What’s Buzzin’

What can you see around Western Montana right now?

Robber Fly (genus Laphria)

At first glance, these extremely capable (and seemingly always hungry) predators look like a medium sized bumblebee. Their “bearded” face is one way to recognize these insects as robber flies. […]

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A Flower Longhorn (Pseudogaurotina cressoni)

Karen thought this beetle looked familiar—it’s the “cover model” on the front of the Pacific Northwest Insects book. The shine of the metallic green wing covers was muted by an overcast sky, […]

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Aphid Mummy

What looks like an aphid that’s ready to explode is actually what’s left over after being parasitized by a Braconid wasp (family Braconidae, subfamily Aphidiinae). Braconid wasps are tiny, only about 1/8 […]

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Western Damsel Bug (Nabis alternatus)

Damsel bugs are often mistaken for another type of true bug, assassin bugs (family Reduviidae). One way to tell them apart is to focus on their “beaks”. Damselbugs have a four-segmented […]

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Salt Marsh Moth (Estigmene acrea)

The name of this elegant moth reflects its frequency in coastal salt marshes (tidal marshes) along the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf Coasts. But really, they can be found in any […]

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