This little fella is Pepe III, the third Pepper Weevil to make it to Jen and Glenn’s house via a green pepper purchased at the grocery store. They found their first in […]
Read MoreWhat’s Buzzin’
What can you see around Western Montana right now?
Polyphemus Moth Cocoon (Antheraea polyphemus)
Helena noticed a cocoon hanging from a branch alongside Rattlesnake Creek. She carefully collected it and brought it home for observation. Shortly after, she reached out to us for recommendations to help […]
Read MoreEurasian Millipede (Ophyiulus pilosos)
Millipedes and centipedes both have a lot of legs, but they have some key differences. Millipedes are slow-moving, have two pairs of legs on most segments, and are harmless decomposers. […]
Read MoreWinter Caddisfly (genus Psychoglypha)
At first glance, caddisflies look much like their closest living relatives—the moths and butterflies. How to tell the two groups (orders) apart? Zoom in on their wings and mouthparts. Moth […]
Read MoreTissue Moth (Triphosa haesitata)
Tissue moths overwinter in caves where the temperature stays just above freezing, emerging in early spring. (We suspect that they wait out winter in other protected, temperature-stable locations, too.) A […]
Read MorePoison Hemlock Moth (Agonopterix alstroemeriana)
Poison Hemlock Moths, and their sole host plant, Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum), were introduced from Europe. The plant arrived in North America in the 1800s, and the first recorded moth in […]
Read MoreWestern Conifer Seed Bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis)
Perhaps you had some of these insects enter your home last fall. They weren’t looking to eat anything, just a warm place to hang out until spring. And maybe you […]
Read MoreEuropean Honey Bee or Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
The honey bee was one of the first domesticated insects and is the primary species kept by beekeepers for honey production and pollination services. Thanks to their domestication, they can […]
Read MoreMourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
Mourning Cloaks are extra special—they’re Montana’s state insect! They’re also relatively easy to identify in flight on account of their larger size, gold-yellow border, brilliant blue dots, and brownish-maroon interior. […]
Read MoreSatyr Comma (Polygonia satyrus)
Size: Wingspan 1 3/4 – 2 1/2 inches (4/5 – 6.4 cm) Photo by: Kelly Dix on 3/30/22 near Florence, MT
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