Tag Archives: nature

Wrong lens

Posted on June 3, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

During the past couple of years, as I’ve transitioned from strictly a net-wielding entomologist to one that also carries a camera, I’ve had to start making choices about whether to keep the camera in the backpack or hold it at the ready, … Continue reading →

Posted in Reptilia, Vertebrata | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Mite on White

Posted on June 1, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

I found this velvet mite at Shaw Nature Reserve (Franklin Co.) in east-central Missouri on a trail through mesic upland forest. At 4 mm in length, this member of the superfamily Trombidioidea is a downright honker compared to most other mites. I suspect … Continue reading →

Posted in Arachnida | Tagged , , , , , , | 32 Comments

Sawfly larva – Periclista sp.

Posted on May 30, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

As I was photographing spring coralroot orchids in my front yard, I noticed a small green object clinging to the underside of one of the flowers.  Zooming in with the camera lens revealed the object to be a caterpillar, but this was no … Continue reading →

Posted in Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Super Crop Challenge #5

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

Here is the latest Super Crop Challenge – can you identify the structures and the organism (order, family, and genus) to which they belong?  Bonus points will be awarded for relevant supporting information, at my discretion.  Standard challenge rules apply, including … Continue reading →

Posted in [No taxon] | Tagged , , , , , | 19 Comments

Dromochorus pruinina is not extirpated in Missouri… yet!

Posted on May 22, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

When Chris Brown and I began our study of Missouri tiger beetles back in 2000, our goal was simply to conduct a faunal survey of the species present in the state.  Such studies are fairly straightforward—examine specimens in the major … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Friday Flower – Spring Coralroot Orchid

Posted on May 20, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

As flowers go, I have a passion for orchids.  Despite comprising perhaps the largest family of flowering plants on earth, most people think of orchids as rare, epiphytic plants restricted to the lush, hyper-diverse, tropical rain forests of South America and southeast … Continue reading →

Posted in Orchidaceae | Tagged , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Bichos Argentinos #13 – Spotted Maize Beetle

Posted on May 16, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

One of the most common insects encountered in agricultural fields in Argentina is Asylus atromaculatus (spotted maize beetle).  This native species can also be found further north in Bolivia and Brazil, and as implied by its common name it is frequently encountered in maize … Continue reading →

Posted in Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

ID Challenge #8

Posted on May 14, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

It has been almost two months since the last ID Challenge and more than a month since the last challenge of any kind, thus it’s high time we kick off BitB Challenge Session #3.  This is a straight up identification challenge: 2 … Continue reading →

Posted in [No taxon] | Tagged , , , , | 15 Comments