Calosoma prominens
LeConte, 1853
projecting caterpillar hunter
Calosoma prominens is a large ground beetle in the Carabidae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1853. It belongs to the caterpillar hunter Calosoma, known for arboreal foraging targeting caterpillar prey. The occurs in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it inhabits arid scrublands dominated by acacia and cactus vegetation. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to be a voracious of caterpillars and other soft-bodied insects, though specific ecological studies for this species are limited.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Calosoma prominens: /kælɔˈsoʊmə prəˈmaɪnɛnz/
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Images
Habitat
Acacia and cactus scrub areas in arid and semi-arid regions.
Distribution
Mexico (Baja California, Chihuahua, Durango, Sonora) and the United States (Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas).
Diet
Presumed to feed on caterpillars and other soft-bodied insects, based on -level traits of Calosoma, but specific dietary records for this are not documented.
Similar Taxa
- Calosoma scrutatorSimilar large size and caterpillar-hunting , but C. scrutator has more intense purple coloration on the pronotum, more elongated and , and is generally larger (25 mm or more).
- Calosoma wilcoxiSimilar appearance and arboreal foraging , but C. wilcoxi is smaller (about one-third the size of C. scrutator) and shows differences in temporal occurrence.
- Calosoma sayiAnother black caterpillar hunter in the same , but C. sayi is uniformly black without the metallic coloration seen in some other Calosoma .
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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