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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Adephaga » Ground Beetles (Carabidae) » Carabinae » Carabini » Caterpillar Hunter Beetles (Calosoma) » Subgenus Calodrepa (Calosoma Subgenus Calodrepa) » Fiery Searcher (Calosoma scrutator)

Species Calosoma scrutator - Fiery Searcher

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

Fiery Searcher Beetle - Calosoma scrutator

One of my original adult Calosoma scrutator brought from Tampa Fla. - Calosoma scrutator

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Adephaga

Family Carabidae (Ground Beetles)

Subfamily Carabinae

Tribe Carabini

Genus Calosoma (Caterpillar Hunter Beetles)

No Taxon (Subgenus Calodrepa)

Species scrutator (Fiery Searcher)

Other Common Names

The Searcher; Caterpillar Hunter

Explanation of Names

Calosoma scrutator (Fabricius 1775)

Size

25-35 mm

Identification

Large; elytra bright green with red/gold border; pronotum purple. C. wilcoxi is very similar but smaller (18-26 mm)

Range

e US to CA (w.ME-ON-ND to FL-CA) to Venezuela - Map (1)(2); uncommon w. of Texas, plus only strays in NS-QC

Habitat

Open areas (fields, gardens, orchards), often near deciduous forests

Season

Mar-Sept (2)

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.

See Also

scrutator vs. wilcoxi, scrutator

C. wilcoxi - mostly Apr-June

Print References

(3)

Works Cited

1.	Catalogue of Geadephaga (Coleoptera, Adephaga) of America, north of Mexico Bousquet Y. 2012. ZooKeys 245: 1–1722.

2.	Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)

3.	Ground Beetles and Wrinkled Bark Beetles of South Carolina Janet Ciegler. 2000. Clemson University.

Contributed by Cotinis on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by Robin McLeod, Mike Quinn, v belov
Last updated 8 September, 2024 - 1:43pm

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