Tag Archives: science

Newly emerged rabbit bot fly

Posted on May 8, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

First things first – congratulations to Mark Deering (Sophia Sachs Butterfly House, right here in St. Louis) and Rod Rood (Washington State University) for correctly identifying yesterday’s “What the heck?” as the cast puparium of an oestrid bot fly.  Mark eventually staked his claim … Continue reading →

Posted in Diptera, Oestridae | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Wednesday “What the heck?”

Posted on May 6, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

This might be the hardest nature quiz ever – I don’t think I would’ve ever figured out what this was had I not found what I did next to it.  I found it on my recent trip to look for … Continue reading →

Posted in Diptera, Oestridae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 39 Comments

A festive (tiger beetle) birthday

Posted on May 3, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

Last Thursday was my birthday, and as has become my custom, I took the day off and went on my ‘Annual Season Opening Birthday Bug Collecting Trip.’  One or two of you might remember how these plans were scrubbed last … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Bon appétit!

Posted on April 30, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

I collected this larva in northwest Nebraska during last year’s Fall Tiger Beetle Trip.  I collected an adult Cicindela lengi (blowout tiger beetle) at the spot – a species that greatly resembles but is much less common than the ubiquitous C. formosa … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

I Brake for Dung Beetles!

Posted on April 27, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

A few days ago I learned of a new campaign by The WILD Foundation called “Make a Big Impact with Small Change.” Founded in 1974, WILD seeks to protect intact wilderness areas and the wildlife and people who depend upon them. … Continue reading →

Posted in Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Trees of Lake Tahoe – The Deciduous Trees

Posted on April 23, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

Alder, Maple, and Nuttall’s Flowering Dogwood make beautiful bowers over swift, cool streams at an elevation of from 3000 to 5000 feet, mixed more or less with willows and cottonwood; and above these in lake basins the aspen forms fine … Continue reading →

Posted in Aceraceae, Betulaceae, Fagaceae, Rosaceae, Salicaceae | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Library expansion

Posted on April 20, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

If there is anything that I love as much as beetles, it’s books! Pulling a handsome, leatherbound volume from its location on the shelf and smelling the aging paper while leafing through its pages quickens my pulse the way no … Continue reading →

Posted in [No taxon] | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Winter botany quiz #5

Posted on April 18, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

This may be the last winter botany quiz for awhile, but I did come across this interesting little plant on my recent visit to Lake Tahoe that doesn’t fit neatly into any other category upon which I have (or will … Continue reading →

Posted in Viscaceae | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments