Butterflies, beetles, and flies, oh my! Pollinators are still abundant on these sunny fall days, busily continuing their work until the last minute. As the frenzy continues outdoors, some of our invertebrate friends are making their way inside, attempting to find a safe place to overwinter. Consider leaving the leaves this year so they can safely do so – outside of your home.
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: Cream-spotted Ladybird (Calvia quatuordecimguttata).
Misty Nelson, September 28th, 2024. South Hills, Missoula, MT.
Leafcutter Bee
Megachile sp.
It’s usually too difficult to identify an insect in flight, but this bee’s fuzzy yellow belly gives it away. Unlike other bee species that collect pollen in pollen baskets on their legs, leafcutters collect pollen in dense hairs on the underside of their abdomen (called scopa), turning their bellies yellow as they gather. These small bees readily inhabit “bee hotels” and other natural tunnels in wood or the ground. They construct several cells in each tunnel from the leaf pieces they collect. Each cell will contain a single egg and a store of pollen to feed the emerging larva.
Brenna Shea, October 9th, 2024. Rocky Mountain Gardens, Missoula, MT.
Western Conifer Seed Bug
Leptoglossus occidentalis
Have you found any of these bugs in your home lately? They’re not looking to eat anything, just a warm place to hang out until spring. And maybe you caught a whiff of their distinctive air freshener, which our social media friends and followers have described as apple cider vinegar, cherry almond extract, squashed banana, green apple and Pine-Sol, and more. Although they are a type of leaf-footed bug, they are often mistakenly lumped in with “stink bugs,” a different family of true bugs, for emitting an odor when disturbed.
Klara Briknarova, September 27th, 2024. Missoula, MT.
European Paper Wasp
Polistes dominula
The European paper wasp is a widespread and common species across the globe, expanding its range from Europe to nearly every continent except Antarctica. Their introduction to North America was accidental (as many are) in the 1970s, and the similarity between North American and European climates and habitats allowed the wasp to spread and establish rapidly. Proteins from the wasp’s salivary glands have been cloned and used as a waterproofing agent by aerial drones.
Misty Nelson, September 28th, 2024. South Hills, Missoula, MT.
Aquatic Leaf Beetle
Plateumaris sp.
Beetles: What can’t they do? While the common name “aquatic leaf beetle” seems a bit oxymoronic, these beetles do not live their entire lives in an aquatic setting. As leaf beetles (family Chrysomelidae), they feed on land vegetation, but they lay their eggs on aquatic vegetation. Once the eggs hatch, they attach themselves to the stems and roots of aquatic vegetation, where they obtain both food and oxygen. While most aquatic leaf beetles disperse by flying, at least one flightless species is known to survive ingestion by birds; from beginning to end.
Klara Briknarova, September 30th, 2024. Missoula, MT.
Lupine Bug
Megalotomus quinquespinosus
Lupine bugs belong to the family Alydidae (broad-headed bugs) and are closely related to another true bug common around this time, the leaf-footed bugs. Though their name suggests a propensity for eating lupine, they don’t discriminate and will feed on most legumes. They are differentiated from other inconspicuous true bugs in our area by the white markings at the base of their antennal clubs.
Connie Geiger, October 5th, 2024. Spokane Hills, Helena, MT.
Ichneumonid Wasp
Family Ichneumonidae
There are well over 3,300 species of Ichneumon wasps north of Mexico, making their identification difficult. Females wield a long, tail-like appendage. Although it looks threatening and reminiscent of a stinger, it is an organ for laying eggs. Most ichneumon larvae are parasitites of moths and butterflies or sawfly larvae. Mothers lay their eggs on or in the insect host, and the larvae develop and grow at the expense of it. Ultimately, the larvae kill the host.
Misty Nelson, September 28th, 2024. South Hills, Missoula, MT.
California Tortoiseshell
Nymphalis californica
The California’s brightly colored dorsal (upper) side of the wings is opposite to their ventral (under) side, which looks more like a dead leaf. The ventral side can look similar to a Comma’s but they lack the white “comma” on the hindwing or the sharp “ins and outs” along the wing edges. Caterpillars feed on various species of wild lilac (Ceanothus). California tortoiseshells stick mainly to the west, but sometimes stray to the midwest and east after population irruptions.
Gregg DeNitto, October 4th, 2024. Florence, MT.
Worm and Slug Hunter
Carabus sp.
Carabid beetles are abundant in the fall and spring, often overwintering as adults, occasionally in small groups. While there are at least 3 introduced species in North America, they are another welcome visitor to gardens as they prey on slugs, snails and earthworms. Their defense strategies are limited, and while not dangerous to humans, can sure cause a stink when handled.
Klara Briknarova, September 30th, 2024. Missoula, MT.
Common Drone Fly
Eristalis tenax
The Drone Fly was introduced to North America from Eurasia prior to 1874 and is now found throughout most of the world. The adults are European Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) mimics, and quite sweet looking, while the larvae, called rat-tailed maggots, are a bit harder on the eyes. Larvae live in stagnant water filled with decaying vegetation (small ponds, ditches, drains) or in wet dung, and that “rat-tail” reaches the surface so they are able to breathe. Larvae feed on rotting organic material, while the adults prefer nectar.
Brenna Shea, October 7th, 2024. Rocky Mountain Gardens, Missoula, MT.
Rain Beetle
Pterostichus melanarius
The rain beetle, like its cousin the bronze ground beetle (Carabus nemoralis) is an introduced European species that found its niche and has since spread throughout the US. However, its proclivity for eating invertebrate pests (like slugs) makes it a welcome visitor in most gardens. The beetle inhabits various habitat types, and is able to tolerate wet conditions (hence the common name) and a wide range of temperatures.
Klara Briknarova, September 19th, 2024. Missoula, MT.
