Mentha arvensis “Wild Mint” Lamiaceae
Missoula, MT
July 19, 2015
Robert Niese
Mint is one of the most abundant, easily recognizable plants growing along the banks of Missoula’s rivers this summer – perfect for those on-the-fly, riverside mojitos! Look for its square stems, axillary flowers, and minty aroma!
Ceutorhynchus erysimi “Shepherd’s Purse Weevil” Curculionidae
Missoula, MT
June 19, 2015
Robert Niese
These adorable weevils were introduced along with the invasive weed, Shepherd’s Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris; Brassicaceae) from Europe. They have iridescent green-blue elytra and rarely reach a size of more than 2mm. They’re my new favorite introduced species.
Speyeria hydaspe “Hydaspe Fritillary” Nymphalidae
Great Burn, Lolo National Forest, MT
July 10, 2015
Robert Niese
Fritillaries are common residents of moist meadows throughout North America. They lay their eggs on a variety of violet species. Upon hatching, the larvae immediately burrow into the ground (before eating) and hibernate until spring when they emerge and munch on the violet leaves.
Chamerion (Epilobium) angustifolium “Fireweed” Onagraceae
Great Burn, Lolo National Forest, MT
July 10, 2015
Robert Niese
Unlike its name suggests, Fireweed is hardly a weed! One of the PNW’s most abundant wildflowers, Fireweed holds an important role in nearly every native culture. Its young shoots and leaves are a delicacy to some, and medicinally important to others. Many peoples used fibers torn from its shoots to make rope, and, still today, folks throughout the northern hemisphere use its fluffy seeds as a natural stuffing for pillows.
Anatis rathvoni “Rathvon’s Giant Lady Beetle” Coccinellidae
Great Burn, Lolo National Forest, MT
July 10, 2015
Robert Niese
These massive (10mm) ladybugs are endemic to the PNW and are normally found in pines and other conifers where they voraciously consume aphids, caterpillars, and other small, fleshy-bodied herbivores. Their elytra vary in color from yellow, pale brown, to brown-red, darkening with age. Rathvon’s Giant Ladybird Beetles are named for a relatively obscure 19th century entomologist, S. S. Rathvon from Pennsylvania, who was one of North America’s first entomologists dedicated to educating the public about their local beneficial and pest-insects. Learn more about his life here.
Ribes cereum “Wax Currant” Grossulariaceae
Missoula, MT
July 19, 2015
Robert Niese
Apparently the berries of the Wax Currant are not very palatable. In fact, its young leaves and flowers are a much more prized trailside treat than its fruits! These little berries will retain their characteristically long, shriveled flowers to maturity when they start to turn red. Perhaps I’ll collect some for a wildberry jam later this summer.
Agapeta zoegana “Sulphur Knapweed Moth” Tortricidae
August 14, 2014
Missoula, MT
Robert Niese
These diminutive moths (10mm in length) are obligate parasites of our invasive knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) and were introduced in 1984 as a potential biological control agent.
Happy National Moth Week!
Petrophila confusalis Crambidae
Missoula, MT
July 21, 2015
Robert Niese
These adorable moths are absolutely fascinating! They often rest with their hindwings partially visible, displaying these prominent black spots. It’s likely that these patterns look like jumping spiders to potential predators or parasites (i.e. wasps). Check out this awesome video of the moth moving its wings to make its eyespots look extra scary, and this cool video of a different species chasing a male jumping spider like it’s a potential mate. In addition to this cool ability to mimic its predators, these moths also lay their eggs underwater! Females actually dive down to the bottom of fast-flowing streams to lay their eggs on algae-ridden rocks in riffles and rapids. During these dives, their abdomens get encased in a bubble of air, providing them with oxygen just like a scuba diver! The larvae then hatch and consume the diatoms and algae growing on the stream-bottom.
We must have had six of these moths at our lights last night! Happy National Moth Week!
Malacosoma californica “Western Tent Caterpillar” Lasiocampidae
Drinking Horse Mountain, Bozeman, MT
June 3, 2015
Robert Niese
Normally, tent caterpillars live in large groups in the safety of their silk “tents,” but this individual appears to have wandered off on its own. Often, after defoliating all the foliage on their first tent-plant, caterpillars will seek out food on nearby trees. But this individual looks really big and I suspect that it is seeking some quiet place to metamorphose into an adult moth. Learn more about these awesome moths here.
Happy National Moth Week!
Malacosoma californica “Western Tent Caterpillar” Lasiocampidae
Great Burn, Lolo National Forest, MT
July 10, 2015
Robert Niese
Tent caterpillars are really fascinating critters! In some years, populations of tent caterpillars explode and entire forests can be defoliated by these voracious animals. Fortunately, this extensive herbivory does will not kill most trees, although some eastern forests have experienced large-scale tree deaths when tent caterpillar outbreaks coincided with drought. This year, tent caterpillars have been in relatively low numbers. Learn more about these awesome moths here!
Happy National Moth Week!
Northwest Naturalist 