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.

An irresistible sight!

Posted on June 10, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

One of the few highlights of my Memorial Day weekend collecting trip came in the earliest moments of my visit to Ha Ha Tonka State Park.  My destination was Ha Ha Tonka Savanna Natural Area, and a short walk through fire-restored woodland … Continue reading →

Posted in Buprestidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

When is a locust borer not a locust borer?

Posted on June 7, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

…when it is a hickory borer! The hickory borer, Megacyllene caryae, is perhaps the most frequently misidentified beetle in eastern North America due to its almost perfect resemblance to the closely related locust borer, M. robiniae.  Unlike the latter species, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cerambycidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Are we loving our prairies/glades/woodlands to death?

Posted on June 4, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

I had such high hopes for last weekend’s collecting trip – late May is boom time for insects across Missouri, we have had good moisture this spring, and I would be visiting some high-quality natural communities that I had not … Continue reading →

Posted in Buprestidae, Cicindelidae, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Saturniidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Critters, and berries, and trees! (Oh, my!)

Posted on June 3, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

Several of my favorite blog carnivals have posted new issues this week – should make for some good reading over the weekend. If you’ve not yet had the chance to explore these carnivals, they are a nice way to find … Continue reading →

Posted in [No taxon] | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Trying” to photograph whirligig beetles

Posted on June 1, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

Nobody figured out exactly what I was doing in the photograph shown in the previous post (does anybody now see the whirligig beetles in the lower left corner of the photo?), but I sure enjoyed the guesses.  Several people alluded to dropping … Continue reading →

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

Do you know what I’m doing?

Posted on May 31, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

Points for specificity, creativity, humor, etc. Copyright © Ted C. MacRae 2010 Email to a friend

Posted in [No taxon] | Tagged , , , | 24 Comments

Long Weekend Bug Collecting Trip!

Posted on May 28, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

On Saturday, I’ll be joining a number of other Missouri biologists as a Group Leader for a BioBlitz at Penn-Sylvania Prairie (“C” on the map above).  Penn-Sylvania Prairie is a 160-acre tract of native tallgrass prairie in southwestern Missouri owned by … Continue reading →

Posted in Acrididae, Buprestidae, Coleoptera, Orthoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Cylindera celeripes Larva Revealed

Posted on May 26, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

In a recent post, I provided the first ever glimpse of the previously unknown larva of Cylindera celeripes, or swift tiger beetle.  This little-known flightless species is among the tiniest in North America (adults measure only 8 or 9 mm … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments