What’s Buzzin’

What can you see around Western Montana right now?

Swallowtail Caterpillar (Papilio sp.)

We’re not 100% sure what species of swallowtail these individuals are, but we’ve narrowed the possibilities down to the Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata) and the Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus). We’ve read that the “The […]

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Crane Fly (family Tipulidae)

With their slender body and stilt-like legs, crane flies kind of look like mosquitoes on steroids. But not to worry, they are not out for blood. Adult crane flies only […]

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A Metallic Wood Boring Beetle (Buprestis langii)

Metallic wood-boring beetles are commonly called “jewel beetles” because of their shiny, iridescent colors. This particular “jewel” ranges across western North America (California-New Mexico-Manitoba-British Columbia). Adults are usually seen gleaming […]

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A Blister Beetle in the subgenus Macrobasis

Our best guess for this trio of blister beetles is the Ashgray Blister Beetle (Epicauta fabricii), although the sunflower they’re feeding from doesn’t seem to match their common host plants […]

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Bur-seed Fly (Euaresta aequalis)

Kristi wrote that this is “One of the coolest flies I have ever seen!” …we couldn’t agree more about this fruit fly! Fruit flies (family Tephritidae) are sometimes called peacock […]

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Common Wood Nymph (Cercyonis pegala)

These butterflies can be found in southern Canada and across most of the United States except much of the Southwest and Texas, southern peninsular Florida, and northern Maine. Their appearance […]

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Pine White (Neophasia menapia), Female

These beautiful butterflies are all over the place right now …you just need to look up. From August through September you will notice these white butterflies flying around the tops […]

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Galium Sphinx Moth (Hyles gallii)

If the caterpillar is big, you can guess the adult moth will be big too. Galium Spinx Moths, also called Bedstraw Hawkmoths, have a wingspan of up to three inches. Once the […]

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