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.

Winter Botany Quiz #6 – answers and a checklist

Posted on April 14, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

I thought yesterday’s Winter Botany Quiz #6 would be a fairly difficult, and given the apparent difficulty of my previous quizes (Pismire Puzzle and Tuesday Teaser) I thought I’d give readers a break this week and narrow down the location to the Lake Tahoe area. … Continue reading →

Posted in Coleoptera, Rosaceae | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Winter Botany Quiz #6

Posted on April 13, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

This photo was taken during my March trip to Lake Tahoe.  Can you identify the plant (family, genus, species), the structure shown, and its function?  Answer and more photos tomorrow. © Ted C. MacRae 2010 Email to a friend

Posted in Plantae | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Monday Moth: Arniocera erythropyga

Posted on April 12, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

Last week’s king cricket quiz (Tuesday Teaser) reminded me that I still have quite a few photographs from my trip to South Africa, now 10 years ago, that I still haven’t shared. This pretty little moth is Arniocera erythropyga, which I photographed … Continue reading →

Posted in Lepidoptera, Zygaenidae | Tagged , , , , , , | 14 Comments

The “New” Gromphadorina portentosa

Posted on April 9, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

I don’t pretend to be a photography guru – I’m learning, and though I still have much to learn I’m happy with my progress so far.  The photographs I posted earlier this week of Gromphadorina portentosa, the Madagascan hissing cockroach, … Continue reading →

Posted in Blaberidae, Blattodea | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments

New Bug Blogs of note

Posted on April 8, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

I try to keep my blogroll useful and relevant – by that I mean that each blog I list has, in a sense, “earned its spot” by offering engaging writing and/or quality photographs on subjects that interest me, and if … Continue reading →

Posted in [No taxon] | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Bicycle ride around Lake Tahoe

Posted on April 7, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

Perhaps some of you have by now deduced that, in addition to insects and natural history, I have a second passion – cycling! In fact, I raced bikes competitively as an amateur for seven years (going by the local nickname … Continue reading →

Posted in Cupressaceae, Pinaceae, Plantae | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Tuesday Teaser

Posted on April 6, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

A recent post by Art Evans at What’s Bugging You reminded me about this photograph that I took some 10 years ago.  This will likely be a difficult challenge, but I’m willing to entertain guesses about its identity and where I found … Continue reading →

Posted in Anostostomatidae, Orthoptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Gromphadorina portentosa

Posted on April 4, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

I found myself with a few spare moments this weekend, so I decided to finally put together a white box and see what I could do with it.  And what better subject for a white box maiden voyage than Gromphadorina portentosa, … Continue reading →

Posted in Blaberidae, Blattodea | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments