Tag Archives: taxonomy

Josef Knull was wrong!

Posted on April 16, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

A few weeks ago I received an email from Kyle Schnepp, an entomology student at Purdue University.  Kyle has taken on the rather ambitious project of developing an illustrated key to the Buprestidae of eastern North America, for which he has … Continue reading →

Posted in Buprestidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Acmaeodera carlota in northern Arizona

Posted on March 5, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

This is another of the interesting species that I encountered during my examination of material submitted for identification this past winter.  Acmaeodera carlota is one of 149 species/subspecies in North America belonging to this very difficult genus (recall my recent … Continue reading →

Posted in Buprestidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Alkali Tiger Beetle

Posted on February 17, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

I haven’t written much about my early October trip to Oklahoma, where I had hoped to confirm a hunch that the gorgeous Cicindela pulchra (Beautiful Tiger Beetle) would be found in the red clay/gypsum hill habitats of Woodward and Major … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Aaack!-maeodera

Posted on February 11, 2010 by Ted C. MacRae

Warning: post contains hardcore, taxonomic, sciencey geekiness! Just as there is seasonality in the lives of insects, there is seasonality in the work of those who study them.  For the collector/taxonomist, everything revolves around the collecting season — time spent on … Continue reading →

Posted in Buprestidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

Tiger Beetles at Florida’s “Road to Nowhere”

Posted on December 22, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

(continued from the previous post, Tiger Beetles Agree—It’s Hot in Florida!) During the time that I explored the pine sandhill habitat at Withlacoochee State Forest in Citrus County, I kept close watch for any individuals amongst the dozens and dozens … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Tiger Beetles Agree—It’s Hot in Florida!

Posted on December 18, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

Florida is known for its rich assemblage of tiger beetles—27 species in all, including four endemics (Choate 2003).  However, late summer is generally considered not the best time of year for seeing this diversity, since adult populations of most species … Continue reading →

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

A “Really” Big-headed Tiger Beetle

Posted on November 24, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

In my recent summary of the latest issue of the journal Cicindela, I included a scan of the cover of that issue and its stunning image of the 3rd-instar larva of Megacephala megacephala¹ from Africa.  This otherwordly-looking, four-eyed beast was photographed with jaws agape … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicindelidae, Coleoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Florida Scrub Lizard

Posted on November 19, 2009 by Ted C. MacRae

Tiger beetles were not the only rare endemic species that I encountered during my visit to the Lake Wales Ridge in central Florida last August.  I didn’t know what this small lizard was as I watched it bolt from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Reptilia | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments