Tag Archives: science

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

ID Challenge #16

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

This will be the last post for BitB Challenge Session #5 (for a recap of the current standings see A Living Jewel – Madecassia rothschildi). This is a straight up identification challenge, but with a twist. Can you identify the subject … Continue reading →

Posted in [No taxon] | Tagged , , , , , | 30 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

To the land of Gauchos

Posted on February 26, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

Today I leave for an extended stay in Argentina. Many have asked me if my trip is for work or fun, and my standard response has been, “It’s for work, and it will be fun!” For the next eight weeks, … Continue reading →

Posted in Coreidae, Hemiptera | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Chrysobothris viridiceps

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

Despite their general popularity among beetle collectors, jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) have an admittedly deserved reputation for difficult taxonomy. Part of the reason for this is the existence of several highly speciose genera. In North America, for example, nearly half of its … Continue reading →

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

Grampus and go-devil

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

Ever taken a close look at a female dobsonfly’s head? Female dobsonflys don’t get nearly as much attention as the males due to the latter’s ridiculously elongated mandibles. While female mandibles are more modestly proportioned, don’t think they’re ineffectual—females are … Continue reading →

Posted in Corydalidae, Neuroptera | Tagged , , , , | 19 Comments