Tag Archives: science

The ultimate jaws on a longhorned beetle!

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

Some 23 years ago, I departed on my first ex-U.S. insect collecting trip. I was still a youngster—barely into my 30s—but had by then a well developed interest in woodboring beetles of the families Buprestidae and Cerambycidae. I had spent the previous … Continue reading →

Posted in Cerambycidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Let’s make a deal!

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Ted C. MacRae

I recently conducted a complete reorganization of the jewel beetles (superfamily Buprestoidea) in my collection (TCMC). The primary purpose of this was to bring the nomenclature and arrangement of the collection into agreement with the recently published World Catalogue of … Continue reading →

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

Best of BitB 2012

Posted on December 30, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

Welcome to the 5th Annual “Best of BitB”, where I pick my favorite photographs from the past year. 2012 was one of the most intensive travel years I’ve ever had—I spent 8 weeks in Argentina from February through April, made separate … Continue reading →

Posted in Blaberidae, Blattodea, Bombyliidae, Carabidae, Cerambycidae, Chloropidae, Chrysomelidae, Cicindelidae, Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Dictyoptera, Diptera, Fulgoridae, Hemiptera, Lampyridae, Lepidoptera, Milichiideae, Noctuidae, Reduviidae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

More Eocene insects

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

Most of the Green River Formation (GRF) insect fossils that I have on loan clearly represent either beetles (order Coleoptera) or flies (order Diptera). I’ve already shown a few of the latter (fungus gnat, midge), as well as some that … Continue reading →

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

Virtual Mantle 2012

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

In recent years a truly delightful custom has developed among taxonomic entomologists—Photoshopped e-Christmas cards featuring their favorite insects! This should not be a surprising development—connectivity among scientists from around the world is at an all-time high, as is their access … Continue reading →

Posted in [No taxon] | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The 2nd-oldest Known Myrmicine Ant

Posted on December 23, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

Among the 20 or so insects represented in the Green River Formation (GRF) fossils that I currently have on loan, this rather obvious ant (family Formicidae) is the only one that is firmly assignable to the order Hymenoptera (wasps, bees … Continue reading →

Posted in Formicidae, Hymenoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

T.G.I.Flyday: Tachinomyia sp.

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

You would think that somebody with enough patience to photograph tiger beetles would be equally patient with “calyptrate” flies, but for me such is not the case. It’s not that I don’t find them interesting (although, really, what insect group … Continue reading →

Posted in Diptera, Tachinidae | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

A 50-million-year-old midge

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

Several of the insect fossils collected from the Green River Formation (45–50 mya) that I am photographing appear to be flies, and specifically members of the “primitive” suborder Nematocera. This is not surprising, as the G.R. Formation of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, … Continue reading →

Posted in Chironomidae, Diptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments