Western Colorado Insects

Photo Gallery

A Gallery of Western Colorado Insect Photography This gallery highlights western Colorado insect photography. Click on pictures for higher resolution images. We want your insect photographs! If you have pictures you would like to post in this gallery, please contact Bob Hammon. If you can identify any of these that are not identified, or improperly identified, please let us know.
Index
Arachnid-Spiders & Scorpions	Coleoptera-Beetles	Collembola-Springtails
Diptera-Flies	Hemiptera-True Bugs, Aphids, Cicadas	Hymenoptera-Ants, Bees, Wasps, Horntails
Lepidoptera-Moths & Butterflies	Mantodae-Praying Mantis	Miscellaneous
Odonata-Dragonflies & Damselflies	Orthoptera-Grasshoppers, Katydids, & Crickets

Back to Index	Arachnids
Araenidae Araneus gemmoides Cat faced spider	These cat faced spiders are very visible in the fall. They are in the orb-weaver family. Click here for a fact sheet Photo by Tami Mattics
Solifugae Solpugid Windscorpion
Theridiidae Lactrodectrus lactans Western Widow Spider	Western widow are common inhabitants of western Colorado. Click here for a CSU fact sheet. Photo by Tami Mattics
Thomisidae Crab spider	Crab spiders are common in western Colorado. They can be recognized by their long front 2 pair of legs. Photo by Tami Mattics
Vaejovidae Northern scorpion	The northern scorpion, Paruroctonus boreus, is common in desert areas across western Colorado. This one was photographed on East Orchard Mesa near Grand Junction.
Dysdera crocata (Wood Louse Hunter) “Roly-poly Hunter”	This smooth bodied spider is perhaps best distinguished by its large fangs which it uses to feed on pillbugs (roly-polies) and other hard-bodied prey. When full grown they are about .5 inch in length. Dysdera have a generally creamy gray body with distinctly reddish legs and cephalothorax. They live in a silk retreat and hunt at night. Their bite can be painful but they are not aggressive and their venom is not known to cause medical problems. Colorado Insects of Interest Fact Sheet (pdf)
Back to Index	Coleoptera
Cantharidae Soldier Beetles	Soldier beetles can be found in significant numbers on the flowers of Rabbitbrush. Bob Hammon took this picture in early September 2005, in Unaweep Canyon.
Cerambycidae Longhorn Beetle	Longhorn beetles are the adult stages of round headed borers, of which many species attack dying or recently killed wood. This species was collected in a pheromone trap in a pinyon forest near Glade Park (Mesa County).
Cerambycidae Tetraopes tetraophthalmus Milkweed Beetle	Milkweed beetles are longhorn beetles which feed exclusively on milkweed. This picture was taken by Bob Hammon in the gardens at the Mesa County Extension office.

Curculionidae Root Weevil	This root weevil is a common home invader in many settings in western CO. There are several similar species. This picture was taken by Bob Hammon.
Meloidae Lytta deserticola	This species, Lytta deserticola , was photographed by Justin Bowen in the Colorado National Monument. Colorado collections of this species are recorded from only a few desert areas of western part of the state.
Meloidae Lytta nigrocyanea Blister Beetles	These blister beetles were photographed just off of I-70 in Grand Co. Utah by Dick Colby. They are on one of the locoweeds (Oxytropis?).
Meloidae Nemognatha lurdia	This blister beetle is unique in that its mouthparts are modified into a tube like structure. It was photographed by Patti Susman in Grand Junction on a sunflower.
Scarabaeidae Popillia japonica Japanese Beetle	This is a picture of the first Japanese Beetle caught in Palisade, CO. The pest has now been eradiicated from the town.

Back to Index	Collembola
Hypogastruridae Hypogastrura sp. Springtails	Springtails are one of the most common insects in Colorado. They are sometimes found congregating on snowfields. Linda Corwine photographed these "snow fleas" on snow along a road in southern Montrose County in February 2007.
Back to Index	Diptera
Asailidae Efferia sp. Female Robber fly	Robber flies are predators on flying insects. This fly was photographed by Bob Hammon near Gateway (Mesa County) on Sep 1, 2005.
Tachinidae Paradejeania rutiloides Spiny tachinid	Tachind fly larvae parasitise other insects. This species parasitises caterpillars. Adult flies feed on nectar. This one was photographed by Bob Hammon in September 2005 in Rio Blanco County. The fly is feeding on tailleaf pericome, Pericome caudata.
Back to Index	Ephemeroptera
Mayfly
Back to Index	Hemiptera
Aphididae Aphis nerii MIlkweed aphid	Milkweed aphids can be found on western whorled milkweed across western Colorado.
Pentatomidae Stink bug
Rhopalidae Boisea trivittata Box Elder Bug	View pictures of box elder bugs exhibiting carnivorous behavior.
Back to Index	Hymenoptera
Apidae Bombus griseocollis Bumblebee	There are many species of bumblebees in western Colorado . Bob Hammon photographed this B. griseocollis flying in to a white foxtail lily at the Mesa County Extension office in 2005.
Megachilidae Megchile sp. Leafcutter Bees	Photos by Sami Waters.
Megachilidae Megchile sp. Leafcutter Bees	Photos by Sami Waters.
Sphecidae Chlorion aerarium Cricket Hunter	This beautiful cricket hunter was photographed by Dick Colby in his back yard in Grand Junction. These sphecid wasps are very common in the lower altitudes of western Colorado. They specialize on hunting crickets, as the picture aptly displays. They paralyze their prey, bury it and lay an egg on it. The wasp larva then consumes the cricket.
Back to Index	Lepidoptera
Danaidae Danaus plexippus Monarch Butterfly	Monarchs migrate through western Colorado during the summer and in some years can be very common. Visit Butterflies and Moths of North America for more info.
Hesperidae Checkered Skipper
Hesperidae Skipper	This skipper was photographed by Bob Hammon at McGinnis Canyons Conservation area near Grand Junction on Sep 15, 2005.
Lycaenidae Brephidium exilis Pygmy blue	The pygmy blue is the smallest butterfly in North America. Larvae feed on plants in the Polyganaceae family. This butterfly was photographed by Bob Hammon at the Mesa County Fairgrounds on Nov. 10, 2005. Visit Butterflies and Moths of North America for more info.
Lycaenidae Lycaenia cupreus Lustrous copper	This is a high altitude butterfly that flies near snowbanks in July. Visit Butterflies and Moths of North America for more info.
Lycaenidae Lycaenea rubidus Ruddy copper Female	Ruddy coppers are common from the agricultural areas of the lower altitudes up to almost treeline in western Colorado. Bob Hammon shot this female in Gunnison County in 1985. Visit Butterflies and Moths of North America for more info.
Lycaenidae Paratrytone snowi Snow's Copper	Snow's copper inhabits alpine environments and is often found near remnant snow fields above treeline during July. This male was photographed by Bob Hammon on July 15, 2005 in Gunnison County. Visit Butterflies and Moths of North America for more info.
Lycaenidae Plebejus melissa Melissa's Blue	This colorful blue is very common across the west. It is a common inhabitant from the lower elevation agriculturaan areas up to above treeline. Visit Butterflies and Moths of North America for more info.
Lycaenidae Plebejus melissa Melissa's Blue
Noctuidae Noctuid larva	Bob Hammon shot this colorful noctuid moth larva on Black Mesa, Montrose CO in August 2006.
Nymphalidae Chlosyne whitneyi Rockslide checkerspot	The rockslide checkerspot inhabits alpine talus slopes above treeline. This picture was taken by Bob Hammon on July 1, 2005 in Gunnison County. Visit Butterflies and Moths of North America for more info.
Nymphalidae Euphydryas anicia Anicia Checkerspot	The Anicia checkerspot flies across higher altitudes in Colorado. Bob Hammon shot this mating pair in 1982. Visit Butterflies and Moths of North America for more info.
Nymphalidae Junonia coenia Common Buckeye	This colorful butterfly migrates to western Colorado. Bob Hammon shot this picture at the Mesa County Fairgrounds. Visit Butterflies and Moths of North America for more info.
Nymphalidae Nymphalis milberti Milbert's Tortoise Shell	This common nettle feeder can be found on the peak of any mountain in the west at some time. These were shot on a wagon wheel in a farmers field. Visit Butterflies and Moths of North America for more info.
Papilionidae Papilio rutulus Tiger Swallowtail	Swallowtail on Lilac bush. Visit Butterflies and Moths of North America for more info. Picture taken by Melissa Franklin (May 2007) near Collbran, CO
Pieridae Colias eurytheme Alfalfa butterfly	Alfalfa butterflies can become abundant and sometimes reach pest status in alflfa fields across the nation. Visit Butterflies and Moths of North America for more info. Photo by Tami Mattics.
Pieridae Colias meadii Meads sulfur	A high altitude sulfur. This mating air was photographed in Gunnison County by Bob Hammon. Visit Butterflies and Moths of North America for more info.
Pieridae Euchloe ausinoides Large marbeled white	This butterfly is sitting on a bistort in Gunnison County. Visit Butterflies and Moths of North America for more info.
Pieridae Pontia beckerii Beckers White	Visit Butterflies and Moths of North America for more info.
Pieridae Pontia occidentalis Western white	A common inhabitant of the western US. Visit Butterflies and Moths of North America for more info.
Pieridae Pontia sp	This gray veined white is feeding on a willow flower in the early spring.
Satyridae Erebia callias Colorado Alpine	This is a high altitude tundra that has limited didtribution in a few western states. This picture was taken in Gunnison County CO. Visit Butterflies and Moths of North America for more info.
Satyridae Neominois ridingsii Ridings Satyr	A rangeland butterfly photographed by Bob Hammon near Maybell CO in Moffat County. Visit Butterflies and Moths of North America for more info.
Satyridae Oeneis sp. Arctic	This Arctic landed on a snowbank above 12,000 ft in July. Bob Hammon shot the picture in Gunnison County.
Sphingidae Pachysphinx occidentalis Big Poplar Sphinx	This is one of our largest hawkmoths in western Colorado. We get lots of pupae of this in the Grand Junction Extension office. Populus is the host plant. Visit Butterflies and Moths of North America for more info.
Sphingidae Smerinthus sp	This sphinx is common across western Colorado.
Back to Index	Mantodae
Praying mantis	Top photo take by Tami Mattics, Olathe, CO Bottom photo taken by Melissa Franklin, CSU Extension Grand Junction, CO
Praying mantis
Back to Index	Odonata
Dragonfly	Photo by Tami Mattics
	Photo by Tami Mattics
	Photo by Tami Mattics
Damsel fly	Photo by Tami Mattics
Damsel fly	Photo by Tami Mattics
Back to Index	Orthoptera
Tettigoniidae Immature katydids	These katydids have just hatched from their egg mass. They were photographed by Bob Hammon in 2005.
Back to Index	Miscellaneous
	Photo by Sami Waters.