Happy Fair Week! We’re staying busy with fair festivities (and eating more than our fair share of fair food). Even though we’re rounding the corner on the most fruitful part of bug season, there’s still plenty to get out and observe. Happy buggin’!
Submit your bug pictures to bugid@missoulabutterflyhouse.org (and remember to include your name, the date, and the location where you took the photo)!
Header Photo: Cobalt Milkweed Beetle (Chrysochus cobaltinus). Klara Briknarova, July 27th, 2024. Missoula, MT.
Western Tiger Beetle
Cicindela oregona
The western tiger is slightly smaller than our other tiger beetles in Montana (only 11 – 13 mm). Their color can vary from brown, green, and purple to black. They are active in May and June (mating), with the next generation appearing in late summer and fall. This beetle seeks out sandy, muddy habitats along rivers and has a 2-year lifecycle with both adults and larvae overwintering. Like other tiger beetles, these guys run extremely fast …so fast that they outrun the capacity of their eyes and brain to process what they are seeing. They literally run themselves blind and need to stop, look around, and then continue their pursuit of their prey.
Brenna Shea, July 31st, 2024. Bonner, MT.
Common Whitetail
Plathemis lydia
Common whitetails can be tricky to identify, with males and females exhibiting significantly different wing patterns. The abdomens look similar, but as males age, they develop a thick, waxy coating on their abdomens, lending them a bluish-white appearance. Males of many Skimmer species (family Libellulidae) develop this. Common whitetails and other skimmers sit on a perch and wait for insect prey to fly past. Once spotted, they sally forth in pursuit, often returning to the same perch. Look for these effective predators along muddy-bottomed streams, ponds, and lakes all summer. If your summer travel plans take you to one of the other contiguous states, south to Mexico, or north to a handful of Canadian provinces, you might see them there, too!
Klara Briknarova, July 27th, 2024. Missoula, MT.
Western Red-Humped Caterpillar Moth
Oedemasia salicis
Western Red-humped Caterpillars are generalist hardwood feeders and choose from a wide range of trees and shrubs in the beech, birch, rose, maple, buckthorn, and heath families and more. The larvae are sometimes pests in fruit orchards. On the other hand, the nocturnal moths do not feed and are commonly found in mid-to late summer. Reportedly, they are less attracted to lights than most other night-flying moths. This species ranges from southern BC, Washington, and Idaho south to southeastern California. We’ll add western Montana to that list!
Sal Culotta, July 30th, 2024. St. Ignatius, MT.
Spined Assassin Bug
Sinea diadema
Assassin bugs are named for their formidable ambush tactics when taking down their prey. As true bugs, they have a pointed beak or “rostrum,” which they use to impale their prey before using digestive enzymes to consume them. The spiny assassin bug is outfitted with a number of identifiable spines on its head and thorax. They are often found in weedy fields and meadows, with adults present from summer to fall.
Glenn Marangelo, August 3rd, 2024. Missoula, MT.
Prominent Moth
Datana californica
Had this moth perched somewhere less conspicuous, it may have been entirely missed. These cryptic moths have a distinct “rolled leaf” look, allowing them to blend in with surrounding foliage seamlessly. This species is found west of the Rockies, from southern BC to northern California. A similar species, D. ministra, is primarily found east of the Rockies. The genus name, Datana, is an anagram of two other moth genera, Natada and Nadata; all three were described by Francis Walker in 1855.
Lisa Cloo, July 28th, 2024. Turah, MT.
Flying Saucer Ladybug
Anatis rathvoni
This lady beetle’s common name gets our vote for most charming. Their very angular outline is unlike any other North American lady beetle and their helmet-shape, with a flared “rim,” is reminiscent of a classic 1950’s flying saucer. This genus includes our largest (7-10mm) lady beetles, with four North American species usually found in trees. This species hunts aphids, caterpillars, sawfly larvae, and other soft-bodied insects in pines and other conifers. Outside of Montana, they can be found in British Columbia, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, and Nevada.
Anonymous, August 1st, 2024. Missoula, MT.
Common Wood Nymph
Cercyonis pegala
These butterflies range from southern Canada and most of the United States. Their appearance varies significantly across the country. In the southeast, there is a large yellow patch on both surfaces of the forewing. In the West, it may have a pale yellow patch or lack one entirely. All have two eyespots on each forewing. The eyespots are generally about the same size, or the lower eyespot might be slightly larger. They often fly in large, sunny, grassy areas, including prairies, open meadows, bogs, and old fields.
Sal Culotta, July 24th, 2024. St. Ignatius, MT.
Woolly Bee Fly
Systoechus sp.
Look closely: that’s not a bumblebee (though we consider them just as adorable). Bee flies are impeccable bee mimics and are essential pollinators in their own right. You will often find adults hovering near flowers to feed on nectar, but occasionally, you might find a female hovering over seemingly random patches of bare earth. Females seek out grasshopper egg clusters and deposit their eggs nearby. After hatching, the young maggots feed on the grasshopper eggs.
Sal Culotta, July 24th, 2024. St. Ignatius, MT.
Longhorn Bee
Melissodes sp.
Long-horned bees are so named for the male’s exceptionally long antennae, giving the appearance of horns. This tribe (Eucerini) is distributed across the globe but is most diverse in the Western hemisphere. However, most agree that the group needs a taxonomic overhaul, as many genera are small and poorly described. It is generally thought that there are about 750 sp. worldwide, with most of the species (~500) landing in one of five genera (despite there being about 36 genera overall).
Glenn Marangelo, August 3rd, 2024. Missoula, MT.
Angle Moth
Macaria sp.
Angle moths in this genus are found across North America and display a wide range of colors and patterning. Like many moth species this far north, we will only see one generation per year, with adults on the wing from May to September. Most of the larvae of this genus feed on coniferous shrubs and trees, though a handful feed on deciduous trees or herbaceous plants. The genus name originates from Greek mythology – Macaria is known as Hercules’ daughter.
Klara Briknarova, July 10th, 2024. Missoula, MT.
