Wildlife of Yampa River and Elkhead Reservoir State Parks
Yampa River State Park supports various wildlife species due to the diverse types of
vegetation and habitat. Elk are frequently observed near the reservoir in the winter
months, as well as mule deer and a variety of waterfowl. Quality habitat along the
Yampa River supports ...more ↓
White-lined Sphinx
Hyles lineata, also known as the white-lined sphinx or hummingbird moth, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. They are sometimes referred to as the hummingbird moth because of their bird-like size (2-3 inch wingspan) and flight patterns.
Western Branded Skipper
Hesperia colorado, the western branded skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae.
Small Wood-Nymph
Cercyonis oetus, the small wood-nymph or dark wood-nymph, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in western North America.
Monarch
The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is a milkweed butterfly (subfamily Danainae) in the family Nymphalidae. It may be the most familiar North American butterfly. The monarch butterfly is not currently listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) or protected specifically under U.S. domestic laws. Its wings feature ...more ↓
Brown Elfin
Callophrys augustinus, the brown elfin, is butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found from Newfoundland north and west through the northern United States and the prairie provinces to Alaska. To the south it ranges in Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia and northern Alabama, further south through the western mountains to northern Baja California in Mexico. ...more ↓
Melissa Blue
The Melissa blue (Plebejus melissa) is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in western North America, from Canada to Mexico. The Karner blue (Plebejus melissa samuelis) is a subspecies of the Melissa blue, and was described by the novelist/lepidopterist Vladimir Nabokov.
Nevada Bumble Bee
Bombus nevadensis, the Nevada bumblebee, is a species of bumblebee. It is native to North America, where it occurs from Alaska to California in the west, and east to Wisconsin, and in Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico.
Western Honey Bee
The western honey bee or European honey bee (Apis mellifera) is the most common of the 7–12 species of honey bee worldwide. The genus name Apis is Latin for "bee", and mellifera is the Latin for "honey-bearing", referring to the species' production of honey for the winter.
Common Aerial Yellowjacket
Dolichovespula arenaria, also known as the common aerial yellowjacket, sandhills hornet, and common yellow hornet, is a species of wasps within the Dolichovespula genus widely distributed in the North American continent.
Bald-faced Hornet
Dolichovespula maculata is a eusocial wasp of the cosmopolitan family Vespidae. Its colloquial names include the bald-faced hornet, bald hornet, white-faced hornet, white-tailed hornet, spruce wasp, blackjacket, and bull wasp. This species is a yellowjacket wasp, not a true hornet (genus Vespa). Colonies contain 400 to 700 ...more ↓
Western Tiger Beetle
Cicindela oregona, also called the Western Tiger Beetle, is a species of ground beetles native to North America.
Red-femured Milkweed Borer
Tetraopes femoratus is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It was described by LeConte in 1847.
Carolina Grasshopper
Dissosteira carolina, the Carolina grasshopper, Carolina locust, black-winged grasshooper, road-duster or quaker, a large band winged species of grasshopper which ranges widely in North America inhabiting weedy grasslands.
Two-striped Grasshopper
Melanoplus bivittatus (two-striped grasshopper) is a poikilothermic species of grasshopper belonging to the genus Melanoplus. It is commonly found in North America, with high quantities inhabiting Canadian prairies and farmland.
Eastern Boxelder Bug
The boxelder bug (Boisea trivittata) is a North American species of true bug. It is found primarily on boxelder trees, as well as maple and ash trees. The adults are about 12.5 millimetres (0.49 in) long with a dark brown or black coloration, relieved by red wing veins and markings on the abdomen; nymphs are bright red.
Variegated Meadowhawk
The variegated meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) is a dragonfly of the family Libellulidae, native to North America.
Pale Snaketail
Ophiogomphus severus is a species of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It is commonly known as the pale snaketail.
Common Green Darner
The green darner or common green darner (Anax junius), after its resemblance to a darning-needle, is a species of dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. One of the most common and abundant species throughout North America, it also ranges south to Panama. It is well known for its great migration distance from the northern United States south into Texas and Mexico. It also occurs in ...more ↓
Virile Crayfish
Faxonius virilis is a species of crayfish known as the virile crayfish, northern crayfish, eastern crayfish, and lesser known as the lake crayfish or common crawfish. Faxonius virilis was reclassified in August 2017, and the genus was changed from Orconectes to Faxonius. It is native to eastern United States and southeast ...more ↓
