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Photo#588738
Calosoma externum - Narrow Searcher - Calosoma externum

Calosoma externum - Narrow Searcher - Calosoma externum
Bloomfield - Residence, Stoddard County, Missouri, USA
October 11, 2011
Size: ~27 mm
I'm sure this is a very common beetle. I have just never noticed the extent of blue on the outer edge of it. It was observed initially feverishly running away from a Woolly Bear Caterpillar carcass . . . it's what they do!

Moved tentatively; very nice!
Chris, if they are indeed common in your area, please try to take & post more pix: we've only had a single submission of this species so far [from NC], and yours is BG's very first live photo of this impressive bug.
thanks!
Moved from ID Request.

 
congratulations--a bit late
For the record, my specimen from 2004 was live, but chilled, as it would not hold still otherwise:


I have always wondered why there were so few records on BugGuide--it took seven years to get another one after mine, and I have never seen another. I just happened across mine in my woodsy suburban yard, so it is not like it was an unusual habitat. Perhaps some pit trapping or other appropriate technique would turn up more. A real puzzle!

searcher
Calosoma externum or a species of calosoma (unless the genus has been changed to Callisthenes )

 
Calosoma externum - Narrow Searcher
Awesome! Thanks!