Category Archives: Insecta

Insects – Collembola, Protura, Diplura, Archaeognatha, Thysanura & Pterygota (winged insects).

A chalcidid jewel beetle parasitoid wasp

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

As a student of jewel beetles with an interest in their larval host plant associations, rearing has been an important tool for my studies. Through the years, I’ve retrieved literally hundreds of batches of dead wood from the field and … Continue reading →

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

Agrilus fuscipennis on Persimmon

Posted on June 16, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

Agrilus fuscipennis may not be the largest or the prettiest member of the genus occurring in Missouri (that honor is reserved for Agrilus concinnus, or “hibiscus jewel beetle”—MacRae 2004). Nevertheless,  it comes pretty darned close! Add to that the fact that … Continue reading →

Posted in Buprestidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Flatfaced longhorn: Leptostylus transversus

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

The longhorned beetle subfamily Lamiinae is one of the few subfamilies in the beetle world to have its own common name—flatfaced longhorns. This photo of one of its members, Leptostylus transversus, doesn’t show the character very well, but as with all … Continue reading →

Posted in Cerambycidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Oklahoma Collecting Trip iReport

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

I’m back home after my week-long collecting trip to western Oklahoma, and at the risk of sounding hyperbolous I can only describe it as one of the most successful collecting trips I’ve ever had. Seriously! These kinds of trips don’t happen all that often … Continue reading →

Posted in Acrididae, Aves, Cactaceae, Cerambycidae, Coleoptera, Orthoptera, Reptilia, Vertebrata | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Meet Enus’ Meal

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

When Enus (Enoclerus ichneumoneus) was beaten from a dead grape vine in southeastern Missouri, he wasn’t alone. Along with him was this longhorned beetle representing Phymatodes amoenus (family Cerambycidae). Even though P. amoenus and E. ichneumoneus are both woodboring beetles, their association together on this … Continue reading →

Posted in Cerambycidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Meet Enus

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

It may be quiet here at Beetles in the Bush for the next week or so while Ted is off in the far corners of Oklahoma looking for beetles to photograph and add to his collection. In the meantime, meet … Continue reading →

Posted in Cleridae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

North America’s itsiest bitsiest longhorned beetle

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

Longhorned beetles (family Cerambycidae) are generally regarded as medium to large-sized beetles, but that doesn’t mean the family is without its pip-squeeks! There are a number of species, primarily in the tribes Tillomorphini, Anaglyptini, and Clytini (all in the subfamily Cerambycinae) … Continue reading →

Posted in Cerambycidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Field photographs of insects can be deceiving

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

My previous post featured several photos of Cicindela formosa generosa (Eastern Big Sand Tiger Beetle). This gorgeous beetle is said to occur in open, dry sand habitats throughout the Great Plains and more sporadically across the north-central and northeastern U.S. Like most … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments