Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Ground and Water Beetles (Adephaga) » Ground Beetles (Carabidae) » Carabinae » Carabini » Calosoma

Genus Calosoma

Bright Metallic Green - Calosoma scrutator

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Adephaga (Ground and Water Beetles)

Family Carabidae (Ground Beetles)

Subfamily Carabinae

Tribe Carabini

Genus Calosoma

Other Common Names

Searchers, along with genus Carabus. Both of these are in the tribe Carabini.

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Calosoma Weber, 1801

Explanation of Names

From Greek kalos (καλος) pretty plus soma (σωμα) body.

Numbers

Nearctica.com lists 41 species.

41 spp. (in 10 subgenera) n. of Mex. (1)

Size

Circa 25-35 mm

Identification

Carabus and Calosoma are very similar, large, active Ground Beetles. Both genera are in the tribe Carabini. They can be differentiated based on technical characters. Quoting from Key to Florida Ground Beetles, and with a few added comments:

Antennal segments 2 and 3 carinate (ridged). Mandibles with transverse rugosities, at least basally. Elytra with humeri well developed, wings well developed. Metepimeron longer than wide.---> Calosoma. Elytra often have colorful punctures.

Antennal segments 2 and 3 cylindrical, not carinate (ridged). Mandibles smooth or finely punctate. Wings reduced, humeri sloping. Metepimeron wider than long or as wide as long. ---> Carabus. Several species have a bright blue border on elytra and pronotum. (Calosoma externum, however, has such a blue border.)

Compare mandibles, antennae of Carabus vinctus/Calosoma sayi:

Range

Much of North America

Habitat

Varied

Food

Predatory

See Also

Carabus, part of the same tribe, Carabini.

Print References

Burgess, A.F. & C.W. Collins. 1917. The genus Calosoma: including studies of seasonal histories, habits, and economic importance of American species north of Mexico and of several introduced species. U.S.D.A. Bur. Entomol. Bull. 417: 1-124. Full text

Ciegler, p. 27 (2)

Dillon, p. 65, plate VII [cite:2732

Brimley, p. 116, lists the following species for North Carolina: externum (widespread), scrutator (widespread), wilcoxi (coastal plain?), frigidum (mountains), sayi (Piedmont and coastal plain?), calidum (mountains).

Internet References

Ground Beetles of Canada: tribe Carabini--includes Calosoma

Insects of Cedar Creek

North Carolina State University Entomology lists, for that state, with number pinned: alternans (5), calidum (18), externum (15), frigidum (14), sayi (231), scrutator (221), wilcoxi (15).

Beetles of Florida lists sayi, scrutator, splendidum.

Works Cited

1.	American Beetles, Volume I: Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga, Polyphaga: Staphyliniformia By Arnett, R.H., Jr., and M. C. Thomas. (eds.)

2.	Ground Beetles and Wrinkled Bark Beetles of South Carolina By Janet Ciegler

Contributed by Cotinis on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by Chuck Entz, Mike Quinn
Last updated 21 November, 2009 - 9:31am

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