Tag Archives: insects

North America’s largest scarab beetle

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

As one of North America’s largest, most written about, and most photographed beetles, Dynastes tityus (eastern Hercules beetle) hardly needs an introduction.  I photographed this male specimen from my collection back in December while testing my DIY diffuser for the MT-24EX … Continue reading →

Posted in Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Brazil Bugs #15 – Formiga-membracídeos mutualismo

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

Of the several insect groups that I most wanted to see and photograph during my trip to Brazil a few weeks ago, treehoppers were near the top of the list.  To say that treehoppers are diverse in the Neotropics is … Continue reading →

Posted in Formicidae, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Membracidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 49 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

Brazil Bugs #14 – Fusquinha

Posted on February 25, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

Despite their hyperdiversity, leaf beetles (family Chrysomelidae) as a group are for the most part among the most easily recognized of all beetle families, and within the family none are more recognizable than the tortoise beetles (subfamily Cassidinae).  Named for … Continue reading →

Posted in Chrysomelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Frenatae 2011 Calendar

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

Even though we’re now in the latter part of February, I wanted to spread the word about a cool insect-themed calendar shown to me by a colleague during my recent trip to Brazil. Produced by Frenatae, the Graduate Student Entomology … Continue reading →

Posted in Coleoptera, Diptera, Scarabaeidae, Tabanidae, Zopheridae | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Is Missouri’s disjunct population of Johnson’s tiger beetle extirpated?

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

The December 2010 issue of the journal CICINDELA came out a little over a week ago. Leading off inside is the first in a series of papers that I, along with colleagues Chris Brown and Kent Fothergill, have prepared detailing … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Brazil Bugs #13 – Gorgulho do fungo

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

Over the weekend during my trip to Brazil last month, I took a walk in the municipal park near my colleague’s home in Barão Geraldo. There was a rather large lake with a walking trail going around it, and although much … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthribidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Featured Guest Photo – Dromica kolbei

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Ted C. MacRae

Shortly after I returned from Brazil, this stunning photo was sent to me by Joe Warfel, who himself had just returned from a trip to South Africa.  Joe had seen the beetle at Punda Maria camp in the northern part of … Continue reading →

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