The Silvery Blue is on the wing from May into mid June and has prominent rows of black spots circled in white on each wing. It can potentially be confused […]

Thank you to Alexis and the students at Spring Creek School for sharing photos of this colorful beetle (and for tuning into the Online Bug Encounter each week!). We’re glad […]

We were so focused on seeing what was “trying to pollinate the flower” that we initially did not notice the spider. Goldenrod Crab spiders are masters at blending in. These spiders can change […]

We believe these tiny (4-6mm long) beetles are Scelolyperus schwarzii. The penstemon gives you a good idea of their size. The two that are in full view are likely males, as […]

As suggested by the name, these native bees are typically a metallic green or blue color (especially the head and thorax). There are 44 species in the genus, ranging from Canada to Argentina. They are […]

We believe this is an Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee. This species is commonly encountered from May to August in Canada and forested areas of the western United States, but rarely found […]

Like most skippers, the adult butterflies rest with their wings closed, but you can often find them basking in the sun with their wings open to warm up when the […]

This is not a very common sight …seeing a spittlebug nymph outside of its namesake protective white glob of spittle. Spittlebug nymphs create a foamy (spit-like) mass as a form of protection. Inside the spittle, they […]

It’s a sure sign that spring is well underway when these beautiful butterflies take flight. They can be found from moist meadows and prairies to high elevations. Photo by: Glenn Marangelo […]

This beetle is arguably one of the most beautiful insects we have in Montana. In fact, it was the subject of the What’s Buzzin’ Photo of the Year for 2020. These beetles […]