Fiery Search Beetle
Artist: Shoosty® Year: 2023
Medium: Duplex Printed Ink on 18mm Silk Twill
Size: 36” x 36”
The Fiery Searcher Beetle framed by dragonflies and long-winged wasps is a collection of predators arranged as a shield in a symmetrical pattern. The entire piece is rendered with beauty.
The thing that caught my eye was the lines on the back of the beetle. I learned they are a warning to predators as this thing can spray an oily odorous gas at attackers.
Fiery searcher beetles are known as caterpillar hunters. It is a species of ground beetle that belongs to the genus Calosoma, subgenus Acalosoma. It can be as large as 1.4 inches long and has a metallic green body with yellow and orange markings on the elytra (wing covers) and legs. It has large mandibles (jaws), antennae, and three pairs of legs with each ending in a claw.
It is beneficial for controlling pest populations, especially gypsy moths and tent caterpillars. It is active at night and hides under rocks, logs, or crevices during the day. It can fly and climb trees to hunt for prey.
