Tag Archives: entomology

Midget male meloid mates with mega mama

Posted on November 8, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

While looking for longhorned beetles in the genus Crossidius on flowers of yellow rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus) in southern Utah, I encountered one particular plant with numerous blister beetles (family Meloidae) on its blossoms. The orange color, two black pronotal spots, and distinctive black … Continue reading →

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

One-shot Wednesday: The “other” hibiscus jewel beetle

Posted on November 6, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

This past summer I visited Otter Slough Conservation Area in southeast Missouri in an effort to find and photograph the stunningly beautiful Agrilus concinnus Horn, or “hibiscus jewel beetle” (MacRae 2004). I was not successful in that quest, but I … Continue reading →

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

Honey Locust Borer

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

Conditions for collecting didn’t look very promising when I awoke on Day 4 of my early June trip to northwestern Oklahoma. After collecting at Alabaster Caverns State Park the previous day, I had traveled a few hours further west during … Continue reading →

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

How to pack and ship pinned insect specimens

Posted on November 1, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

Even though I don’t work in a museum, sending and receiving pinned insects is a routine activity for me. As a collector of beetles with some expertise in their identification, I’ve had opportunity to exchange with or provide IDs to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cerambycidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 50 Comments

GBCT Beetle #5: Crossidius coralinus monoensis

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

After spending the first four days of our Great Basin Collecting Trip (GBCT) traveling around west-central Nevada, we dropped down into California and traveled south next to the eastern flank of the Sierra Nevada towards Mono Basin. We had two goals … Continue reading →

Posted in Cerambycidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Festive Tiger Beetle in Southeast Missouri

Posted on October 25, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

This past spring I returned to the lowlands of southeastern Missouri in an effort to find and photograph a population of tiger beetles that seems to be unique to the area. The beetles represent Cicindela scutellaris (Festive Tiger Beetle), a widespread … Continue reading →

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

INHS Seminar: Tiger Beetles of Missouri

Posted on October 23, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

If you are in the Champaign, Illinois area on Tuesday, 29 October 2013, I will be giving a seminar as part of the Illinois Natural History Survey Fall 2013 Seminar Series. I hope to see you there! My thanks to … Continue reading →

Posted in [No taxon] | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

GBCT Beetle #4—Crossidius hirtipes rubrescens

Posted on October 20, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

Linsley & Chemsak (1961) characterize the longhorned beetle species Crossidius hirtipes as “probably the most diverse species within the genus.” Occurring throughout the Great Basin and adjacent areas, the variability it expresses in punctation, color, elytral pattern and pubescence have resulted in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cerambycidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments