Tag Archives: entomology

Orange and black on gold

Posted on October 9, 2014 by Ted C. MacRae

The spectacular amorpha borer, Megacyllene decora, was not the only black-and-gold colored beetle that I saw on the flowers of goldenrod (Solidago sp.) a few weeks ago. In addition were several delta flower scarabs, Trigonopeltastes delta. This species is much … Continue reading →

Posted in Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Amorpha borer on goldenrod

Posted on October 5, 2014 by Ted C. MacRae

One of my favorite longhorned beetle species is the amorpha borer, Megacyllene decora. Like its close relative, the locust borer—M. robiniae, this large, beautiful, black and yellow beetle is a classic harbinger of fall by virtue of its late-season adult activity period and affinity … Continue reading →

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

2014 Great Plains Collecting Trip iReport

Posted on October 2, 2014 by Ted C. MacRae

During the past year or so I’ve followed up my longer (one week or more) insect collecting trips with a synoptic “iReport”—so named because they are illustrated exclusively with iPhone photographs. It may come as a surprise to some, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Aves, Buprestidae, Cactaceae, Cerambycidae, Coleoptera, Dinosauria, Mammalia, Reptilia, Salicaceae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

A truly disturbed garden spider

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Ted C. MacRae

This past weekend I made a trip to the White River Hills region in extreme southwestern Missouri. My goal was to find additional localities of the prairie tiger beetle (Cicindelidia obsoleta vulturina), which inhabits dolomite glades in the area and is disjunct from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Arachnida, Araneae | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

A striking mallow caterpillar

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Ted C. MacRae

Last month while searching stands of Hibiscus lasiocarpus (hairy rose mallow) in western Kentucky, I encountered this rather large caterpillar feeding on the foliage. I presumed that something as large and striking in appearance as this should be a cinch to identify … Continue reading →

Posted in Lepidoptera, Noctuidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Not quite adult

Posted on September 9, 2014 by Ted C. MacRae

For the past few years I’ve had research plots in northwestern Tennessee. Each summer, once a month or so, I make the 5-hour drive to the site and spend the afternoon taking data. Any normal person would then check in … Continue reading →

Posted in Ephemeroptera | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

One-shot Wednesday: swamp milkweed leaf beetle

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Ted C. MacRae

Technically this photograph of Labidomera clivicollis (swamp milkweed leaf beetle) doesn’t qualify as a “one-shot”, as I did take a few other shots as well. However, this was the only shot out of the handful that I didn’t throw away. It’s not … Continue reading →

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

My, what busy palps you have!

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Ted C. MacRae

In mid- to late summer, the swamps of southeast Missouri and adjacent areas along the Mississippi River become awash in color as stands of hairy rose mallow (Hibiscus lasiocarpus) put forth their conspicuous, white and pink blooms. I’ve been waiting for the mallows to … Continue reading →

Posted in Gryllidae, Orthoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments