are now widespread in their North American range. Flightless and nocturnal, they prowl gardens, yards and open, wooded areas, for soft-bodied invertebrates. […]
Read MoreMayflies (order Ephemeroptera)
Kelly shared several photos of some mayfly beauties she found on her porch. Although these two look markedly different, we believe them to be the same species. The top mayfly, […]
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