Category Archives: Insecta

Insects – Collembola, Protura, Diplura, Archaeognatha, Thysanura & Pterygota (winged insects).

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

Tucuras, langostas, y saltamontes

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

Tucuras, langostas, and saltamontes are names in Argentina for what we in North America call grasshoppers (order Orthoptera, superfamily Acridoidea). Argentina certainly has its share of species, some of which can only be described as “gigantes”! During my first week … Continue reading →

Posted in Acrididae, Orthoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Crazy Eyes 2

Posted on March 3, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

While the eyes of this female horse fly (family Tabanidae) aren’t quite as striking as those of Tabanus lineolus (the wonderfully dimorphic males and females of which were made famous by Thomas Shahan and Ralph Holzehthal), they still managed to catch my eye as … Continue reading →

Posted in Diptera, Tabanidae | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 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

Leafcutter ants on corn

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

North American corn farmers certainly have their share of insect pests to worry about. Between corn borer, earworm, armyworm, and rootworm, there isn’t much of the plant that isn’t vulnerable to attack by at least one of these insects. Argentina … Continue reading →

Posted in Formicidae, Hymenoptera | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

To the land of Gauchos

Posted on February 26, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

Today I leave for an extended stay in Argentina. Many have asked me if my trip is for work or fun, and my standard response has been, “It’s for work, and it will be fun!” For the next eight weeks, … Continue reading →

Posted in Coreidae, Hemiptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Chrysobothris viridiceps

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

Despite their general popularity among beetle collectors, jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) have an admittedly deserved reputation for difficult taxonomy. Part of the reason for this is the existence of several highly speciose genera. In North America, for example, nearly half of its … Continue reading →

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

Grampus and go-devil

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

Ever taken a close look at a female dobsonfly’s head? Female dobsonflys don’t get nearly as much attention as the males due to the latter’s ridiculously elongated mandibles. While female mandibles are more modestly proportioned, don’t think they’re ineffectual—females are … Continue reading →

Posted in Corydalidae, Neuroptera | Tagged , , , , | 19 Comments