HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp

Clickable Guide

Calendar

BugGuide Gathering
Smoky Mountains
University of Tennessee Biological Field Station
August 8-10, 2008
Details...

Photos from the last gathering (Minnesota 2007)

TaxonomyBrowse

Info

ImagesLinksBooksData

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

big green beetle - Calosoma - Calosoma scrutator

Calosoma scrutator grub - 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)

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

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2008 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.

Printer Friendly Version