Insects
Myrmecos
Tag archives for Insects
Friday Beetle Blogging: Colorado Potato Beetle
Posted by Alex Wild on July 2, 2010 Leptinotarsa decemlineata Urbana, Illinois Meet the Colorado Potato Beetle. If I had to make a list of ten insects all people should know, I’d probably put this one on it. Leptinotarsa decemlineata is a walking case study in evolutionary ecology. Anyone with a potato patch will recognize this large, pin-striped beetle as a particularly voracious…
Answer to the Monday Night Mystery
Posted by Alex Wild on June 30, 2010 Loxocera cylindrica rust fly (Diptera: Psilidae) Urbana, Illinois The unmistakable antennae on these amorous insects mark them as psilid flies, and commentator Chris Grinter (of The Skeptical Moth) correctly surmised the species as Loxocera cylindrica. Nine points to Chris, and one to FormicidaeFantasy who was the first to pick the order. This brings us to…
Monday Night Mystery
Posted by Alex Wild on June 28, 2010 Ok. Now you guys have asked for it. Apparently the mysteries haven’t been quite obscure enough. So here you go. A real challenge: One point for order, three points for family, three points for genus, and three for species. Points are awarded for the first correct guess in each category. The cumulative points winner for…
The Dragonfly Woman
Posted by Alex Wild on June 23, 2010 Lethocerus medius, Linoleum block print by the Dragonfly Woman I’ve been meaning to mention Dragonfly Woman’s insect blog, and now I’ve got an excuse. Chris Goforth- the Dragonfly Woman- is an aquatic entomologist and a friend of mine from when I worked at the University of Arizona. Recently, she sent this lovely print of a…
Nations at War: National Insect Week? National Pollinator Week?
Posted by Alex Wild on June 22, 2010 Have you wondered about the buzz in the air this week? Why the world seems to tingle with the excitement of little wings and millions of jointed legs? No? Well, you’re probably on the wrong drugs. Anyway. This week is National Pollinator Week here in the U.S., where we take time to appreciate the fact…
Monday Night Mystery
Posted by Alex Wild on June 14, 2010 [the following is a guest post from Rob Mitchell] Hi folks – Rob Mitchell here, guest blogger extraordinaire and your temporary replacement for Alex while he celebrates a recent age-related milestone. My job tonight is to provide you entomology sleuths with a mystery, so take a look here at exhibit A: Who is this gangly…
Answer to the Monday Night Mystery
Posted by Alex Wild on June 8, 2010 What was the strange insect that seemed a mutant cross between a bee and a beetle? Rhipiphorus wedge-shaped beetle, ovipositing into an aster Shawnee National Forest, Illinois Kudos and all 10 points go to coleopterist extraordinaire Ted MacRae of Beetles in the Bush, who provided the correct answer Coleoptera: Rhipiphoridae: Rhipiphorus . Rhipiphorus is unusual…
Monday Night Mystery
Posted by Alex Wild on June 7, 2010 Tonight’s challenge is this rather unusual insect. What is it? Points will be awarded to the first person to pick the order (3), family (3), and genus (3). Plus, a bonus point for explaining what is unusual about this insect’s life cycle. The cumulative winner for the month of June 2010 will get their choice…
Friday Beetle Blogging: Phlox Stem Borer
Posted by Alex Wild on June 4, 2010 Oberea flavipes, phlox stem borer beetlesIllinois Here’s a boring beetle. That is, the larvae bore. They make their living carving tunnels through stems and consuming plant tissue. This pair was hanging out in the phlox in our back yard, apparently plotting the demise of our summer flower garden. photo details: Canon EOS 7D camera Canon…
Summer 2010 Bug Fashion: Stripes! Bright Colors!
Posted by Alex Wild on June 2, 2010 The bold, playful style of Graphocephala coccinea, the candy-striped leafhopper, is all the rage this season: photo details: Canon EOS 7D camera Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x macro lens ISO 100, f/13, 1/250sec diffused twin flash