Tag Archives: entomology

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

Chicharra que canta, calor adelanta

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

There is a species of cicada (“chicharra” in Spanish) that strikes me as quite common in the central Humid Pampas region of Argentina. I saw numerous individuals during March of last year at La Reserva Ecologica Costanera Sur (where these photos were taken), … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicadidae, Hemiptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 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

Lord of the flies!

Posted on March 11, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

I happened upon a rather interesting scene last week in a soybean field in northern Argentina (Chaco Province). This assassin bug (family Reduviidae) had captured and was feeding on an adult stink bug of the species Piezodorus guildinii—an important pest of soybean … Continue reading →

Posted in Chloropidae, Diptera, Hemiptera, Milichiideae, Pentatomidae, Reduviidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

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