Category Archives: Lepidoptera

Life at 8X—Guide to lepidopteran eggs on soybean

Posted on September 3, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

Most of you are aware of my passion for beetles, but in reality that is just my evenings-and-weekends gig. By day, I am an agricultural entomologist conducting research on insect pests of soybean. I’m not sure how many latent soybean entomologists … Continue reading →

Posted in Lepidoptera, Noctuidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

Feed me! Copyright © Ted C. MacRae 2012

Posted in Lepidoptera, Noctuidae | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The “Big 3” of corn in Argentina

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

While leafcutter ants are one of the more unusual pests that Argentina corn farmers must deal with, the three most important confront farmers throughout the Western Hemisphere: stalk borers, earworms, and armyworms. In the U.S. the primary stalk boring pest of … Continue reading →

Posted in Lepidoptera, Noctuidae | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Return to La Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur

Posted on November 20, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

Last March I discovered La Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur—a gem of natural beauty in the heart of Buenos Aires, Argentina.  Though its origins are semi-artificial, its biota a mix of native and introduced species, and its pathways continually choked with pedestrians and … Continue reading →

Posted in Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Melyridae, Nymphalidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

“Sunflower looper” – Rachiplusia nu

Posted on November 13, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

With a planted area approaching 20 million hectares, soybean has become Argentina’s most important agricultural crop.  Most of the planted area is located within the so-called “Humid Pampas” region of central Argentina (Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Santa Fe and Entre Rios … Continue reading →

Posted in Lepidoptera, Noctuidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Brazil Bugs #16 – Royal Moth Larva

Posted on June 22, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

I was sure Super Crop Challenge #6 would be a win for the house, but Troy Bartlett scored an impressive points sweep by correctly deducing that the structures shown were the spines of an early instar caterpillar of “something akin … Continue reading →

Posted in Lepidoptera, Saturniidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

La Reserva Ecologica Costanera Sur

Posted on March 8, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

I spent this past weekend in Buenos Aires, Argentina before embarking on a one-week whirlwind tour to visit field sites in several other parts of the country.  It was supposed to be a short rest stop, but I can do nothing of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Amphibia, Aves, Lepidoptera, Riodinidae, Vertebrata | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Monday Moth – Polka-dot Wasp Moth

Posted on February 28, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

It’s been a while since I’ve done a Monday Moth post, so I thought I’d feature one of the prettier specimens in my very limited Lepidoptera collection.  This is Syntomeida epilais (polka-dot wasp moth), one of four species in the genus that … Continue reading →

Posted in Arctiidae, Erebidae, Lepidoptera, Noctuidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments