The Calosoma sycophanta or forest caterpillar hunter is a ground beetle belonging to the family Carabidae.
Calosoma is a genus of large ground beetles that occur primarily throughout the Northern Hemisphere, and are referred to as caterpillar hunters or searchers. Many of the 167 species are largely or entirely black, but some have bright metallic coloration. They produce a foul-smelling spray from glands near the tip of the abdomen. They are recognizable due to their large thorax, which is almost the size of their abdomen and much wider than their head.
Calosoma schayeri is a species of Carabidae that occurs in Australia. Like most Carabidae the larvae is predaceous. It is quite active at night when it is found hunting for slow-moving prey such as caterpillars. If handled it gives off an unpleasant scent.
Calosoma auropunctatum, is a species of ground beetle. This species was previously classified as Calosome maderae ssp. auropunctatum. This species is found from Europe eastward to Anatolia, Central Asia and western China and Mongolia.
Calosoma inquisitor is a species of ground beetle. The species is found in northern Africa, Europe and East to Asia Minor, Iran and the Caucasus, with isolated populations in eastern Siberia and Japan.
Calosoma reticulatum, is a species of ground beetle native to northern Europe and Central Europe.
Calosoma investigator is a species of ground beetle belonging to the genus Calosoma and the subgenus Charmosta. The species is diffused in North-Eastern Europe and Siberia.
Calosoma scrutator, also known as the fiery searcher and caterpillar hunter, is a species of ground beetle belonging to the genus Calosoma, subgenus Acalosoma. This beetle can be as large as 35 millimetres (1.4 in) long. The distribution of this species is relatively widespread, but it is nonetheless uncommon in North America. The adult beetle is known to excrete a foul-smelling oil when it is handled. The oil has been described as smelling similar to rotten milk or rancid olive oil.
Calosoma elegans is a ground beetle species in the genus Calosoma found in Kazakhstan.
Carabinae is a subfamily of beetles in the family Carabidae, containing the following genera:
Calosoma retusum is a beetle of the family Carabidae.
Calosoma aethiopicum is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily of Carabinae. It was described by Breuning in 1928.
Calosoma algiricum is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily of Carabinae. It was described by Gehin in 1885.
Calosoma altipeta is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily of Carabinae. It was described by Jeannel in 1940.
Calosoma concreta is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily of Carabinae. It was described by Casey in 1920.
Calosoma discors is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily Carabinae. It was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1857.
Calosoma frigidum, also known as the "cold-country caterpillar hunter," is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily of Carabinae. It was described by William Kirby in 1837. Occurring throughout southern Canada and the United States, it is about 16mm to 27mm long and black, with rows of small greenish pits or dots along its elytra. It can be found in wooded areas.
Calosoma sayi, also known as "Say's caterpillar hunter," is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily of Carabinae. It was described by Dejean in 1826. A large, lustrous black beetle found throughout the United States, its habitat is fields and disturbed areas. About 25mm to 28mm long, its grooved elytra have rows of metallic dots or pits. Both larvae and adults prey upon other larvae and pupae.
Calosoma semilaeve, the black calosoma, is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily Carabinae. It was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1851.
Calosoma vagans is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily of Carabinae. It was described by Dejean.
