Category Archives: Hymenoptera

Ants, bees, sawflies, wasps. About 125,000 species worldwide. Biology is diverse: phytophagy, parasitism, predation, gall forming. Parthenogenesis is universal – diploid females and haploid males.

Ants invade Beetles in the Bush!

Posted on February 5, 2010 by jtrager

Discusses the origin and other insect relatives of ants, what ants carry with their famous ability to do so, and introduces some points about ants’ eating habits. Continue reading →

Posted in Formicidae, Hymenoptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Circus of the Spineless #47

Posted on February 1, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

When I started participating in blog carnivals last year, Circus of the Spineless was – for me – the pinnacle of blog carnivals.  I wanted to take my shot at hosting this venerable celebration of creepy crawlies, and even though the … Continue reading →

Posted in Amphipoda, Arachnida, Araneae, Calliphoridae, Collembola, Crustacea, Danaidae, Decopoda, Formicidae, Hesperiidae, Lepidoptera, Libellulidae, Odonata, Opiliones, Passalidae, Vespidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

BitB Best of 2009

Posted on December 30, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

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 Ted C. MacRae

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

Revisiting the Swift Tiger Beetle – Part 1

Posted on June 30, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

When my hymenopterist friend, Mike Arduser, came back from his first trip to Oklahoma’s Four Canyon Preserve last September, my first thought upon seeing his photos of the area was, “Ooh, that looks like a good place for tiger beetles!” … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera, Dryinidae, Hymenoptera, Mammalia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Trilogy of Terror

Posted on May 18, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

Last week, Alex at myrmecos tagged me with a fun new meme called These are a few of my favorite stings…. It’s simple – list the things which have stung you (biting doesn’t count), and tag three others for their tales … Continue reading →

Posted in Coleoptera, Euphorbiaceae, Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Scarabaeidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Body Invaders

Posted on May 9, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

In keeping with the parasitic theme I established in my last two posts, I happened upon this brief video promotion for a National Geographic special called In the Womb: Extreme Animals which will air this Sunday (May 10). The video … Continue reading →

Posted in Braconidae, Hymenoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Afrikaans ants

Posted on January 5, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

A few for Alex… I photographed these ants in South Africa during my visit to Borakalalo National Park (North West Province) in November 1999.  Dr. Brian Taylor, author of the impressive Ants of Africa website, kindly identified and provided some … Continue reading →

Posted in Formicidae, Hymenoptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments