Category Archives: Insecta

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

Predator Satiation

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

I’ve probably used the term predator satiation more often during the past couple of weeks than I have during the entire rest of my life.  Students of ecology know this as an antipredator adaptation in which prey occur at such high population … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicadidae, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Vespidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Pardalophora phoenicoptera – Orange-winged grasshopper

Posted on June 7, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

For some reason, I’ve found myself increasingly fascinated with certain grasshoppers—not just any grasshoppers, but band-winged grasshoppers (family Acrididae, subfamily Oedepodinae).  And not just band-winged grasshoppers, but band-winged grasshopper nymphs.  It began last year when I found adults and nymphs … Continue reading →

Posted in Acrididae, Orthoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

They’re baaaaack… finally!

Posted on June 5, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

For almost a month I waited—waited for that spaceship-sounding drone from the trees; waited for their bodies to drip from the vegetation and their skins to litter the yard; waited for their delightful shrieks every time I jostle a tree … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicadidae, Hemiptera | Tagged , , , , , | 21 Comments

Sawfly larva – Periclista sp.

Posted on May 30, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

As I was photographing spring coralroot orchids in my front yard, I noticed a small green object clinging to the underside of one of the flowers.  Zooming in with the camera lens revealed the object to be a caterpillar, but this was no … Continue reading →

Posted in Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Dromochorus pruinina is not extirpated in Missouri… yet!

Posted on May 22, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

When Chris Brown and I began our study of Missouri tiger beetles back in 2000, our goal was simply to conduct a faunal survey of the species present in the state.  Such studies are fairly straightforward—examine specimens in the major … Continue reading →

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

Stink Bugs on Soybean in Argentina

Posted on May 18, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

Despite the natural history and taxonomic focus on beetles and other insects I have adopted for this blog, I am by day an agricultural research entomologist.  For the past 15 years soybean entomology has been my focus, and there is no better … Continue reading →

Posted in Hemiptera, Pentatomidae | Tagged , , , , , | 17 Comments

Bichos Argentinos #13 – Spotted Maize Beetle

Posted on May 16, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

One of the most common insects encountered in agricultural fields in Argentina is Asylus atromaculatus (spotted maize beetle).  This native species can also be found further north in Bolivia and Brazil, and as implied by its common name it is frequently encountered in maize … Continue reading →

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

Bichos Argentinos #12 – Lace Bugs

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

Shortly after entering La Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur (Buenos Aires, Argentina) during my early March visit, I noticed a fairly large patch of solanaceous-looking shrubs.  Even from a distance, I could see patterns of white stippling on the foliage immediately identifiable as signs of lace bugs, true … Continue reading →

Posted in Hemiptera, Tingidae | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments