Tag Archives: science

North America’s largest robber fly

Posted on September 17, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

A few days ago, I featured Promachus hinei, one of the so-called “giant robber flies” and a common inhabitant of the glades and grasslands that dot Missouri’s largely forested landscape. That individual was seen at Long Bald Glade Natural Area … Continue reading →

Posted in Asilidae, Diptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

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

Friday flower – Sabatia angularis

Posted on August 28, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

During my explorations of the glades in the White River Hills in southwestern Missouri this past July, I noticed large populations of a flower that I couldn’t recall having ever seen before.  Vivid, striking pink petals with contrasting yellow anthers … Continue reading →

Posted in Gentianaceae | 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