This week I gave a presentation on my latest Annual Fall Tiger Beetle Trip to the Entomology Group of the Webster Groves Nature Study Society. With the exception of a brief 5 year period in the early 1990s while I lived in California, I’ve been active with this local nature study group for the past 30 years (and serving as newsletter editor since 2009). I’ve given my share of entomology presentations over the years to both professional and amateur audiences, but no matter how far I might travel or the size of the audience, I always enjoy my time with this small group of local entomologists. They are my roots—the people with whom I learned to collect and began my explorations of Missouri and beyond. We are joined not only by the bonds of common interest, but by shared experiences as well. There was a good turn out for the presentation, and my thanks to the Group for the interest they showed.
Nine days, ten states, 4,300 miles:
My peripatetic quest for North America’s rarest tiger beetles
The photographs used in the presentation have been seen in various posts here over the past few months, but I thought some may appreciate the chance to see them all together in presentation format. A PDF version of the original Powerpoint presentation can be downloaded by clicking on the link above (although with a file size of just over 18 MB a high-speed internet connection is recommended). My thanks to David Pearson, Professor of Biology at Arizona State University, for permission to include in the posted version scanned images and distribution maps from his supremely useful A Field Guide to the Tiger Beetles of the United States and Canada (the bible of North American cicindelophiles¹).
¹ If you have not yet bought this most excellent book, paperback versions can be bought new for as little as $41.74. Buy it and you’ll never fail another BitB tiger beetle ID Challenge!
If you download the presentation, please remember that all materials are copyright Ted C. MacRae unless attributed otherwise and may not be used without permission (personal use excepted) .
Copyright © Ted C. MacRae
Beetles In The Bush 
Thank you for sharing Ted, your images are superb and I will certainly enjoy reading through your presentation.
Thanks Bob!
Amazing! I really like the shots from a beetle’s view as well. But when are you exploring the southeast?
I’ve done Florida two of the past three years – saw probably 6 or so endemics (including the rarest of them all, Cicindelidia floridana).
Excellent work. I suspect I know the area where you found Cicindelidia floridana (somewhat near my home), but whether I’m right or wrong, I wouldn’t reveal my suspicions.
As always your photographic work is exceptional! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Dennis!