Tag Archives: predator avoidance

Monday Moth – Trichaeta pterophorina

Posted on May 3, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

Another photo from the South Africa files, and one that continues the mimicry theme that has been featured in several recent posts. It’s not a great photograph – the focus is off – but the colors these moths sport are … Continue reading →

Posted in Arctiidae, Lepidoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Pseudomethoca simillima – a model for Enoclerus ichneumoneus?

Posted on April 27, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

Last week, I posted the above photograph of Enoclerus ichneumoneus (orange-banded checkered beetle) and mentioned its possibly mimetic appearance to velvet ants in the family Mutillidae (order Hymenoptera).  By some stroke of serendipity, I encountered a species of Mutillidae the very … Continue reading →

Posted in Cleridae, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Mutillidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Orange-banded checkered beetle

Posted on April 22, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

As a student of woodboring beetles for more than a quarter-century now, I’ve had occasion to encounter a goodly number of checkered beetles (family Cleridae) – both in the field and as a result of rearing them from dead wood. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cleridae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Mylabris oculatus in South Africa

Posted on April 15, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

Mylabris oculata, the CMR bean beetle, is a large, conspicuously-colored beetle in the family Meloidae (blister beetles) that I saw quite commonly during my stay in South Africa.  “CMR” refers to the Cape Mounted Rifle Corps, a police force in the … Continue reading →

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

Monday Moth: Arniocera erythropyga

Posted on April 12, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

Last week’s king cricket quiz (Tuesday Teaser) reminded me that I still have quite a few photographs from my trip to South Africa, now 10 years ago, that I still haven’t shared. This pretty little moth is Arniocera erythropyga, which I photographed … Continue reading →

Posted in Lepidoptera, Zygaenidae | Tagged , , , , , , | 14 Comments

A Tiger Beetle Aggregation

Posted on March 1, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

Not long ago, I received an interesting series of photographs from Joe Warfel, a nature photographer and macro specialist based in Massachussetts.  Joe traveled to Arizona last July, where he photographed an aggregation of Cicindela (Cicindelidia) sedecimpuntata (Western Red-bellied Tiger … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

BitB Best of 2009

Posted on December 30, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

In my first post of 2009, I looked back at the photographs I had posted during 2008 and picked some of my personal favorites. I hesitated then to call myself a photographer (and still do), but I at least now … Continue reading →

Posted in Apidae, Arachnida, Asilidae, Cicadidae, Cicindelidae, Coleoptera, Conopidae, Diapheromeridae, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Phasmida, Reptilia, Scorpiones | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Monday Moth: White-tipped Black Moth

Posted on November 9, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

When is a ctenuchid moth not a ctenuchid moth?  When it’s a White-tipped Black Moth (Melanchroia chephise) in the family Geometridae! I may be a beetle guy, but I also consider myself a competent general entomologist.  What is a competent general … Continue reading →

Posted in Geometridae, Lepidoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments