Category Archives: Coleoptera

Beetles. The largest order of animals with more than 300,000 species in about 2000 genera.

Desmiphora hirticollis: Crypsis or Mimicry?

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

During my stay in Corrientes, Argentina last month, I was invited to spend the day with a colleague at his “camp” in Paso de la Patria. Located on the banks of the massive Rio Paraná at its junction with the Rio … Continue reading →

Posted in Cerambycidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

I fear no weevil…

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

…especially when they are as colorful as these! I found this mating pair ~60 km south of Corrientes, Argentina feeding on flowers of what I presume to be the goldenrod species Solidago chilensis (family Asteraceae). Here, as in North America, goldenrod blooms … Continue reading →

Posted in Coleoptera, Curculionidae | Tagged , , , , , , | 29 Comments

The backwards firefly

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

The beetle in these photos was another “gift” from my colleagues in Fontezuela, Argentina—brought to me shortly after I found the first gift on my desk during my first week at the station. This is obviously a firefly, but I … Continue reading →

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

A tortoise beetle gift

Posted on March 25, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

A few days after returning from travel through northern Argentina, I found a jar on my desk with this beetle in it. One of my colleagues has seen it in the field while I was away and figured I would be interested … Continue reading →

Posted in Chrysomelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Retrachydes thoracicus – times four!

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

Disclaimer—these are not great photos! A few days ago I posted this little quip as my status on Facebook: “Cool! Found a Retrachydes thoracicus thoracicus on the sidewalk outside my hotel!” I chuckled a little as I posted it, knowing that only … Continue reading →

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

The most common beetle in Argentina

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

I don’t know if this is truly the case, but Astylus atromaculatus (family Melyridae) is one of only a few beetles in the country that actually has two Spanish common names—”astylus moteado” and “siete de oro” (meaning “spotted astylus” and “seven of gold”, both … Continue reading →

Posted in Coleoptera, Melyridae | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Eriopis connexa on soybean in Argentina

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

Congratulations to those of you who correctly guessed the identity of the “subject” in ID Challenge #16 as the ladybird beetle Eriopis connexa (family Coccinellidae). This is one of the most common ladybird beetles in Argentina, and during the past … Continue reading →

Posted in Coccinelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Sharpshooter

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

With around 20,000 species worldwide, leafhoppers (family Cicadellidae) are not only the largest family of true bugs (order Hemiptera) but also one of the top ten largest families of all insects. My favorite are “sharpshooters” (subfamily Cicadellinae)—large, distinctive, brightly colored species, … Continue reading →

Posted in Coleoptera | 1 Comment