Calosoma scrutator
"Caterpillar Hunter or Fiery Searcher"
Family: Carabidae
The caterpillar hunter is one of the largest representatives of the ground beetles, and is a common North American species. Like other ground beetles it prefers cool, damp places to live, and so is often found on the ground under rocks, logs, leaves, bark, decomposing wood and other debris. However, the caterpillar hunter will climb trees in search of their favorite prey, caterpillars. Their most common prey include tent caterpillars, gypsy moth caterpillars, and other forest caterpillars. The caterpillar hunter generally feeds at night and hides during the day.
The life cycle of the caterpillar hunter is usually completed within one year. It begins as eggs are laid singly in the soil and hatch into elongate larvae. They have a large, forward directed, head. The pupal stage occurs in the soil. Adults may live up to two or three years. The adult caterpillar hunter is 2.5 cm (1") to 2.9 cm (1 3/8") in length, with a violet/blue luster on the sides of the head and thorax. The wing covers (elytra) are metallic green with red margins, and have fine grooves running from front to back.
Robert Padgett & Danny Jones
ENT 301; Fall 2000
