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.

Bichos Argentinos #12 – Lace Bugs

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

Shortly after entering La Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur (Buenos Aires, Argentina) during my early March visit, I noticed a fairly large patch of solanaceous-looking shrubs.  Even from a distance, I could see patterns of white stippling on the foliage immediately identifiable as signs of lace bugs, true … Continue reading →

Posted in Hemiptera, Tingidae | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Big, Bold, and Beautiful

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

Last fall I took my younger daughter to the Al Foster Trail on the western side of Castlewood State Park, just a few miles down the road from my house.  As we walked the trail through typical bottomland forest next … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Friday Flower – “Palo Borracho”

Posted on May 6, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

Ceibo may be Argentina’s national flower, but Ceiba is its most iconic flower.  That’s right—Ceibo and Ceiba are two, completely unrelated species!  Ceibo is the common name in Argentina for Erythrina crista-galli, a tree in the family Fabaceae, while Ceiba is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Bombacaceae, Plantae | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Feasting on the bounty

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

Brood XIX periodical cicadas were not the only insects appearing en masse last week at Sam A. Baker State Park in Missouri’s southeastern Ozark Highlands.  As I walked the upland trail, I thought I felt ‘raindrops’ for awhile before realizing that it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Carabidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Love is in the air!

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

My first tiger beetle photograph of the season. There’s nothing more adorable than Spring love! Photo details: Canon 50D w/ 100mm f2.4 macro lens (ISO 160, 1/200 sec, f/16), Canon MT-24EX twin flash w/ DIY oversized concave diffuser. Copyright © … Continue reading →

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

“They’re baaaaack!”

Posted on April 29, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

The recent run of seemingly interminable rains and HF4 tornadoes may have delayed the Annual-Birthday-First-Bug-Collecting-Trip-of-the-Year™, but it could not cancel it.  On Thursday this week, for the first time since the same time last week, a strange ball of hot gas appeared … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicadellidae, Hemiptera | Tagged , , , , , | 24 Comments

Bichos Argentinos #11 – Takes Two to Tango

Posted on April 27, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

Another of the insects that I photographed at La Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur, Buenos Aires, Argentina during my early March visit.  I found quite a few of these beetles feeding on the newly sprouting growth from cut stumps of a small, multi-stemmed tree.  At first … Continue reading →

Posted in Coccinelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Itty bitty tiny little flies

Posted on April 25, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

Saturday was my birthday, and for most of my adult life it has been tradition to take the day off for the Annual-Birthday-First-Bug-Collecting-Trip-of-the-Year™.  At Missouri’s middlin’ latitudes, late April is normally a tad early—at least for the groups that interest … Continue reading →

Posted in Chionomidae, Diptera, Psychodidae | Tagged , , , , , , , | 17 Comments