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Calosoma (below) eating a Pipevine Swallowtail larva
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Range: Occurs throughout United States and southeastern Canada (Arnett & Thomas, 2000).
Adult Activity: April to November, though most common during April and May. (Taber & Fleenor, 2003).
Biology:
Adults of C. scrutator climb trees in search of prey, whereas the larvae remain on the ground. A number of Calosoma spp. are attracted to lights, on some evenings in great numbers. When disturbed, these beetles give off a distinctive, fetid odor. (Arnett & Thomas, 2000).
Similar Species:
There are 170 species within Calosoma arranged in 22 subgenera. The 41 Nearctic species are arrayed in 10 subgenera (Arnett & Thomas, 2000).
Texas Taxa:
Calosoma affine Chaudoir
Calosoma aurocinctum Chaudoir
Calosoma macrum LeConte
Calosoma marginale Casey
Calosoma sayi (Dejean)
Calosoma scrutator (Fabricius)
Calosoma wilcoxi LeConte
Weblinks: Ground Beetle - TAMU
Photos: Adult, Adult, Adult (close-up), Larva - BugGuide.Net
References:
Arnett, R.H. Jr., & M. C. Thomas. (editors). 2000. American
Beetles, Volume I:
Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga, Polyphaga: Staphyliniformia.
CRC Press. 464 pp.
Choate, P.M. 2001. Manual for the Identification of the Ground Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) (including tiger beetles) of Florida. University of Florida, Gainesville. Pre-publication manuscript. 90 pp.
Taber, S.W. & S.B. Fleenor. 2003. Insects of the Texas Lost Pines. Texas A&M University, College Station. 283 pp.
White, R.E. 1983. A Field Guide to the Beetles of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 368 pp.
20 Jan 2008 © Mike Quinn / entomike@gmail.com / Texas Entomology / Texas Beetles / Texas Beetle Photos /