Tag Archives: Great Plains

Anatomy of a Tiger Beetle Larva

My first experience looking for tiger beetles in Florida had gone well.  Despite its small size and urban surroundings, the narrow strip of coastal scrub and saltwater marsh along the intracoastal waterway behind my sister-in-law’s condominium boasted a robust population of … Continue reading

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

(My) Introduction to Florida Tiger Beetles

On the last day of July, I hopped into my stuffed-to-the-brim SUV and began the +1000-mile drive to St. Petersburg, Florida.  I had with me my camera and my collecting gear, but also my bike, some beach wear… and my family!  No, … Continue reading

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

The ubiquitous tiger beetle

Back in early June as I began my exploration of The Nature Conservancy’s Four Canyon Preserve in northwestern Oklahoma, one of the very first insect species that I encountered was Cicindela ubiquita¹ (the ubiquitous tiger beetle).  This ubiquitous species is restricted to … Continue reading

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

Friday flower – Krameria lanceolata

I encountered few insects this past June on the dry slopes of sand shinnery oak shrubland that just makes it into the northwestern corner of Oklahoma’s Four Canyon Preserve – insect population levels were still depressed from the wildfire that swept … Continue reading

Posted in Krameriaceae | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Western hognose snake

Another herp interlude… Photo details: Canon 100mm macro lens on Canon EOS 50D, ISO 100, 1/250 sec, f/14, MT-24EX flash 1/4 power w/ diffuser caps. During my visit to Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Oklahoma this past June, tiger … Continue reading

Posted in Reptilia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 29 Comments

Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge

I’ve written quite a few posts about my June trip to northwestern Oklahoma. Four days at the ruggedly scenic Four Canyon Preserve and nearby Packsaddle Wildlife Management Area yielded a few interesting jewel beetles (though not many tiger beetles), but … Continue reading

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

Oklahoma is for lovers

A few rather risqué photos from my June trip to northwestern Oklahoma. Photo details: Eleodes suturalis: Canon 100mm macro lens on Canon EOS 50D, ISO 100, 1/250 sec, f/13, MT-24EX flash 1/4 power through diffuser caps. Chrysobothris ignicollis: Canon 65mm … Continue reading

Posted in Buprestidae, Cicindelidae, Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Dromochorus pruinina in Oklahoma

As my colleague Chris Brown and I continue to study the tiger beetle fauna of Missouri, one of the species we have become very interested in is Dromochorus pruinina (frosted dromo tiger beetle).  This is another of North America’s more … Continue reading

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments