Tag Archives: beetles

Cactus beetle redux!

Posted on December 20, 2014 by Ted C. MacRae

On my most recent Great Plains collecting trip, cactus dodger cicadas weren’t the only residents of the cholla cactus (Cylindropuntia imbricata) that studded the open grasslands in southeastern Colorado—cactus beetles (Moneilema spp.) also were found, though in lesser numbers than their frenetic, screeching neighbors (perhaps the reason for their scarcity?!). I’ve covered cactus … Continue reading →

Posted in Cactaceae, Cerambycidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Two endemic Jamaican jewel beetles: one known, one not?

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Ted C. MacRae

I recently received a batch of jewel beetles from Enrico Ruzzier of Italy. It was an impressive sending (as is any sending of jewel beetles!) collected from diverse parts of the world, but what really caught my eye were two specimens he … Continue reading →

Posted in Buprestidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

First internet image of Phaenops piniedulis

Posted on December 9, 2014 by Ted C. MacRae

During last June’s collecting trip through the western Great Plains, we stopped at an interesting spot in northeastern New Mexico near the small town of Mills (Harding Co.). Mills itself sits smack dab in the middle of expansive shortgrass prairie; however, a few miles … Continue reading →

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

I got Thomas Shahan to image my Chrysochroa corbetti!

Posted on December 1, 2014 by Ted C. MacRae

Those who follow me on Twitter know that I attended Entomology 2014 last month in Portland, Oregon. As with other scientific conferences, live tweeting of the talks and associated events was all the rage. I may not have been the most prolific “tweeter”, but I did do … Continue reading →

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

Guess who just turned 7?

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Ted C. MacRae

No, not this very alarmed male Prionus heroicus (among North America’s largest longhorned beetles) seen this past June at Mills Rim Campground in northeastern New Mexico—although he could very well have spent several years underground as a ever-fatter grub feeding on tree … Continue reading →

Posted in Cerambycidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

How to catch “bucket loads” of Prionus fissicornis!

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Ted C. MacRae

Fresh off our unexpected success at finding Prionus integer in the shortgrass prairie of southeastern Colorado, field mate Jeff Huether and I made our way down into northeastern New Mexico to see if the prionic acid lures we used to attract … Continue reading →

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

Guest Post: Burrow Hole Blues

Posted on November 2, 2014 by Ted C. MacRae

For today’s post, I am pleased to introduce nature writer and guest blogger Sharman Apt Russell. Epitomizing the increasingly important role of citizen scientists in conservation and natural history study, Sharman recently engaged in a year-long study of the Western red-bellied tiger … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

My first experience with Prionus lure

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Ted C. MacRae

Our quick stop in Hardtner, Kansas to see “Beetle Bill” Smith at the beginning of our Great Plains Collecting Trip had already produced one unexpected success—the long-sought-after Buprestis confluenta. However, our trip didn’t really begin in earnest until noon the next day when field mate Jeff … Continue reading →

Posted in Cerambycidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments