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Insects and other arthropods

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  •  Callosamia promethea

    These are large moths with a wingspan of 7.5 to 10 cm. There are marked differences between the males and females. The males have black wings with a tan border, while the females’ wings are brown or reddish-brown, also with a tan border. Both sexes have an eyespot on each forewing.

    Class
    Insecta
    Order
    Lepidoptera
    Family
    Saturniidae
  • Polygonia interrogationis

    The question mark is one of the largest and loveliest of the Polygonia butterflies. Its wings are rust-coloured with many black and pale lilac spots close to the edges. The silver mark shaped like a question mark on the underside of its lower wings is where it gets its English and Latin name.

    Class
    Insecta
    Order
    Lepidoptera
    Family
    Nymphalidae
  • Vanessa atalanta

    This butterfly’s wingspan ranges from 5.5 to 6 cm. Its forewings are black with white spots and a red stripe. Its lower wings are marbled brown and black, with an orange spot on the edge.

    Class
    Insecta
    Order
    Lepidoptera
    Family
    Nymphalidae
  • Red milkweed beetle

    These reddish-orange beetles with their black spots are easily recognizable on their host plants, milkweed. Their legs and long antennae, typical of the long-horned beetle family, are black.

    Class
    Insecta
    Order
    Coleoptera
    Family
    Cerambycidae
  • Rose chafer

    These elongated beetles are 8 to 13 mm long. They are tan or greenish, with long orange-brown legs. The wings do not completely cover the abdomen.

    Class
    Insecta
    Order
    Coleoptera
    Family
    Scarabaeidae
  •  Dryocampa rubicunda

    These pretty pink and yellow moths are easily recognizable by their very hairy bodies. The colours vary, however, and there are also pale, almost white, forms. The males are smaller than the females, which have a wingspan of about 5.5 cm.

    Class
    Insecta
    Order
    Lepidoptera
    Family
    Saturniidae
  •  Sand wasps

    These black wasps have greenish-yellow bands on their abdomens. Their legs are yellow, except for the parts nearest their bodies. Their wings are transparent, with brown veins. They are 13 to 16 mm long.

    Class
    Insecta
    Order
    Hymenoptera
  • Shiny spider beetle

    These beetles, like the other members of the Anobiidae family, can easily be mistaken for spiders – hence the name. But they definitely have six legs, not eight. The shiny elytra are orange-brown, and the head, thorax and legs are covered in dense, short hair.

    Class
    Insecta
    Order
    Coleoptera
    Family
    Anobiidae
  •  Glaucopsyche lygdamus

    It’s easy to see where this small butterfly gets its name: its wings are blue on top and silvery beneath. The top of the wing in the males is an iridescent blue, with a narrow dark border. In the females the blue is darker and the border is wider.

    Class
    Insecta
    Order
    Lepidoptera
    Family
    Lycaenidae
  • Six-spotted tiger beetle

    These tiger beetles are easy to recognize with their iridescent green or blue-green colouring and white-spotted elytra (wing covers). As their name indicates, they usually have six spots, but some specimens have only five, or even two or none at all.

    Class
    Insecta
    Order
    Coleoptera
    Family
    Carabidae