The Band-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum fasciatum) is one of the easiest species of Meadowhawk to identify. Those reddish-brown “bands” or “saddlebags” on the wings are a quick identification clue. Their […]

These handsome, medium-sized moths fly from late August to October in forest habitats, including higher elevation spruce-fir and mixed-conifer forests, lower elevation ponderosa pine forests, and quaking aspen forests. Caterpillars […]

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 […]

A beautiful addition to the fall colors, the Band-winged Meadowhawk is the only meadowhawk with really defined and large, rusty patches on the wings next to the body. They are […]

The Cat-faced Orbweaver is our #1 submission as of late. The chunky females, combined with their spiral, wheel-shaped webs, are hard to miss this time of year. Melissa’s first photo […]

Many Syrphid Flies do a great job at making you think you’re dealing with a wasp, hornet, or bee. Often seen hovering near or perched on flowers, the adults feed […]

On sunny fall afternoons, it sometimes looks like it is snowing. But it’s not snow …it’s the annual fall swarming of woolly aphids. These insects are really small. If it […]

If you find a group of aphids on a plant, you will often find an ant(s) that are “herding” them like cattle. The ants feed on the aphids’ honeydew (a […]