Category Archives: Vertebrata

Vertebrates – animals with backbones

North America’s most bizarre lizard

Posted on July 14, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

Hmm, something funny going on here.  This is a bug blog – specifically a beetle blog, yet it’s a post about a lizard that generates a flurry of comments.  I don’t know if lightning will strike twice so quickly, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Reptilia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 32 Comments

North America’s most beautiful lizard

Posted on July 10, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

Whew! My fingers and keyboard are still smoking after that long series on Cylindera celeripes (parts 1, 2, and 3). Exciting as my celeripes finds were, there were other “tiger beetle moments” from the Oklahoma trip as well that I … Continue reading →

Posted in Reptilia | Tagged , , , , , , , | 43 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

Osage copperhead

Posted on May 29, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

While photographing Cicindela sexguttata last weekend, Chris and I encountered this young copperhead snake (Agkistrodon contortrix).  It was the second copperhead I had seen in as many days – unusual, since I can count on my two hands the number … Continue reading →

Posted in Reptilia | Tagged , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Tyrant ground beetles

Posted on January 13, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

I return to my Afrikaans theme with a distinctive group of ground beetles (family Carabidae) called tyrant ground beetles or spotted ground beetles (tribe Anthiini). I think I prefer the former. This tribe is largely restricted to Africa and is … Continue reading →

Posted in Carabidae, Reptilia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Top Ten of 2008

Posted on January 1, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

For the first post of 2009, I begin with a look back at some of my favorite photos from 2008 (idea stolen from Alex Wild and others).  I initially hesitated to do a “best photos” post since I’m not really … Continue reading →

Posted in Arachnida, Araneae, Asilidae, Asteraceae, Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, Cicindelidae, Coleoptera, Cupressaceae, Diptera, Onagraceae, Reptilia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Rattled in the Black Hills

Posted on September 24, 2008 by Ted C. MacRae

My first day in the Black Hills of South Dakota was spent at McNenny State Fish Hatchery near Spearfish – on the north side of the Black Hills. I went to this place on the advice of my esteemed colleagues … Continue reading →

Posted in Cerambycidae, Cicindelidae, Coleoptera, Reptilia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Glades of Jefferson County

Posted on July 2, 2008 by Ted C. MacRae

We stood a moment to contemplate the sublime and beautiful scene before us, which was such an assembly of rocks and water—of hill and valley—of verdant woods and naked peaks—of native fertility and barren magnificence… – Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, 1818-1819 … Continue reading →

Posted in Anacardiaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Asteraceae, Buprestidae, Coleoptera, Cornaceae, Cupressaceae, Fagaceae, Mammalia, Onagraceae, Poaceae, Polemoniaceae, Ranunculaceae, Reptilia, Rosaceae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments