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.

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Posted on July 13, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

Entomology is, of course, a wide and varied discipline that touches any number of human endeavors – from the practical (agriculture, food production, public health) to the esoteric (genetics, ecology, cultural symbolism).  Despite this far-reach, however, entomologists themselves are not … Continue reading →

Posted in Buprestidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , | 34 Comments

Friday Flower – Cleft Phlox

Posted on July 9, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

In a recent edition of my Friday Flower series I featured Tradescantia longipes (dwarf spiderwort or wild crocus), an exquisite Ozark endemic found scattered in dry igneous woodlands of the Missouri’s St. Francois Mountains and Arkansas’ Ouachita Mountains and that I had … Continue reading →

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

Vicarious Friday Beetle Blogging

Posted on July 9, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

Despite the fact that I have a beetle blog and Alex has an ant blog, it is the latter where the regular series Friday Beetle Blogging resides (hmm, I wonder if I should start a Myrmecine Monday series?).  Alex has perhaps … Continue reading →

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

Hunting the Great Plains giant tiger beetle

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

In the early 1980s, I was a young, green entomologist, fresh out of school with a budding interest in beetle taxonomy, a zeal for collecting, and a desire to meet other like-minded individuals. Among the first collectors I had the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Amblycheila success!

Posted on July 4, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

I love it when a plan comes together! Another one was caught after these photos for a total of five individuals. They’ve been setup for now in a container of native soil. I hope you’ll forgive these rather rushed photos … Continue reading →

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

The Power of Impulse

Posted on July 3, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

Since figuring out a couple weeks that I had the larva of North America’s largest tiger beetle (Amblycheila cylindriformis, or Great Plains giant tiger beetle) in a rearing tub in the lab, I haven’t been able to think about anything except how … Continue reading →

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

Call for paratypes!

Posted on July 1, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

Earlier this year, I featured this small jewel beetle in the genus Acmaeodera (family Buprestidae).  It was collected a few years ago in southeastern Arizona by my hymenopterist friend Mike Arduser, who over the years has given me a great variety … Continue reading →

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

Typocerus lugubris

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

Members of the genus Typocerus are among the more commonly encountered species of the so-called “flower longhorns” (family Cerambycidae, subfamily Lepturinae) in eastern North America. In addition to the narrow-necked, broad-shouldered appearance characteristic for the subfamily, species in this genus … Continue reading →

Posted in Cerambycidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments