Author Archives: Ted C. MacRae

About Ted C. MacRae

Ted C. MacRae is a research entomologist by vocation and beetle taxonomist by avocation. Areas of expertise in the latter include worldwide jewel beetles (Buprestidae) and North American longhorned beetles (Cerambycidae). More recent work has focused on North American tiger beetles (Cicindelidae) and their distribution, ecology, and conservation.

ID Challenge #23

Posted on July 12, 2014 by Ted C. MacRae

This is a straight up identification challenge. Can you identify the order (duh!), family, genus, and species? Total body length of the subject is ~20 mm. Answers revealed in a couple of days or so, with comments moderated until that … Continue reading →

Posted in [No taxon] | Tagged , | 11 Comments

One-shot Wednesday: Mallodon dasystomus

Posted on July 10, 2014 by Ted C. MacRae

Today’s (slightly belated) edition of “One-shot Wednesday” features a beetle that I saw just about this time last year while blacklighting along the Mississippi River in the southeastern lowlands of Missouri. Mallodon dasystomus¹ is a prionid longhorned beetle (family Cerambycidae, subfamily Prioninae) that … Continue reading →

Posted in Cerambycidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Black is beautiful!

Posted on July 3, 2014 by Ted C. MacRae

Most species in the genus Crossidius exhibit varying amounts of yellow/red/orange coloration on the body. However, one species—Crossidius ater—dispenses with such adornments and remains all-black throughout its expansive range across the Great Basin and surrounding areas. Despite this, they are … Continue reading →

Posted in Cerambycidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why I went to Georgia

Posted on June 10, 2014 by Ted C. MacRae

Call me biased, but for my money few groups of beetles can match the maddening combination of beauty and difficult taxonomy of jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) (I can already hear the protestations of weevil and scarab workers). In the case of … Continue reading →

Posted in Buprestidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Who likes mole crickets?

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Ted C. MacRae

On a recent collecting trip to southeastern Georgia, we spent the night in Swainsboro. We found a hotel and went to the restaurant across the street for dinner. It was dark by the time we got back to the hotel, and since … Continue reading →

Posted in Gryllotalpidae, Orthoptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Turbo Testudine

Posted on May 31, 2014 by Ted C. MacRae

Last weekend I traveled to Georgia with two field companions to look for insects associated with sand scrub habitats in the southeastern part of the state. Of course, while I am an entomologist with beetles as a focus, I am also a naturalist who keeps … Continue reading →

Posted in Reptilia, Vertebrata | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Mrs. Monday Jumper

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Ted C. MacRae

In my previous post, Monday Jumper, I featured a photo of a strikingly colored jumping spider (family Salticidae) that apparently represents an adult male Phidippus princeps. Far too skittish to attempt photographing in the field, I placed him in a vial and photographed … Continue reading →

Posted in Arachnida, Araneae | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Monday Jumper

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Ted C. MacRae

A couple of weeks ago, shortly after my friend Rich and I began hiking a 9-mile stretch of the North Fork Section of the Ozark Trail in the far southern reaches of Missouri, we encountered this colorful jumping spider (family Salticidae) … Continue reading →

Posted in Arachnida, Araneae | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment