Category Archives: Apidae

“The Botanists Among Us: Host plant specialization in insects”

Posted on January 24, 2019 by

It’s been a busy week for me—just two days after doing a presentation on tiger beetles to the Webster Groves Nature Society’s Entomology Group, I gave a talk to the St. Louis Chapter of the Missouri Native Plant Society. As … Continue reading →

Posted in Acrididae, Aphididae, Apidae, Arctiidae, Bombyliidae, Buprestidae, Cantharidae, Cerambycidae, Chrysomelidae, Coleoptera, Cynipidae, Danaidae, Diapheromeridae, Diptera, Disteniidae, Hemiptera, Lygaeidae, Nymphalidae, Orthoptera, Phasmida, Sesiidae, Tenthredinidae, Tettigoniidae, Thripidae, Thysanoptera, Zygaenidae | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

BugShot 2011 – Final Thoughts

Posted on September 8, 2011 by

As I suspected would be the case, ID Challenge #11 has proven to be an especially difficult challenge.  As a result, instead of posting the answer tonight I’m going to give folks another day to make their play for points (remember, nobody walks … Continue reading →

Posted in Apidae, Arachnida, Araneae, Hymenoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Promiscuous Plants

Posted on September 28, 2010 by

Naturalists have long been aware of the greater tendency for plants than for animals to create viable interspecies hybrids. This is attributable not only (as some might expect) to a higher likelihood of passive plants whose mating is mediated by pollen-hungry … Continue reading →

Posted in Apidae, Gentianaceae, Hymenoptera | 22 Comments

BitB Best of 2009

Posted on December 30, 2009 by

In my first post of 2009, I looked back at the photographs I had posted during 2008 and picked some of my personal favorites. I hesitated then to call myself a photographer (and still do), but I at least now … Continue reading →

Posted in Apidae, Arachnida, Asilidae, Cicadidae, Cicindelidae, Coleoptera, Conopidae, Diapheromeridae, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Phasmida, Reptilia, Scorpiones | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Prey bee mine

Posted on September 14, 2009 by

Robber flies of the genus Promachus – the so-called “giant robber flies” – are among the more conspicuous and fearless predators seen in Missouri’s glades. Able to capture almost any flying insect regardless of size, this individual – seen at … Continue reading →

Posted in Apidae, Asilidae, Diptera, Hymenoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments