Euphydryas editha "Edith’s Checkerspot" Nymphalidae
Seeley Lake, MT
July 26, 2014
Robert Niese
The caterpillars of this species will hibernate overwinter and can do so for many years before metamorphosing into adults.
Montana
Osmoderma subplanata “Leather Beetle” Scarabaeidae
Missoula, MT
July 30, 2014
Robert Niese
These large (3 cm), circumboreal beetles get their name from the leathery odors they emit from their exoskeleton (Osmo- means smelly, derma means skin). Adults spend most of their lives feeding on the decaying centers of fallen logs.
Frost on Malva neglecta “Common Mallow” Malvaceae
Missoula, MT
October 18, 2013
Robert Niese
Caloplaca luteominia var. bolanderi "Ruby Firedot Lichen"
Missoula, MT
March 14, 2014
Robert Niese
Caloplaca luteominea is a relatively common endolithic species of crust-like lichen. The little red cups that you see here (<1mm in diameter) are actually the reproductive structures (called apothecia) of the fungus. The rest of the organism lives within the rock (endo = within; lithic = rock), between the cracks and grains of the granite.
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.
Salticus scenicus “Zebra Jumping Spider” Salticidae (female)
Missoula, MT
June 26, 2014
Robert Niese
This abundant, charismatic jumping spider was introduced to the US from Europe, but can now be found throughout most of the North American continent.
Thanatus formicinus Philodromidae
Missoula, MT
May 13, 2014
Robert Niese
Thanatus formicinus literally translates to “ant-like death spider.” Fortunately, these large, agile spiders do not live up to their names and are completely incapable of killing anything larger than a nickel. Look for them along dry, rocky river beds or open talus slopes.
Tegenaria agrestis ”Hobo spider” Agelenidae (male)
Missoula, MT
September 19, 2013
Robert Niese
The “Hobo Spider” is one of the most unjustly detested house spiders in North America. Like all spiders, Tegenaria are venomous and can bite, but rarely will they do so. Perhaps due to their impressive skittering speed or diurnal nature, their species epithet, agrestis, is often assumed to mean “aggressive.” In Latin, however, agrestis actually means rural, and these spiders would much rather run away from you, than bite your finger.
Larix occidentalis “Western Larch” Pinaceae
with Bryoria sp. “Tree-hair Lichen"
Seeley Lake, MT
September 13, 2014
Robert Niese
Larch is one of North America’s only deciduous conifers. Here in western Montana, needles are just beginning to turn yellow in mid-September.
Bryoria is a common lichen throughout the PNW and was once a common food source for more than 40 local tribes, in spite of nearly indistinguishable toxic species co-occurring throughout most of their range.
Chalcophora angulicollis “Western Sculpted Pine Borer” Buprestidae
Missoula, MT
July 10, 2014
Robert Niese
I found these massive woodborers in abundance (even on campus here at the U of MT) for a few weeks between late June and early July. They’re especially easy to identify in flight. Just listen for the miniature helicopter.
Northwest Naturalist 