Crescent butterflies (genus Phyciodes) are so-called for their crescent-shaped spot on the underside of their hindwing, but their intricate orange-and-black patterns on the upperside are more likely to catch your eye. These […]

The Half-black Bumble Bee (Bombus vagans) is a small to medium sized bumblebee with a wide distribution in North America, ranging across Canada and the Northern US. In the central […]

Aphids (subfamily Eriosomatinae) are not easy to identify to the exact species. We believe these may be Blue Ash Aphids or Smokey-winged Ash Aphids. Similar to the swarms of Woolly […]

Saffron-winged Meadowhawks (Sympetrum costiferum) are one of the last species of dragonflies to be found still flying well into the fall. Males (pictured here) are all red with a thin […]

Lake Darners are among at least 13 different species of darners that can be found in Montana. If you look closely, you can notice the deeply notched thoracic (side) stripe […]

Green Commas join at least 8 other butterfly species in Montana with the distinction of being hardy little insects. The Green Commas we are seeing now will overwinter in the […]

The Hemlock Looper (Lambdina fiscellaria), also commonly called the Mournful Thorn, can be found coast to coast in Canada and adjacent parts of US. Females lay eggs from late July […]

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 […]