Clearwing moths (family Sesiidae) are weird and wonderful, mimicking wasps in surprising detail. In many, the wings have large areas free of scales. Fireweed Clearwing Moths fly by day and […]

The Macculloch’s flies in spring and summer, generally earlier at low elevations and later at higher elevations. Adults visit flowers, with individuals noted taking nectar from Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) in […]

If you’ve ever walked the shoreline of a small, shallow western Montana pond or bog, you’ve likely walked right by a water scorpion. Looking pretty much like a piece of […]

Perfectly described in the Kaufman Field Guide to North America, robber flies “are to other insects what falcons are to other birds: swift predators on the wing.” They perch in open habitat waiting […]

One look and you’ll know how these bugs earned their name. Delicate, slender and long-legged, stilt bugs are typically less than 1 centimeter long and are often found on plants […]

Cobwebs spiders (family Theridiidae) are often housemates, wanted or otherwise. Even if you don’t see them, you may find their handiwork—messy, three-dimensional webs, with strands running in many different directions. […]

This is one of several species of checkerspot butterflies in western Montana. Checkerspots are generally medium-sized, larger than crescents, and have orange and black checkered uppersides. Their flight is fairly fast, direct and […]

These large beetles (with noticeable eyespots) inhabit coniferous forests and are typically found from June through July. Their larvae live in dead or dying trees and feed on the larvae of woodborers […]

The next generation of one of the most common and widespread moths in the Pacific Northwest is on its way! The adults do not feed, but caterpillars fatten up on […]

If you’ve ever noticed nearly perfect ovals, circles or semicircles cut out of leaves (and even flowers), you might have some leafcutter bees nearby. These small bees readily inhabit “bee […]