Tag Archives: crypsis

North America’s longest insect

Posted on August 21, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

This past June might be the most successful month entomologically that I’ve ever had.  The excitement of discovering a robust population of Cylindera celeripes (swift tiger beetle) (previously considered one of North America’s rarest tiger beetles) in northwestern Oklahoma lasted … Continue reading →

Posted in Diapheromeridae, Phasmida | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

North America’s smallest cicada

Posted on August 4, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

While searching the hilltop prairies for Cylindera celeripes (swift tiger beetle) at McCormack Loess Mounds Natural Area in northwestern Missouri, I ran across a species of cicada that I’d not yet encountered in the state – Beameria venosa.  Cicadas as a … Continue reading →

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

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

The “obscure” Dicerca

Posted on June 19, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

During my recent trip to northwestern Oklahoma, we visited Packsaddle Wildlife Management Area, a 17,000-acre chunk of land containing mixed-grass prairie, shinnery oak (Quercus havardii) shrublands, and mesic woodlands along the South Canadian River.  In one of these woodlands, I encountered a … Continue reading →

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

Now you see me…

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

…now you don’t! In a previous post, I lamented the fact that I had never actually seen a live antlion larva, or doodlebug (family Myrmeleontidae). Lovers of sand, I’ve seen their famous pitfall traps many times, especially in recent years as I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Myrmeleontidae, Neuroptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Bizarre, beautiful extremes

Posted on February 15, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

No niche, it seems goes unfilled. Specialization is likely to be pushed to bizarre, beautiful extremes.–E. O. Wilson, The Diversity of Life Wilson didn’t mention treehoppers specifically when he made the above quote, referring to the exuberance of extreme behavioral … Continue reading →

Posted in Aetalionidae, Hemiptera, Membracidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Lions in South Africa

Posted on January 22, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

Joerie, Joerie, botter en brood, as ek jou kry, slaat ek jou dood. Doodlebugs, joerie, shunties, toritos—these are but a few of the many colloquial names given to amusing little creatures that many people know simply as antlions (or translation … Continue reading →

Posted in Myrmeleontidae, Neuroptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Two new species of Agrilus from Mexico

Posted on November 28, 2008 by Ted C. MacRae

The enormous, cosmopolitan genus Agrilus (family Buprestidae – commonly called jewel beetles or metallic woodboring beetles) contains nearly 4,000 described species (Bellamy 2008). With many more still awaiting description, it is perhaps the largest genus in the entire animal kingdom … Continue reading →

Posted in Buprestidae, Coleoptera, Viscaceae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments