Calosoma

Calosoma 

a genus of beetles of the family Carabidae (ground beetles). The body is large, measuring 15–35 mm. In some species the inferior wings are well developed; in others, mainly mountain species, they are absent. There are approximately 200 species, 30 of which are found in the USSR. Some species climb trees and are beneficial to the timber industry because they destroy harmful caterpillars. The species Calosoma sycophanta is found in the deciduous forests of southern Europe and on the mountains of Middle Asia and the Altai; it has been introduced to North America (USA). C. inquisitor is found in Europe, except the north, and principally destroys geometrid caterpillars. C. denticolle inhabits the steppe zone of Europe and Asia (Kazakhstan, Siberia, and the Mongolian People’s Republic) and destroys the caterpillars of various insects, including the species Apamea sordens and the beet webworm.