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.

Give the Gift of Green

Posted on December 11, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. One of my favorite conservation organizations is … Continue reading →

Posted in [No taxon] | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Newest Blog Carnival: House of Herps

Posted on December 9, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

Invertebrates?  Check. Moths?  Check. Plants?  Check. Trees?  Check. Birds?  Check. Marine life?  Check. Reptiles and amphibians?… Um… Er… Despite their popularity, charisma, and status as icons for global conservation, reptiles and amphibians have not enjoyed the same attention by blog … Continue reading →

Posted in Amphibia, Reptilia | Tagged , , , , , | 19 Comments

Great Plains Ladies’-tresses

Posted on December 7, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

First things first—everyone who participated in the quiz in the previous post correctly identified the orchid flower in the photo as belonging to the genus Spiranthes, and a few were on the right track with their species suggestion of S. … Continue reading →

Posted in Orchidaceae | Tagged , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Friday Flower: Yes, it’s an orchid…

Posted on December 4, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

…but what kind? Identifying the genus should be relatively easy, but I suspect a species identification will be more of a challenge.  I’ll provide a little information and even a couple of literature sources that might be useful for achieving a … Continue reading →

Posted in Orchidaceae | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

CotS #45

Posted on December 3, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

Circus of the Spineless #45 is up. Go to Greg Laden’s Blog and read about scale insects, exotic pests, spiders, more spiders, more more spiders, millipedes, more more more spiders, the world’s most astoundingly beautiful lacewing (one of the Iberian spoonwings), … Continue reading →

Posted in [No taxon] | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Cicadetta kansa in Oklahoma

Posted on December 1, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

Another of the insects that I saw this past June at Four Canyon Preserve in northwestern Oklahoma was this small cicada, Cicadetta kansa. Though not as small as the diminutive Beameria venosa (see North America’s smallest cicada), their barely audible … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicadidae, Hemiptera | Tagged , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

A bid for OpenLab

Posted on November 28, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

I’m going to do something I’ve not yet done before—ask for your support.  OpenLab is an annual compilation of the year’s best science-blog writing, as determined by a panel of judges, and the closing date for submissions for 2009 is December 1st—this coming … Continue reading →

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

Thanksgiving

Posted on November 26, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

As one of the few American holidays that hasn’t been completely usurped by religious or commercial interests (the traditional Day-After-Thanksgiving-Shopping-Mêlée notwithstanding), Thanksgiving is a time for reflection and contemplation.  The feast I will enjoy, surrounded by those whose love and … Continue reading →

Posted in [No taxon] | Tagged , , | 7 Comments