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.

Dainty, delicate, little fairies

Ever since I saw Chris Grinter’s beautiful photographs, I have wanted to see (and possibly photograph) the tiny little moths known as fairy moths (family Adelidae, formerly considered a subfamily of Incurvariidae). These dainty, delicate, little moths are characterized by their unusually … Continue reading

Posted in Incurvariidae, Lepidoptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Friday Editor’s Tip: Lose the formatting!

As Managing Editor of The Pan-Pacific Entomologist, I have the privilege of guiding manuscripts through the entire publication process—from submission and review through acceptance and preparation for final printing. It’s gratifying to see the results of a researcher’s efforts come to fruition, and … Continue reading

Posted in [No taxon] | Tagged , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Book Announcement: Field Guide to the Jewel Beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) of Northeastern North America

It’s not often that I anticipate the release of a book as much as I have with the soon-to-be-released Field Guide to the Jewel Beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) of Northeastern North America. Fortunately, the wait is now almost over—Morgan Jackson, author … Continue reading

Posted in Buprestidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , | 19 Comments

Life at 8X: MPMI Cover

The January 2013 issue of Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions (volume 26, number 1) is now online. Why do I mention this? You may recall the cover photos of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines, from my post Life at 8X—soybean aphid—one of a series of … Continue reading

Posted in Aphididae, Hemiptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

One Bad Beetle

Almost every tiger beetle trip that I take has a mix of gimmes and stretch goals. That’s alright—it’s impossible to find everything every time out, and if I eschewed the common and was happy only when I found something truly … Continue reading

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Another autumn oedipodine

In September 2010, Chris Brown and I explored shortgrass/sage brushland habitat atop the Laramie Mountains in southeastern Wyoming’s Medicine Bow National Forest (location “J” on this map). We were entering the final days of our 7th Annual Fall Tiger Beetle … Continue reading

Posted in Acrididae, Orthoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Mother and daughter (perhaps)

Back in May I visited the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Plant Pest Diagnostics Laboratory in Sacramento. While I was there to visit my friend and colleague Chuck Bellamy and see him receive Honorary Membership in The Coleopterists Society, … Continue reading

Posted in Amblipygi, Arachnida | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Where siblings mingle: Ellipsoptera marginata vs. E. hamata

When Erwin & Pearson (2008) formally broke up the great genus Cicindela by elevating most of its former subgenera to full genus rank, it caused a bit of consternation amongst some North American cicindelophiles. The argument went something like, “Now we have all these … Continue reading

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , | 14 Comments