Tag Archives: nature

ID Challenge #11

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

It’s time for another ID Challenge—can you name the organism(s) shown here?  I’ll give two points each for the correct order, family, genus and species.  Additional points will be awarded on a discretionary basis for relevant natural history comments.  Standard challenge rules apply, … Continue reading →

Posted in [No taxon] | Tagged , , , , , , | 43 Comments

BugShot 2011 – Lesson 2

Posted on September 4, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

Most of my insect photography is done up close using fast shutter speeds (to prevent motion blur) and small apertures (to maximize depth of field).  This necessitates the use of full flash – the amount of light reaching the camera sensor … Continue reading →

Posted in Hemiptera, Membracidae | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

BugShot 2011 – Lesson 1

Posted on September 4, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

I’m a lucky guy! First, I’m one of the fortunate attending this weekend’s BugShot insect photography workshop. Second, this first-of-a-kind event is being held only 13 miles from my home at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, Missouri. Third, I was “adopted” by … Continue reading →

Posted in Hemiptera, Membracidae | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Bumelia borer on white

Posted on September 2, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

Plinthocoelium suaveolens suaveolens | Ozark Co., Missouri Last weekend I visited one of my favorite collecting spots in all of Missouri—Long Bald Glade Natural Area (part of Caney Mountain Conservation Area in Ozark Co.).  Nestled at the eastern edge of the White River … Continue reading →

Posted in Cerambycidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Super Crop Challenge #9

Posted on September 1, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

Can you name the structures in this photo (easy) and the critter they belong to (maybe not so easy)?  Because there are so many potential answers to those two questions, I’ll give 1 point for each correctly named structure (5 maximum) … Continue reading →

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

Peek-A-Boo!

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

Despite the geographic specificity of its scientific and common names, the Carolina grasshopper (Dissosteira carolina) can be found in every state of the contiguous United States and adjacent provinces of Canada. Its large size, cryptic coloration with yellow hind wings, tendency … Continue reading →

Posted in Acrididae, Orthoptera | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Use of extension tubes for better lighting

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

The photos in this post of Tetracha floridana (Florida Metallic Tiger Beetle) illustrate a technique that I have begun using recently to improve the lighting in my full-flash insect macrophotographs—use of extension tubes!  I know this sounds strange, and I actually just … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Charming Couple revisited

Posted on August 27, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

Another view of the mating pair of Ellipsoptera hamata lacerata (Gulf Coast Tiger Beetle) that I photographed in a small mangrove marsh in Seminole, Florida. These are actually among the first tiger beetles that I ever tried to photograph at … Continue reading →

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