I’m still looking for the correct answers to Winter botany quiz #2.  Several commentors have correctly identified the plant family for one of the three plants and gotten close with the second (it’s not a true Liliaceae), and Doug properly surmised that the photos were indeed taken in South Africa (specifically, in Limpopo Province near the Matlaba River in the vicinity of the Waterberg Range).  With the additional clues I’ve given in the comments to that post, I still think generic and even specific identifications are possible for #1 and #2, while for #3 an ID at any level may prove to be quite a challenge.

While we wait for those answers, I thought I would feature some of the recent additions to my ever-expanding blogroll.  Some of these blogs seem to be already well-known, but only recently have I stumbled onto them myself.  Others I think may not be so widely known, but should be.  All struck a chord with me for some reason, whether it be their entomology-related subject matter, focus on life or nature in my beloved Ozarks, or the brilliance of their writing or photography.  I encourage you to pay them a visit and see what they have to offer.

Botany
Several new links in this section are worth mention. A Neotropical Savanna is an excellent weblog by Mary Farmer about her experiences with plants in Panama (and occasionally their insect associates). Closer to home, Get Your Botany On! features contributions by a consortium of astute botanists, one of which is Missouri-based Justin Thomas.  Justin also writes his own blog – The Vasculum – his exquisite and informative writings are reminiscent of those found on my long-time personal favorite, Ozark Highlands of Missouri (by the ever-eloquent Allison Vaughn).

Insects & Invertebrates
The number of links in this section has grown tremendously in recent weeks.  Bug Eric is one of the newest of these on my list, but its author – Eric Eaton, of Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America fame, has been around the bug scene for a long time.  Bug Shutterbug! is the work of Kolby Kirk, whose just published book, Insects & Spiders of Nicaragua, showcases some of his extraordinary photography. Coleop-Terra is written in German, but author Robert Perger’s beautiful beetle photographs can be understood in any language. For regular lessons about the insects around us and their impact on humankind, visit Debbie’s Insects Blog by Debbie Hadley, and orthopteroid specialist Ed Baker keeps us updated on activities from “across the pond” at Invertebrate Diaries (Ed also recently hosted Circus of the Spineless Issue 36). Shelly Cox has joined our growing ranks of Missouri entomologists, posting insect photos on MObugs while she prepares a field guide to the common insects of my beloved home state. Sections, a relatively new blog by British entomologist Laurence Livermore, contains enough information in each post to satisfy even the most erudite among us, and some spectacular captive insects can be seen at SIAM Insect-Zoo & Museum. Rounding out this section, weirdbuglady gives a refreshing view of entomology from an unconventional (and sometimes delightfully immature) perspective.

Missouri & My Beloved Ozarks
This section features a second blog by Shelly Cox – Explore Missouri, which features non-insect nature photos from our beautiful state, while Beau thoughtfully chronicles life in rural Missouri with Fox Haven Journal.

Nature & Conservation
I added Brewster’s linnet . com because of a series of posts about a recent trip to the lower Rio Grande Valley of south Texas. Lindsay and Scott bill Through Handlens and Binoculars as a blog about “Botany… Birds… Butterflies…”, but its subject matter is, in reality, even more diverse (including this recent, informative post about gray tree frogs). I suspect Tom Arbour’s Ohio Nature Blog needs no introduction, considering his current post contains 30 comments as of the time of this writing!

Nature Photography
Some strong photography blogs are joined by Voyages Around My Camera, which features stunning photography by Adrian Thysse (who also authors Evolving Complexity).

Uncategoricalizable
Finally, I’ve added this completely new section specifically for Maggie’s quirky, vexing, and truly unique giroofasaurus-vexed. Nuff said!

Copyright © Ted C. MacRae 2009