The last time this butterfly graced a What’s Buzzin’ report (7/25/19) it was found at a much higher elevation …9,200 ft., above treeline, near the top of St. Mary’s Peak in […]

The eyespot on the underside of the forewing can often help identify this relatively small butterfly, but as with all things, they vary a lot. The color of their wings […]

The Metallic Woodborer Beetle is truly a work of art, with its textured upper side and iridescent bronze luster. An opening of the wings reveals even more beauty. This species was just […]

Whether on land or in the air, these up to 1.5 inch long beetles are hard to miss when they are around. When disturbed, they make a hissing sound by […]

Four-spotted Skimmers are one of the earlier dragonflies on the scene. They are quite large, at up to two inches long, and have a diagnostic black spot halfway along each […]

Peter found these bumbleebees grouped up at the trailhead. He noted that the ground was perfectly dry, but wondered if someone peed there several days before. We don’t usually see bumbleebees […]

Damselflies may be smaller, thinner, and weaker fliers than dragonflies, but they have no problem catching lunch — in this case a sizable mayfly. We had difficulty identifying this individual and reached out […]

This Pacific Forktail was more straightforward to identify compared to the previous one. Forktails (genus Iscnura) are so-called for a a small structure at the tip of the abdomen in males […]

With their metallic bodies and often dark marking on the wings, Jewelwings (genus Calopteryx) are show-stopping stunners. River Jewelwings of either sex can’t be mistaken for any other Rocky Mountain damselfly. Adults […]

Photos by: Nicki Boje on 7/4/21 in Missoula, MT