Maine Summer Wildlife: Five Species to Look Out for This Month

This summer's warmth is ideal for certain insects, allowing them to be active and feed on abundant plant life. Among the species to look out for are four insects and a spider that thrive in Maine's environment. The monarch butterfly stands out due to its large size and striking appearance. These butterflies have an impressive migratory journey, with their great-great-grandparents making the trip from Mexico to Maine last year.

Monarch caterpillars feed on milkweed plants before forming chrysalises, eventually giving rise to adult monarchs that will migrate south again. Another insect worth noting is the hickory tussock moth caterpillar, characterized by its dark medial stripe and four dark 'pencils.' These caterpillars can cause rashes in some humans due to their defensive hairs.

As summer days grow shorter, now is a great time to spot colorful bumble bees like the tricolored bee. With their distinctive orange segments on their abdomens, these bees are often mistaken for the federally endangered rusty-patched bumble bee. However, there have been no confirmed sightings of this species in Maine since 2009.

The northern dog-day cicada is another common insect that emerges during the 'dog days of summer.' These cicadas produce a loud mating buzz using their sound-producing organs. Lastly, the yellow garden spider is a stunning arachnid that can be found in grassy fields, its large webs snagging aerial insects like flies and mosquitoes.