Calosoma sycophanta (predator)
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Calosoma sycophanta (predator) (Linnaeus, 1758)
This ground beetle is native to Europe, northern Africa and temperate parts of western Asia. It was introduced from several European countries into North America between 1906 and 1926. Nearly 100,000 adults have been released in total (Bartlett et al., 1978). It is now considered to be an important predator of gypsy moth caterpillars and pupae in North America and readily climbs trees to reach its prey. However, it appears to have little impact at low host densities and during the early stages of an outbreak. The beetle also preys on several other important pest Lepidoptera like processionary moths of the genus Thaumetopoea.
Adult C. sycophanta beetles live for several years, while the larval stage only lasts for a few weeks. Mature larvae pupate in the soil and the newly hatched adults stay in the pupation cell for overwintering, emerging the following spring. Mature adults also overwinter in the soil.