Today’s essay is by guest blogger (and perhaps future entomologist), Madison MacRae. Currently a 3rd grade student at Pond Elementary School, Madison’s interests include ice skating, tetherball, basketball, piano, dancing, singing, and hiking/bug collecting with her dad. Next year they will be something else. Madison would like to be a grade school teacher when she grows up. She would also like to be a nurse… and a fire fighter… and a football player. This is Madison’s second guest contribution to Beetles In The Bush, the first appearing on February 6, 2008 where she discussed the job responsibilities of a professional entomologist. For today’s contribution, Madison will be discussing one of the insects she saw on a visit to Missouri’s sand prairies back in early September [Ed. note: the insect in question appears to be an intergrade population of Cicindela scutellaris, characterized by their green coloration (unicolor influence) with variable maculation (lecontei influence)]. The original article was submitted as school work (with no prompting or prior knowledge by her dad!) and is reprinted here by the kind permission of its author.
What a nice post …I love it that you included the original manuscript.
Congrats to Madison on being a great guest contributor..excellent
Madison, that was a nice write up on your favorite tiger beetle,and a good illustration as well. You also have nice penmanship for a 3rd grader. Keep up the good work.
An enjoyable and informative guest post. I can see that I’ll soon have another expert I can rely upon for beetle IDs.