INSECTS

A Web page by Roy J. Beckemeyer    (My entomological work, focused on Odonata, Asilidae, and Paleozoic insects, is done in my capacity as a Museum Associate with University of Kansas Natural History Museum Divison of Entomology.)                                   

Last Updated: 18 March 2008 

(Photo on right is the White-faced Meadowhawk, Sympetrum obtrusum, here trying to stay cool by pointing his abdomen at the sun and thereby minimizing the area being illuminated and heated. - an example of insect thermoregulation by behavior.   This perching position is called the "obelisk", and is seen in a number of dragonflies.  I titled this picture "Firecracker" - the red-hot flower and red-hot dragonfly almost make you break out in a sweat just looking at them! Taken Aug. 1998 in Nebraska on a 105 degree day by Roy J. Beckemeyer. )

• ODONATA (DRAGONFLIES & DAMSELFLIES)   (includes KANSAS, OKLAHOMA, NEBRASKA and MISSOURI info).
  • ERPETOGOMPHUS COMPOSITUS - PHOTO ESSAY ON FEEDING (SEVILLETA NWR, NM)
  • ALBUM OF LIVE ODONATA PHOTOS
  • ALBUM OF LIVE ODONATA SCANS
  • ALBUM OF ODONATA SPECIMEN SCANS (Under construction Nov. 2004)
  • PAGE ILLUSTRATING SIZE RANGE OF EXTANT DAMSELFLIES (ZYGOPTERA)
• LEPIDOPTERA (BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS)  (Updated 1 Feb. 2007)
• DIPTERA: A page with links to illustrate some of the diversity of the dipterans (Upated 1 Feb. 2007)
  • DIPTERA: ASILIDAE (ROBBER FLIES)     (Updated 1 Feb. 2007)
  • DIPTERA: EMPIDIDAE (DANCE FLIES)

• MECOPTERA: SCORPIONFLIES
• HOMOPTERA: CICADIDAE (CICADAS) 
• ORTHOPTERA: GRASSHOPPERS! - A Great Site On Prairie Hoppers: The KONZA Prairie Grasshopper List Link Here!
• NEUROPTERIDA: MEGALOPTERA AND NEUROPTERA
  • NEUROPTERIDA OF KANSAS - ANNOTATED CHECKLIST
  • NEUROPTERIDA OF KANSAS SIMPLE CHECKLIST
  • A NICARAGUAN OWLFLY SPECIMEN (Neuroptera: Ascalaphidae)
  • NEUROPTERIDA WEB LINKS
• AQUATIC ENTOMOLOGY  
• EMBIIDINA (or EMBIOPTERA): PICTURES & VIDEO OF Archembia sp.
• COLEOPTERA: TIGER BEETLES  /  DUNG BEETLES (Links up to date as of 21 January 2007):
  • ANNOTATED LIST OF KANSAS DUNG BEETLES
  • LINK TO CHECKLIST OF OKLAHOMA COLEOPTERA AT OKLAHOMA STATE UNIV.
  • LINK TO GENERIC GUIDE TO NEW WORLD SCARABS - UNIV. NEBRASKA STATE MUSEUM
  • LINK TO TIGER BEETLES OF NEBRASKA - UNIV. NEBRASKA LINCOLN

  Photograph above right: A Mydas fly - Diptera: Mydidae: Mydus clavatus (Drury).  Photo by Roy Beckemeyer July 2004.

• INSECTS PHOTOGRAPHED IN AZ AND NM, July 2007

• MELANESIAN INSECTS - NOVEMBER, 2007

• BIBLIOGRAPHIES:
  • DUNG BEETLES
  • TIGER BEETLES
  • DRAGONFLIES & DAMSELFLIES
  • ROBBER FLIES
  • FOSSIL INSECTS
  • MISCELLANEOUS SMALL ORDERS: NEUROPTERA, MECOPTERA, EMBIIDINA, ETC.
  • INSECT PHYLOGENY AND EVOLUTION
  • INSECT WING MORPHOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT (Including "evo-devo" papers)

  Photo above right: A lestid damselfly perches beneath a leaf and makes a nice bold graphic statement while enjoying the shade of our garden in the July heat.  Photo by Roy beckemeyer July 2004.

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• ASPECTS OF INSECT BIOLOGY (A SERIES OF PAGES THAT WILL APPEAR EPISODICALLY):
  • GYNANDROMORPHY (Posted 8 December, 2001)
  • BIRDS THAT ARE PREDATORS ON ODONATA (Posted 26 December, 2001)
  • BLOOD FLOW IN ODONATA WINGS (Posted 5 February, 2002)
  • SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN THE DRAGONFLY SPECIES Anax junius (Posted 8 February, 2002)
  • OVIPOSITION IN CORDULEGASTRIDAE (With video footage by Naoya Ishizawa) (Posted 24 March 2002)
  • HETEROMORPHIC COLORATION IN LIBELLULIDAE (A female Libellula luctuosa with male-like pruinosity, photographed by Michael Morton in Palo Duro Canyon, Texas) (Posted 13 Sept. 2002)

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• LINKS TO OTHER SITES (Up to Date as of 21 January, 2007):
  • INSECTS IN KANSAS - VERY LIKELY THE BEST OF ANY STATE-LEVEL INSECT GUIDE IN PRINT - Filled with color photos and information on insects.  Now in second printing.  Absolutely essential.  Published by Kansas Dept. of Agriculture.  Written by Stephan C. White and Glenn A. Salsbury.
  • KANSAS ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY (CENTRAL STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY) 
  • THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY
    •    Scientific Illustration by Darci Kampschroeder of KUNHM
  • ENTOMOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
  • DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY AT KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
  • WORLDWIDE DRAGONFLY ASSOCIATION
  • SOCIETAS INTERNATIONALIS ODONATOLOGICA (SIO) FOUNDATION
  • DRAGONFLY SOCIETY OF THE AMERICAS
  • OK, They're not insects, but ARACHNIDS are COOL too.  Journal of Arachnology On Line (pdf files)
  • SEX, BUGS AND ROCK & ROLL - GNARLS BARKLEY'S MUSIC VIDEO WITH A BUGGY BAND INTENT ON BUGGING A PRETTY BLONDE HUMAN