Spangled Ground Beetle vs Goldsmith Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Spangled Ground Beetle Goldsmith Beetle
Scientific Name Callisthenes luxatus Cotalpa lanigera
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Carabidae Scarabaeidae
Size 20-28 mm 20-26mm
Habitat Grasslands Orchards
Diet Predators Root Feeders
Regions Central Asia, Middle East (Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan) North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Spangled Ground Beetle

A striking caterpillar hunter with dark elytra covered in rows of metallic golden or copper pits. It is a nocturnal predator found in arid grasslands of central Asia and the Middle East.

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Did You Know?

Like its relative Calosoma, it climbs vegetation at night to find caterpillars but is adapted to the harsh, dry environments of the Central Asian steppe.

Goldsmith Beetle

A beautiful golden-yellow scarab beetle with a metallic luster and fuzzy underside. It is attracted to lights on warm summer nights.

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Did You Know?

Its genus name Cotalpa means golden shield referring to its remarkably bright metallic golden coloration.