Tag Archives: entomology

Cold and wet

Posted on October 13, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

The annual fall tiger beetle collecting trip is over, and nothing could be more emblematic of the trip than this cold, wet Cicindela splendida (literally translating to its well-deserved common name “Splendid Tiger Beetle”), found in the waning light of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

A face only a mother could love

Posted on October 6, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

I found this guy yesterday secreted under a rock in a limestone glade at White River Balds Natural Area in extreme southwest Missouri.  Centruroides vittatus¹ is the most common scorpion in the U.S., occurring naturally in southern Missouri, western Arkansas … Continue reading →

Posted in Arachnida, Scorpiones | Tagged , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Do you know what time it is?

Posted on October 2, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

I’ll give you a few hints: It’s fall. I haven’t collected bugs for a few weeks. A new crop of tiger beetles has emerged from their burrows. What time is it? IT’S TIME FOR THE ANNUAL FALL TIGER BEETLE TRIP! … Continue reading →

Posted in [No taxon] | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

North America’s most beautiful longhorned beetle

Posted on September 28, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

I’ve written a few posts in recent weeks highlighting some of the more interesting finds encountered during two visits this past July to the White River Hills region of extreme southwestern Missouri. It’s a land of extremes, with deeply dissected … Continue reading →

Posted in Cerambycidae, Coleoptera, Sapotaceae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 34 Comments

Assassin ate

Posted on September 21, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

I came upon this interesting scene last month while hiking through Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park, which preserves some of the highest quality remnants of sand scrub habitat on the Lake Wales Ridge of central Florida. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Arachnida, Araneae, Hemiptera, Reduviidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

North America’s largest robber fly

Posted on September 17, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

A few days ago, I featured Promachus hinei, one of the so-called “giant robber flies” and a common inhabitant of the glades and grasslands that dot Missouri’s largely forested landscape. That individual was seen at Long Bald Glade Natural Area … Continue reading →

Posted in Asilidae, Diptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Prey bee mine

Posted on September 14, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

Robber flies of the genus Promachus – the so-called “giant robber flies” – are among the more conspicuous and fearless predators seen in Missouri’s glades. Able to capture almost any flying insect regardless of size, this individual – seen at … Continue reading →

Posted in Apidae, Asilidae, Diptera, Hymenoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Ant-like Tiger Beetle

Posted on September 10, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

One of the more recent of the 24 species of tiger beetles that we’ve collected in Missouri is Cylindera cursitans (Ant-like Tiger Beetle).  Although not yet formally recorded from the state, we’ve known about its occurrence here for some time … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments