Black Caterpillar Hunter vs Australian Owlfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Black Caterpillar Hunter | Australian Owlfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calosoma sayi | Suhpalacsa flavipes |
| Order | Coleoptera | Neuroptera |
| Family | Carabidae | Ascalaphidae |
| Size | 20-28 mm | 40-55 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Central and western North America | Australia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Black Caterpillar Hunter
A large, entirely black caterpillar hunter beetle native to North American prairies and grasslands. It is a powerful runner that hunts caterpillars, especially cutworms, at night.
Did You Know?
Pioneer farmers on the Great Plains observed massive aggregations of this beetle appearing after rain to hunt cutworm outbreaks and called them rain beetles or thunderbugs.
Australian Owlfly
A large Australian owlfly with smoky wings and yellow legs. Active at dusk in open eucalyptus woodland and dry grassland.
Did You Know?
It is one of the most commonly encountered owlflies at light traps across inland Australia.