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.

The World’s Largest Tiger Beetle

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

Some of the first residents of my new insect cabinets (see MacRae Entomology Museum Expansion) are also among the newest specimens in my collection. Not long ago I received a box from world tiger beetle expert David Brzoska, who had carefully chosen … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 27 Comments

MacRae Entomology Museum Expansion

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

Every five years or so I find myself facing the same dilemma—too many bugs and not enough space to keep them. Each time this occurs, I go through the same thought process trying to decide the best way to solve … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

Return to Calico Rock

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

Although western sand dune endemics were the top goals on my cicindelophilic wish list during last fall’s Annual Tiger Beetle Trip, I started the trip by leaving St. Louis in the most unlikeliest of directions—south! No, I wasn’t trying to get to Denver … Continue reading →

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

Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes Tiger Beetle

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

Last year’s Annual Fall Tiger Beetle Trip entered its last day as an unqualified success. Travel partner Jeff Huether and I were doing the “Great Western Sand Dune Tour” on a quest to find and photograph some of North America’s most geographically … Continue reading →

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

ID Challenge #15

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

It’s been almost a month since the last challenge, and since Alex got back to his roots I think I’ll do likewise. This is a straight up identification—the order and family are obvious (or should be), so I’m going to limit ID points … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

I am an Entomologist

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

In my last post (Best of BitB 2011), I showed my favorite 13 insect (mostly) macrophotographs from 2011. Such “Best of …” posts have become an annual tradition here at BitB, and I like them because they give me a chance to … Continue reading →

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

Best of BitB 2011

Posted on December 31, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

Welcome to the 4th Annual BitB Top 10, where I get to pick my 10 (more or less) favorite photographs of the year. As an insect macrophotographer I still feel like a relative newcomer, although with three seasons under my belt fewer … Continue reading →

Posted in Acrididae, Anthribidae, Arachnida, Araneae, Carabidae, Cicindelidae, Coleoptera, Diptera, Fungi, Hemiptera, Membracidae, Orthoptera, Pentatomidae, Tettigoniidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Swift Tiger Beetle: Species on the Brink

Posted on December 11, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

In July 2008, Chris Brown and I made a spur-of-the-moment trip to Hitchcock Preserve near Council Bluffs, Iowa, where only a week earlier Cylindera celeripes (Swift Tiger Beetle), one of North America’s most enigmatic tiger beetles, had just been discovered. Reportedly … Continue reading →

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