Calosoma sayi
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Calosoma sayi, also known as "Say's caterpillar hunter" or "Black Caterpillar Hunter", is a species of ground beetle of the subfamily Carabinae. It was described by Pierre François Marie Auguste Dejean in 1826. A large, lustrous black beetle found throughout the United States, its habitat is fields and disturbed areas. About 25mm to 28mm long, its grooved elytra have rows of metallic dots or pits. Said pits are smaller than many other Calosoma, and are ruby red. Both larvae and adults prey upon other larvae and pupae, specifically those of grubs, flies, and lepidoptera.
These insects can be found roaming in forests, grasslands, and other areas in search of food, which is primarily caterpillars and other invertebrates. They are fast runners, using their long legs to cover large expanses of area and to evade predation. They are typically nocturnal hunters and may hide under stones, leaves, or wood during the day. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|
More parks will be added in future updates.
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Black Caterpillar Hunter sighting in Dallas on a given day, based on 33 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 494th most-seen of the 1412 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
August and September
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Black Caterpillar Hunter in Dallas on a given day, against under 5% in October to July, the lowest months.
Between 7 and 10 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Black Caterpillar Hunter sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is seen both by day and at night.
Yes
Of the 4 cities where we can rate Black Caterpillar Hunter sightings, Dallas has the highest daily chance: under 5%. Next come Monterrey (México, under 5%) and Austin (United States, under 5%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Black Caterpillar Hunter is recorded against all the insects logged in Dallas (33 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
