Tag Archives: insects

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

A bit of housekeeping

Posted on September 4, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

I hope you’ll forgive the lack of pretty bug pictures and witty prose in today’s post – I have a few updates and adminstrative issues that I’d like to take care of. Circus of the Spineless This notice is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

The ubiquitous tiger beetle

Posted on August 25, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

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

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

Ospriocerus abdominalis

Posted on August 18, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

My dipteran digression continues with this photograph of the robber fly, Ospriocerus abdominalis (Diptera: Asilidae).  More than just a pretty picture, this represents yet another apparently new state record that I and my colleague Chris Brown discovered a few weeks … Continue reading →

Posted in Asilidae, Diptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Overlooked, needle-tailed, thick-headed fly

Posted on August 14, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

While photographing the rare Typocerus deceptus on flowers of wild hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) at Trail of Tears State Park in southeast Missouri last June, I encountered this strange fly also visiting the hydrangea blossoms.  At first I thought it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Conopidae | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

The last tiger beetle

Posted on August 11, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

Our recent discovery of Cylindera celeripes (swift tiger beetle) in Missouri was arguably the most exciting moment that I and colleague/fieldmate Chris Brown have experienced since we first began surveying the tiger beetles of Missouri back in the year 2000.  It … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 22 Comments