This striking moth is typically found in the Northern Rocky Mountain states and Pacific Northwest in moist forest and grassland habitats. The larvae are generalists, feeding on a wide variety of herbaceous […]

These large hawkmoths (sphinx moths) are a non-native species that’s been released in the fight against leafy spurge (the food source for their beautiful caterpillars). They can be found in several […]

These small and beautiful moths are pretty unique. Their larvae feed on algae on rocks in fast moving streams …yes, that’s right. The adult females dive into water (going up […]

The black and yellow mud dauber is a large (around 1 inch), docile, solitary wasp in the thread-waisted wasp family (Sphecidae). As their common name hints at, females create nests […]

These showy butterflies can be found from British Columbia south to Baja California and inland to Montana and Nevada. Like many butterfly species, there’s an incredible visual difference between the […]

Unlike the common wood-nymph (Cercyonis pegala), who has two eyespots on the forewing about the same size (or lower eyespot might be slightly larger), the small’s lower eyespot is smaller than the upper one […]

These boldly patterned beetles are common on yarrow (pictured here) and other flowers in western North America (Alaska-California to Northwest Territories-Saskatchewan-Texas). Adults feed primarily on pollen and occasionally on small insects, while […]

We are not 100% sure but we believe this is the California Broad-necked Darkling Beetle (Coelocnemis dilaticollis). It’s easy to see where this large, flightless beetle got its name. Broad-necks […]

This subdued beauty is on the wing from mid-May to mid-July in moist forest habitats. Their wings can do a unique trick (along with other species in the tribe Phlogophorini). The […]

This skipper was accidentally introduced to North America in 1910 in Ontario, Canada. They have since become well established in the east and have more recently become established in the […]