Tag Archives: entomology

Body Invaders

Posted on May 9, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

In keeping with the parasitic theme I established in my last two posts, I happened upon this brief video promotion for a National Geographic special called In the Womb: Extreme Animals which will air this Sunday (May 10). The video … Continue reading →

Posted in Braconidae, Hymenoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

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

Library expansion

Posted on April 20, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

If there is anything that I love as much as beetles, it’s books! Pulling a handsome, leatherbound volume from its location on the shelf and smelling the aging paper while leafing through its pages quickens my pulse the way no … Continue reading →

Posted in [No taxon] | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

An extendable handle for insect nets

Posted on April 16, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

For many years, my standard insect collecting gear has been a beating sheet and a short-handled aerial net (see small photo at right in “The Author” or the full-sized version under About). From the deciduous forests of the Ozark Highlands … Continue reading →

Posted in [No taxon] | Tagged , , , , , , | 17 Comments