Tag Archives: predator avoidance

Now you see me…

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

…now you don’t! In a previous post, I lamented the fact that I had never actually seen a live antlion larva, or doodlebug (family Myrmeleontidae). Lovers of sand, I’ve seen their famous pitfall traps many times, especially in recent years as I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Myrmeleontidae, Neuroptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Magodo – giant twig wilter

Posted on March 4, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

In previous posts, I have highlighted some of the insects I observed on a trip to South Africa in November-December 1999.  All of the photos I have shown to this point were taken at Borakalalo National Park in North West … Continue reading →

Posted in Coreidae, Hemiptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Millipede assassin bug

Posted on February 18, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

I continue the hemipteran theme begun in the last post with this photograph I took in South Africa below the Waterberg Range in Northern (now Limpopo) Province. I recognized them as members of the family Reduviidae (assassin bugs), and since … Continue reading →

Posted in Diplopoda, Hemiptera, Reduviidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Bizarre, beautiful extremes

Posted on February 15, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

No niche, it seems goes unfilled. Specialization is likely to be pushed to bizarre, beautiful extremes.–E. O. Wilson, The Diversity of Life Wilson didn’t mention treehoppers specifically when he made the above quote, referring to the exuberance of extreme behavioral … Continue reading →

Posted in Aetalionidae, Hemiptera, Membracidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Done with dung, meat please!

Posted on January 30, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

“No feces for this species.” “Carnivorous dung beetle shuns dung and decapitates millipede.” “Little dung beetle is big chopper.” “Dung beetle mistakes millipede for dung.” These were some of the clever headlines that I had to compete with in coming … Continue reading →

Posted in Coleoptera, Diplopoda, Scarabaeidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Lions in South Africa

Posted on January 22, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

Joerie, Joerie, botter en brood, as ek jou kry, slaat ek jou dood. Doodlebugs, joerie, shunties, toritos—these are but a few of the many colloquial names given to amusing little creatures that many people know simply as antlions (or translation … Continue reading →

Posted in Myrmeleontidae, Neuroptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

The “buzzard signal fly”

Posted on January 17, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

During our time at Geelhoutbos farm in South Africa’s Northern (now Limpopo) Province, we spent most of our time in the foothills below a magnificent north-facing escarpment of the Waterberg Mountain Range. We were here to collect Buprestidae (including the … Continue reading →

Posted in Diptera, Platystomatidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Tyrant ground beetles

Posted on January 13, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

I return to my Afrikaans theme with a distinctive group of ground beetles (family Carabidae) called tyrant ground beetles or spotted ground beetles (tribe Anthiini). I think I prefer the former. This tribe is largely restricted to Africa and is … Continue reading →

Posted in Carabidae, Reptilia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments