Calosoma scrutator
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| phylum | Arthropoda | Calosoma scrutator, commonly known as the fiery searcher or caterpillar hunter, is one of the largest and most attractive species of ground beetle in North America, reaching a length of up to 35 millimetres (1.4 in). It belongs to the family Carabidae, or ground beetles. The beetle is noted for its striking metallic coloration, featuring brilliant iridescent green elytra that are edged in reddish-gold, a bluish-black thorax, and a black head and legs. Both the adult and larval stages are voracious predators, feeding primarily on the caterpillars of destructive pests like the forest tent caterpillar and spongy moth larvae. The species is found throughout much of the continental United States and extending into Canada and Central America. When disturbed, the adult beetle is known to excrete a foul-smelling, defensive oil.
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| Class | Insecta | |
| order | Coleoptera | |
| family | Carabidae | |
| species | Calosoma scrutator |
