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.

Brazil Bugs #10 – A mosca mais legal que eu já vi!

Posted on February 6, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

I found this bizarre-looking fly outside of Campinas, Brazil (on the same tree as the Aetalion reticulatum that I showed earlier).  There were a few of them, and although they weren’t especially flighty they did have the annoying habit of … Continue reading →

Posted in Diptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Brazil Bugs #9 – Formiga hostil

Posted on February 5, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

I found this ant crawling over the blossoms of the Ixora shrubs on the grounds of my hotel in Campinas (São Paulo state). Normally I wouldn’t even try to identify a South American ant, but the individual quickly and easily keyed out … Continue reading →

Posted in Formicidae, Hymenoptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Recent literature – The Coleopterists Bulletin

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

I returned to the office this week after spending two weeks in Brazil to find the December 2010 of The Coleopterists Bulletin in my inbox.  I don’t think there is another journal that I look forward to more eagerly than … Continue reading →

Posted in Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Answer to ID Challenge #4 – Aetalion reticulatum

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

ID Challenge #4 seems to have been a little more difficult than I anticipated – only a few people mustered the courage to even hazard a guess, of whom TGIQ emerged with maximum points to take the win.  Looking sort of like a cross … Continue reading →

Posted in Aetalionidae, Hemiptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Brazil Bugs #8 – Desafio de identificação #4

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

It’s time for a new ID Challenge, this one from my recent trip to Brazil.  I don’t expect this to be a terribly difficult challenge, so whoever wins is going to do so by gaining bonus points for providing detail about … Continue reading →

Posted in [No taxon] | Tagged , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Brazil Bugs #7 – Cigarrinhas

Posted on January 29, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

It seems that North American entomologists have returned en masse from their various tropical winter travels – Alex and Brigette have returned from their respective trips to Ecuador, Troy has come back from Costa Rica, and I am now back home … Continue reading →

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

Brazil Bugs #6 – A mosca

Posted on January 28, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

As I strolled the hotel grounds here in Campinas after work one day last week, I came upon a tree with several epiphytic orchids and a large staghorn fern (Platycerium sp.) mounted to its trunk.  On the tips of several of … Continue reading →

Posted in Diptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Brazil Bugs #5 – Lagartixa

Posted on January 26, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

On my third night here in Campinas last week, I went out to check the building lights around the hotel grounds.  Surely a fantastical assortment of gaudy, tropical insects would be awaiting me on this hot, humid, summer night in … Continue reading →

Posted in Reptilia, Vertebrata | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments