The other day while doing a trail hike with a group of children we discovered an unusual red, velvet-like group of masses on the leaves o...

  This pretty little Sawfly is a Conifer Sawfly in the genus Monoctenus. I found her on an Eastern Cedar tree in my backyard. I had never s...

Elephant Mosquitoes in the genus Toxorhynchites are found throughout the Eastern United States, especially in the southeast. These are ver...

 I found this tiny crab spider hidden inside a bright red tulip. This is the very first crab spider for me this year. When I first took the ...

                                                                                                  Oil Beetles are in the family Meloidae whi...

 These bright bluish-green metallic beetles are called Green Dock Beetles ( Gastrophysa cyanea ). They are leaf beetles in the family Chryso...

  Bowls and doilies aren't just for grandmas dining room table......you will find them in the woods too. The Bowl & Doily Spider ( F...

Johnson Jumper ( Phidippus johnsoni ) are spiders in the family Salticidae which are the jumping spiders. These spiders can be  intimidatin...

June Bugs or May Bugs are one of the most common sights of spring. As early as April in Missouri they will begin showing up at porch lights...

 This odd cocoon was brought into the conservation department last fall. I kept it to see what will emerge from it. I believe it is a Cecrop...