Tag Archives: science

You know what bugs me about dung beetles?…

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

Okay, I know this isn’t a true dung beetle, but this earth-boring scarab (family Geotrupidae) is close enough that I’ll take the opportunity to use one of my favorite dung beetle jokes.¹ This is one of several individuals that I … Continue reading →

Posted in Coleoptera, Geotrupidae | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments

These are a few of my favorite trees

Posted on January 22, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

Adrian Thysse recently posted a video of a talk by Wayne Maddison titled “Jumping Spider Melodies,” given November 2012 at the Joint Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of Canada and the Entomological Society of Alberta. It was a fascinating talk that … Continue reading →

Posted in Fabaceae, Juglandaceae, Pinaceae, Plantae | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

An elegant living fossil…

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

In the insect world, hyperdiversity is the norm. More than a million species are known, and perhaps several million more await discovery. Beetles alone represent nearly a quarter of the earth’s described biota, with one genus (Agrilus in the family Buprestidae) bursting at … Continue reading →

Posted in Hymenoptera, Pelecinidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Cicindela 44(3–4) is issued

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

The latest issue of the journal Cicindela arrived in my mailbox yesterday, and it’s safe to say that I’ve got the issue “covered.” The issue features three papers, one of which documents my recent encounter with Cicindelidia ocellata rectilatera (Reticulated Tiger Beetle) in Arkansas … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Diffuser comparisons for 100mm macro lens

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

I really wish I could just buy three Canon Speedlite 580EX II flash units, mount one directly on the camera, run the other two wirelessly on each side as slaves, put a nice big soft box diffuser on each of them, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Buprestidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

It’s always a happy day…

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

…when the latest issue of The Coleopterists Bulletin arrives in my mailbox. On this occasion it was the December issue of Volume 66—nine papers and eight scientific notes filling 84 pages of beetle awesomeness. It’s pure elytral ecstasy! I presume I … Continue reading →

Posted in Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, Cicindelidae, Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Mr. Phidippus gets his loot

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

I’m sure by now Mr. Phidippus is wondering where his loot is. You see, some months ago Mr. Phidippus won BitB Challenge Session #5 with a solid string of 1st and 2nd place finishes in that session’s five ID and super crop … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Ovipositing Pigeon Horntail

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

By early July, woodboring beetle activity is at its peak in southern Missouri. Even though many of the smaller species of jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) and longhorned beetles (family Cerambycidae) have already come and gone, bigger species in genera such … Continue reading →

Posted in Hymenoptera, Siricidae | Tagged , , , , , , | 16 Comments