Category Archives: Insecta

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

Newly emerged rabbit bot fly

Posted on May 8, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

First things first – congratulations to Mark Deering (Sophia Sachs Butterfly House, right here in St. Louis) and Rod Rood (Washington State University) for correctly identifying yesterday’s “What the heck?” as the cast puparium of an oestrid bot fly.  Mark eventually staked his claim … Continue reading →

Posted in Diptera, Oestridae | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Wednesday “What the heck?”

Posted on May 6, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

This might be the hardest nature quiz ever – I don’t think I would’ve ever figured out what this was had I not found what I did next to it.  I found it on my recent trip to look for … Continue reading →

Posted in Diptera, Oestridae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 39 Comments

A festive (tiger beetle) birthday

Posted on May 3, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

Last Thursday was my birthday, and as has become my custom, I took the day off and went on my ‘Annual Season Opening Birthday Bug Collecting Trip.’  One or two of you might remember how these plans were scrubbed last … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Bon appétit!

Posted on April 30, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

I collected this larva in northwest Nebraska during last year’s Fall Tiger Beetle Trip.  I collected an adult Cicindela lengi (blowout tiger beetle) at the spot – a species that greatly resembles but is much less common than the ubiquitous C. formosa … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

I Brake for Dung Beetles!

Posted on April 27, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

A few days ago I learned of a new campaign by The WILD Foundation called “Make a Big Impact with Small Change.” Founded in 1974, WILD seeks to protect intact wilderness areas and the wildlife and people who depend upon them. … Continue reading →

Posted in Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle – range map

Posted on April 15, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

Those of you on RSS feed might be interested in revisiting my previous post, Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle on ARKive.  I’ve added a Google screen shot to the post that shows a visual perspective of the entire range of … Continue reading →

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

Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle on ARKive

Posted on April 12, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

I’ve been meaning to write about ARKive for awhile now. ARKive is a unique collection of videos, images and fact-files assembled from among the world’s very best wildlife videographers and photographers in an attempt to create a centralized digital library … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Tiger Beetle Safari

Posted on March 31, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

In looking back at my posts over the past few weeks, I realized that it has been far too long since I’ve actually talked about beetles.  Perhaps “Petals In The Bush” would be a better name for this blog!  I … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments