Calosoma cancellatum
Eschscholtz, 1833
latticed beautiful black searcher
Calosoma cancellatum is a large ground beetle in the caterpillar hunter Calosoma, described by Eschscholtz in 1833. It is a native to western North America, ranging from British Columbia through the Pacific Northwest and into the southwestern United States. The inhabits open dry ground and cultivated fields, where it actively hunts caterpillars and other insects.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Calosoma cancellatum: //ˌkæləˈsoʊmə ˌkænsɛˈleɪtəm//
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Habitat
Open dry ground; may also be found in cultivated fields.
Distribution
British Columbia, Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
Diet
prey on lepidopterous caterpillars, elaterids, flies, and orthopterans. Larvae have been recorded feeding on the larvae of Peridroma saucia.
Host Associations
- Peridroma saucia - preylarval food source
Behavior
are and active .
Ecological Role
of caterpillars and other insects; may contribute to of pest in agricultural settings.
Similar Taxa
- Calosoma scrutatorSimilar large size and predatory habits; C. scrutator typically larger (25mm+), with more elongated and , and more intense purple coloration on pronotum.
- Calosoma wilcoxiSimilar arboreal hunting and appearance; C. wilcoxi is smaller, about one third the size of C. scrutator.
More Details
Chemical Defense
Like other Calosoma , C. cancellatum likely possesses chemical defenses including methacrylic acid and salicylaldehyde, though this has not been explicitly documented for this species specifically.
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- Ground beetles up in the air: Calosoma wilcoxi and Calosoma scrutator — Bug of the Week
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