These insects primarily feed on the leaves and seeds of box-elder, maple, and ash trees, using their long “beak” to suck the juices. Western Box Elders are “true bugs” –members […]

Some of the largest spiders encountered in Montana are wolf spiders (family Lycosidae). Most live on the ground and hunt for their prey at night. Long legs adapted for running, along […]

While only about .25 inches in length, you should be thanking this and other dung beetle species for their tireless work. Although this particular species is a non-native from Eurasia, […]

Welcome back to the Lab! We hope that you enjoy this week’s Notes from the Lab. Before we jump in… Missoula Gives, a 26-hour online giving campaign, starts at 5:00PM […]

While these beautiful and delicate looking insects are harmless to humans, they are very capable predators that always seem to be hungry. And since they tend to feed on other […]

Some species of sweat bees are attracted to our sweat, alighting on our skin and lapping it up for moisture and salt. They sometimes sting if disturbed, though the sting is not very painful. […]

If you spend time outside gardening, you’ve likely run into this beautiful spider before. Like other jumping spiders, Zebras have great eyesight. Their eyes can actually form detailed images, making […]

We’re glad Melissa and her son admired these boldly colored beetles with eyes only, as they can ooze a liquid that can blister skin. The chemical responsible, cantharidin, is highly […]

Ground beetles in the genus Calosoma “are known as ‘searchers’ for their feverish hunting behavior” (Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America). And as their name suggests, they’re after caterpillars—often climbing […]