Some of the largest spiders encountered in Montana are wolf spiders…and when you see one carrying around a pea-sized “golf ball,” you take notice. Wolf spider mothers attach their egg […]

Delicious or dangerous? Many predators would pass on these day-flying moths…and many people would be wary in their presence. In flight they closely resemble wasps, even producing a droning sound to […]

Collared Arches are on the wing during late summer and fall, typically from mid-July to early September. You may spot one sipping nectar at the golden-yellow flowers of Rubber Rabbitbrush in the early […]

With their slender body and stilt-like legs, crane flies kind of look like mosquitoes on steroids. But not to worry, they are not out for blood. Adult crane flies only […]

Danielle discovered this stunning (and incredibly cool!) beetle at Council Grove State Park, near the logs in the second photo. Our staff had never seen this beetle before and were […]

This beautiful species of moth can be found from southern Canada to Georgia and Texas. The caterpillars feed on a wide variety of plants and are known to be “messy […]

This is the first sighting we’ve heard of from the second generation of the year. (We see the first generation in late April / early May.) These large moths are often […]

This photo, sent in by Cathy Houle Barrows, is perfect for National Moth week and is a great demonstration of why we encourage you to leave your porch light on during the spring and […]

Robber flies in the genus Laphria can do a convincing job of making you think they are a bee (many species tending to resemble bumblebees). However, unlike the insects they are trying […]

These beautiful little butterflies can be found all across North America – from southern Canada, in all US states, and into Mexico. Here in MT they can be found from […]