We found this little one on a cat hunting trip at Horseshoe Bend Natural Area in Texas County, MO in mid September. Check out the little flies hanging around hoping to scavenge some bug juice, much like the the vultures and other scavengers that might be found around a lion’s kill.
From my count, there are at least ten members of this genus that could be found in Missouri, but I think I have got the correct identification. Please let me know if you would suggest otherwise.
A Thousand Acres of Silphiums 