Category Archives: Cicindelidae

Tiger beetles. Adults are agile predators in open areas such as stream banks and beaches; a few species are wingless and on tree trunks. Larvae are ambush predators living in vertical tunnels of soil or wood.

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Posted on August 25, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

I’ve become a big fan of night-time tiger beetle photography since my early August trip to Florida.  Not only does it open up the world of nocturnal species that might go undetected during the day, it also affords the opportunity to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Why I Roamed the Marsh at Night

Posted on August 23, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

For two years I waited.  The narrow strip of coastal scrub and mangrove marsh along the intracoastal waterway behind my sister-in-law’s condominium in Seminole, Florida had been an unexpected surprise during my first visit in August 2009.  Despite its small size and urban surroundings, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

The (almost) Florida-endemic Cicindelidia scabrosa

Posted on August 17, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

The recently rediscovered Cicindelidia floridana (Miami Tiger Beetle) may have been the highlight of my 48-hour early August blitz through Florida, but it was by no means the only Florida-endemic that I hoped to find during the trip.  In fact, the day … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Predator or Prey?

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

Everyone knows that tiger beetles are predators, but look closely at the underside of the head of this female Ellipsoptera hamata lacerata (Gulf Beach Tiger Beetle), photographed in a coastal marsh in Dixie Co., Florida earlier this month.  See the ant head attached by … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera, Formicidae, Hymenoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Photographing the Newly Rediscovered Cicindelidia floridana

Posted on August 11, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

When Brzoska et al. (2011) announced the rediscovery of Cicindelidia floridana last April (and also provided convincing evidence for considering it a full species), I could hardly contain my excitement. At a time when increasing numbers of species are being reported in decline or going … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

ID Challenge #10

Posted on August 9, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

It’s time to begin Session #4 of the BitB Challenge Series.  Ben Coulter won Sessions #1 and #2 but was finally unseated by Max Barclay in Session #3.  We start Session #4 with a straight up ID Challenge.  Unlike previous ID … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , | 39 Comments

Tiger Beetle Nocturnal Perching

Posted on August 9, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

During last week’s 48-hour blitz through Florida, I spent one evening blacklighting at the famed “Road to Nowhere” tiger beetle hot spot and encountered this male individual of Ellipsoptera hamata lacerata¹ clinging to the grass near my light.  A quick search of the … Continue reading →

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

Charming Couple

Posted on August 7, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

You may have noticed a longer than normal interval since the last post (or not)—the result of a family vacation to Florida.  I’m not much of a beach bum, so while the girls found inordinate pleasure laying on the hot … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments