Insects of the Midwest
The Insects category explores Midwest insects found in forests, fields, wetlands, and backyard spaces. You’ll discover butterflies, moths, beetles, dragonflies, and native pollinators.
Each post focuses on identification, life cycles, habitat, and seasonal activity. Learn how insects support local ecosystems through pollination, decomposition, and food chains.
This category helps you recognize common species and understand their role in nature. Whether you’re watching monarchs over wildflowers or finding beetles beneath leaves, you’ll gain a closer look at the insects that shape our landscape.
Featherd Friends & Backyard Guests > Wildlife > Insects > Butterflies, Moths & Skippers
Each year since the 1993 – 1994 migration the World Wildlife Federation has been collecting data from December through January on the number of hectares of land that migrating monarch butterflies occupy in Mexico. This year’s monarch numbers are down by 60% from last year. So, they will need a little extra help this year re-populating.
The four broad-winged damselflies (Calopterygidae) are found in Wisconsin.
Behold the dazzling charmers of the Midwest meadows – the Goldenrod Soldier Beetle! With their striking golden hues and relentless energy, these tiny warriors paint the prairies with a touch of brilliance.
Meet the flamboyant residents of the milkweed realm – the vibrant Milkweed Bugs! Sporting a stunning red and black ensemble, these winged wonders play a crucial role in nature’s theater.
From their daring feast on milkweed seeds to their intricate life cycle, get ready to dive into the captivating world of these tiny, toxin-toting acrobats.
Join me on a journey where warning colors are a fashion statement, and milkweed becomes a feast fit for royalty!
The mourning cloak butterfly is one of the first butterflies to be seen in spring.
This White-lined Sphinx Moth Caterpillar (Hyles lineata) might not look like much now, but he grows up to be the white lined sphinx moth which most people mistake for a hummingbird.
Around our parts of the nation we call the Eastern Harvestmen creatures daddy longlegs, but the real name is the Eastern harvestmen. There are 6,650 species of harvestmen worldwide.
Strolling through a sun-dappled woodland edge on a quiet afternoon, where the air hums with life’s quiet drama. That’s where I’ve often encountered the Golden-Backed Snipe Fly. A true gem of the insect world. This fly’s elegant form and behaviors, like its cooling postures, remind me of how even the smallest creatures adapt so cleverly to their surroundings, like how I adapt my hikes to the season’s rhythms.
Today I had to go out and collect a few fresh milkweed leaves for my Monarch caterpillars I am raising. While out hunting I came across the Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillar and thought to myself, now here is a critter I have not done a post on that you might find interesting.
So what is this crazy-looking insect? Have you seen one before? This is the common scorpionfly. To me, there is nothing common about the look of this little guy.
The Gall fly produces goldenrod galls that become the food source and host plant for gall fly larvae over the course of the winter. The insect has a fairly interesting lifecycle.
There are 11 different spreadwing damselflies in Wisconsin. Besides the spreadwings there are another two families of damsels including the broad-winged which has 4 and the pond species that has 34.
A few of many beetles in the blister beetle family. The beetle is part of the Meloidae family, they are called blister beetles for a good reason.
The black swallowtail butterfly is a large blue, black, golden yellow, and cream speckled beauty. Black Swallowtails are also known as Eastern Black Swallowtail, Black Swallowtail, American Swallowtail, and the Parsnip Butterfly.
The banded woolly bear caterpillar and moth can be found nearly everywhere in Wisconsin. It feeds on low-growing plants but is not a pest to garden and farm crops.
The eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), is a species of swallowtail butterfly native to eastern North America. It is one of the most familiar butterflies in the eastern United States, where it is common in many different habitats.
The silver-spotted skipper is a brown winged skipper with yellowish-orange square and rectangular patches on its wings. The body of this skipper is dark brown and hairy.
The Monarch Butterfly Leaves Wisconsin Soon The days are getting shorter and the early signs of fall are setting in. Soon, the Wisconsin fall monarch migration will begin. Monarchs will make their journey to their winter homes over 6,000 miles away in South America and Mexico. Where they will sleep the winter away in comfort. … Read more
Butterfly Nectar Recipe If you want to attract butterflies to your yard all you have to do is feed them. Either by plant or providing this butterfly nectar recipe for them to feed on. Monarch butterflies especially need extra food and water supplies during migration. They need all the energy they can get to make … Read more
The life cycle of the monarch butterfly is one of beauty.