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

Species Calosoma scrutator - Fiery Searcher

Classification · Other Common Names · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Firey Searcher? At least I'm fairly sure that's what it is. - Calosoma scrutator

Firery Searcher, one more pic of the same sexy beetle. - Calosoma scrutator

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

Species scrutator (Fiery Searcher)

Other Common Names

The Searcher

Caterpillar Hunter

Size

25-35 mm; Dillon & Dillon (1) give 25-30 mm

Identification

Large; elytra bright green with red/gold border; pronotum purple. Calosoma wilcoxi is very similar but smaller, at 18-26 mm (Dillon & Dillon (1) give 16-20 mm for C. wilcoxi).

Range

Most of continental United States and southern Canada

Habitat

Open areas: fields, gardens, orchards, but often near deciduous forests

Season

Typically April-November, most commonly found in spring. Reported in references: May-September (North Carolina), March-November (South Carolina).

Food

Adults and larvae prey on caterpillars. Adults will climb trees in search of their prey.

Life Cycle

Life cycle is one year, but adults long-lived, reported to live for up to three years. Adults attracted to lights. Eggs are laid singly in soil. Larvae pupate in earthen cells. Adults can overwinter. (2)

Remarks

One of the most beautiful North American beetles.

See Also

Calosoma wilcoxi is very similar but smaller (Dillon & Dillon (1) give 16-20 mm); compare both species and several others at CBIF

Print References

Dillon & Dillon, p. 66, plate VII #5 (1)

Ciegler, p. 28 (3)

Papp, p. 45, fig. 125 (4)

Arnett, pp. 74-75, fig. 197 (5)

White, p. 45, fig. 27 (6)

Milne, p. 537, fig. 209 (2)

Deyrup, pp. 90-91, two photos (7)

Salsbury, p. 165--photo (8)

Brimley, p. 116 (9)

Internet References

Stratford Landing Elementary School

Clemson University

Insects of Texas

Ground Beetles of Canada

Works Cited

1.	A Manual of Common Beetles of Eastern North America By Dillon, Elizabeth S., and Dillon, Lawrence

2.	National Audubon Society Field Guide to Insects and Spiders By Lorus and Margery Milne

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

4.	Introduction to North American Beetles By Charles S. Papp

5.	How to Know the Beetles By Ross H. Arnett, N. M. Downie, H. E. Jaques

6.	Peterson Field Guides: Beetles By Richard E. White

7.	Florida's Fabulous Insects By Mark Deyrup, Brian Kenney, Thomas C. Emmel

8.	Insects in Kansas By Glenn A. Salsbury and Stephan C. White

9.	Insects of North Carolina By C.S. Brimley

Contributed by Cotinis on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by Robin McLeod
Last updated 20 November, 2007 - 10:44am

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