Black Caterpillar Hunter vs Desert Spider Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Black Caterpillar Hunter | Desert Spider Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calosoma sayi | Cysteodemus armatus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Carabidae | Meloidae |
| Size | 20-28 mm | 10-16 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Predators | Herbivores |
| Regions | Central and western North America | North America |
| 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.
Desert Spider Beetle
A bizarre inflated blister beetle with a bulbous, metallic blue-black abdomen. It waddles slowly through the Mojave and Sonoran deserts.
Did You Know?
Its balloon-like body shape mimics a spider, which may deter some predators.