Calosoma

Dolls robber

The dolls robber ( Calosoma ) are a genus of the family of ground beetles ( Carabidae ). These products are considered to very showy beetle with a body size 16 to 30 millimeters. In Central Europe, five species of this genus live, three of which are also found in Germany.

Features

The most striking feature of the dolls predator is the pronotum, which is much wider than long. However, at the transition to the elytra it is narrower than that of the genuine ground beetles, there arises an implied waist. The coloration of the animals varies but is often metallic green, purple or blue, the gold point Dolls robber is black and has gold spots on the wing covers ( elytra ). The mandibles of beetles are long and strong and armed with teeth, a Tastborste on the mandible does not exist. Further particulars of the four bare antenna base members, the supraorbital bristle and the position of the Enddorns the front rail (tibia) at the end.

Way of life

Dolls robbers are, as the name suggests, predatory beetles, which primarily feed on caterpillars. They are known and valued as destroyers of harmful caterpillars as the Gammaeule ( Autographa gamma), the Kieferneule ( Panolis flammea ) of the gypsy moth ( Lymantria dispar ) and nun moth (Lymantria monacha ). Here, the Great dolls robber ( Calosoma sycophanta ) and the little dolls robbers live (C. inquisitor ) and their larvae in trees, the other species hunt mainly on the ground. All dolls robbers are considered good flyer.

The life of the beetle may be three to four years, the larval period, however, only takes two to three weeks. The eggs are laid in the ground. The beetles occur particularly during mass occurrence of caterpillars locally very common. Hibernation takes place as Imago.

Species

In Central Europe, five species of the genus Calosoma live, three of which are also found in Germany. In general, the dolls robbers are combined together with the genuine ground beetles ( Carabus ) and the genus Procerus in a subfamily carabinae. All types of dolls robbers in Germany are protected by the Federal Species Protection Ordinance.

• Calosoma ( Calosoma sycophanta )
• Small dolls robber ( Calosoma inquisitor )
• Gold Dot Dolls robber ( Calosoma auropunctatum )
• Dolls, wetted robber ( Calosoma reticulatum )
• Calosoma investigator

Threat and protection

The main threat to the dolls robber proceeds from the use of insecticides and by the decline of the natural habitats of animals, especially the dry grass. In Germany and other Central European countries in accordance with all the dolls are predator- species under protection.