Calosoma (Castrida) alternans (Fabricius, 1792)

Calosoma (Castrida) alternans alternans (Fabricius, 1792)

Carabus alternans Fabricius, 1792: 146 (type locality: "Americae insulis"); lectotype in Natural History Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen (Gidaspow, 1963: 285)
Calosoma alternans Weber, 1801. 20
Calosoma laterale Dejean, 1826: 199 (type material compatible with one male specimen) holotype ♂ (Brésil) designated by Deuve (1978: 246) by monotipy in Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris [examined] (preoccupied by Calosoma laterale Kirby, 1818 = Calosoma (Castrida) retusum (Fabricius, 1775)
Calosoma granulatum Perty, 1830: 9 (described from: Brésil)
Calosoma armatum Reiche, 1842: 377 (described from: Venezuela) (nec Laporte, 1835)
Callistriga coxalis Motschulsky, 1865: 307 (nomen novum pro armatum Reiche, 1842)
Calama(ta) rugata Motschulsky, 1865: 308 (described from: South America)
Calosoma (Callistriga) alternans Breuning, 1927: 192
Calosoma (Callistriga) granulatum Breuning, 1927: 195
Caminara (Callistriga) alternans Lapouge, 1932: 417
Castrida alternans Jeannel, 1940: 95
Castrida alternans ssp granulatum Jeannel, 1940: 96
Calosoma (Castrida) alternans Gidaspow, 1959: 241
Calosoma (Castrida) alternans granulatum Gidaspow, 1963: 300
Calosoma (Castrida) alternans Erwin, 2007: 86


Length 24-30 mm. C. sayi and C. alternans are both characterized by the metatrochanter of the males having an arcuated pointed tip but C. alternans differs from this allied species because the elytral secondary intervals are more or less reduced in size and elevation and three basal articles of the males’ anterior tarsi are partially or totally hairy as it is the rule in the species of Castrida.
C. alternans is present in the southern part of Central America, and it can possibly overlap, at least partially, with C. sayi in Panama and it is represented by some specimens in Honduras and in Puerto Rico, where, however, C. sayi is dominant. Starting from Panama and the Lesser Antilles C. alternans spreads in South America down to northern Argentina.
In this regard it must be added that a specimen of C. alternans has also been observed in the Galapagos Islands but in this case it is certainly an accidental importation. This interpretation is suggested by the distance (about 1.000 kilometres) that separates the islands from the continent and which a beetle could hardly fly over, and is strengthened by the fact that the specimen was observed near the main port of the archipelago, a destination for intense maritime traffic.
From a morphological point of view, in C. alternans we find two morphotypes. One consists of dark individuals superficially similar to C. sayi, and it tends to be dominant in the northward spreading area: Lesser Antilles (Dominica, Martinique, Trinidad), Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, and northern Brazil.
The other morphotype is characterized by the brightly metallic upper side of the body, with the pronotum slightly more transverse and it is more common from central Brasil moving south.
All the populations pertaining to this second morphotype were regarded by Breuning (1927: 195) as a distinct species (Calosoma (Callistriga) granulatum), but they were considered by Jeannel (1940: 96), and by later authors, rather as a southern subspecies of C. alternans. However, taking into account the mingling of individuals of one type or another inside the same population, more recent authors (Erwin, 1999: 20) prefer to consider the infraspecific subdivision unnecessary.

Examined specimens and literature’s data
Anguilla (United Kingdom). Anguilla island: West End Village (www.inaturalist.org)
Antigua e Barbuda. Barbuda (Peck, 2009: 10)
Antilles Françaises. Martinique: La Trinité; (Breuning, 1927: 197 sub granulatum coxale); Île de Saint-Barthélemy (Dejean, 1826: 201): Baie de St. Jean (www.inaturalist.org); Île de Saint-Martin: Cul-de-Sac (www.inaturalist.org); Guadeloupe: Vieux-Habitants, Saint-Claude (www.gbif.org/)
Argentina. Buenos Aires: Buenos Aires (sub laterale, Bruch, 1911; 152; Breuning, 1927: 196), San Pedro (sub retusum http://www.freewebs.com), La Plata (Gidaspow, 1963: 300), Bahia Blanca (Breuning, 1928: 96), San Nicolás de Los Arroyos (www.inaturalist.org); Cordoba: (sub laterale, Bruch, 1911; 152), Ischilín, Punilla (www.inaturalist.org); Corrientes (Breuning, 1928: 96): Loreto (www.inaturalist.org); Entre Rios: Pronunciamiento (EM), Liebig (http://www.insecte.org), Colón, Villa Valle Maria, Paraná, Conception del Uruguay (www.inaturalist.org), Villaguay (http://insecterra.forumactif.com), Chajari (sub granulatum, www.ecoregistros.org/); Formosa: Formosa (www.inaturalist.org); La Rioja: Olta (www.gbif.org/); Misiones: Panambi (SB); Rio Negro (sub laterale, Bruch, 1911; 152), San Antonio Oeste (www.inaturalist.org/); Salta: Hipólito Irigoyen (www.gbif.org/); Santa Fe: Presidente Roca, Santa Fe Capital, Rosario, Coronda (www.inaturalist.org/).
Barbados. (Peck, 2009: 10), Bridgetown: Clapman (www.inaturalist.org)
Bolivia. Santa Cruz: Andrés Ibáñez (Gidaspow, 1963: 300; Allen, 1977: 74), Sara (Gidaspow, 1963: 300), Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Villa Yapacani, San Juan (www.inaturalist.org); Chuquisaca: Tomina (SB); El Beni: Riberalta (www.inaturalist.org)
Brazil. Acre: Rio Branco (www.inaturalist.org/); Alagoa: Olho d'Água das Flores (www.inaturalist.org); Amazonas: Manaus (Breuning, 1927: 196), Manicoré (Gidaspow, 1963: 300); Bahia: Villa Victoria (SB), Itabuna (sub granulosum , www.gbif.org), Itapetinga, Cruz das Almas (www.inaturalist.org); Brasilia (AMNH); Ceará: Iguatu, Sobral (www.inaturalist.org/); Espírito Santo: Sooretama (sub granulosum , www.gbif.org); Goiás: Tejuco (Breuning, 1927: 196), Itajá, Catalão, Anápolis (www.inaturalist.org); Marañhão: Jussural (Gidaspow, 1963: 300), São Raimundo Das Mangabeiras (www.inaturalist.org/); Mato Grosso: Uirapuru (SB), Diamantino (SB), Tangarà da Serra (SB), Rosario Oeste (SB), Corumba (Breuning, 1927: 196), Bodoquena (sub granulosum , www.gbif.org), Sinop, Campo Grande, Alta Floresta, Itiquira (www.inaturalist.org); Mato Grosso do Sul: Agua Clara, Cassilândia, Campo Grande (www.inaturalist.org); Minas Gerais: Passa Quatro, Lavras (Gidaspow, 1963: 300), Rio Paranaíba, Buritizeiro, Ituiutaba, Goiabeira (www.inaturalist.org), Corinto (sub C. retusum, www.projectnoah.org/), Santo Hipolito (sub C. retusum, http://www.flickriver.com), Espinosa, Poços de Caldas, Pedro Leopoldo (sub granulosum , www.gbif.org); Parà: Santarem (Gidaspow, 1963: 300), Marabá, Palestina do Pará (www.inaturalist.org/), Cachimbó (sub granulosum , www.gbif.org); Paraíba: Condado, Santa Teresinha (www.inaturalist.org/); Paranà: Rolândia (Gidaspow, 1963: 300), Ponta Grossa (sub granulosum , www.gbif.org), Ibiporã, Umuarama (www.inaturalist.org/); Pernambuco: Paudalho, Caruaru (www.inaturalist.org/); Recife (Breuning, 1927: 196); Rio de Janeiro: Itaguaí, Praia do Peró, Arraial do Cabo, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro, Guaratiba, Manguinhos (sub granulosum , www.gbif.org), Rio Bonito (SB); Rio Grande do Norte: São José do Campestre (sub granulatum , faunaefloradorn.blogspot.it/), Icapuí (www.inaturalist.org/), Jaguariba river (Gidaspow, 1963: 300), Mossoró (sub granulosum , www.gbif.org); Rio Grande do Sul: Porto Alegre, Pelotas (Gidaspow, 1963: 300), Balneário Pinhal, Estrela, Jaguarão (www.inaturalist.org); Rondônia: Porto Velho (www.inaturalist.org); Santa Catarina: Florianopolis (EM), Nova Teutonia (SB), Corupà (SB), Araranguá (www.inaturalist.org); São Paulo: Avaré, Rio Claro, Itu, Ribeirão Preto (sub granulosum, www.gbif.org), Fartura (www.inaturalist.org); Sergipe: Serra do Chapéu de Couro (www.inaturalist.org); Tocantins: Monte Santo do Tocantins (www.inaturalist.org).
Chile. Santiago reg., Melipilla (http://www.entomologiitaliani.net)
Colombia. Atlántico: Soledad (www.inaturalist.org); Bolívar: Cartagena (www.inaturalist.org); Boyacá (Forero Chavez, 2019: 58); Caldas: La Dorada (sub granulosum, www.gbif.org); Caquetá, Casanare (Forero Chavez, 2019: 58); Cesar: Valledupar (www.inaturalist.org); Córdoba: Montería, Pueblo Nuevo (www.inaturalist.org); Cundinamarca: Soacha, Tena, Fusagasugá (www.inaturalist.org); Huila: Villavieja, Neiva (www.inaturalist.org); La Guajira: Uribia (www.inaturalist.org); Magdalena: Pozo Colorado (www.inaturalist.org); Meta (Forero Chavez, 2019: 58); Norte de Santander: La Garita (Breuning, 1927: 197), Villa Del Rosario (www.inaturalist.org); Santander: Floridablanca, Girón, Cimitarra (www.inaturalist.org); Sucre: Nueva Granada, San Benito Abad, Galeras (www.inaturalist.org); Valle del Cauca: Palmira, Jamundí, Cali (www.gbif.org/), Santiago De Cali (www.inaturalist.org);Tolima: Venadillo, Armero, Guayabal, Ibagué, Coyaima, Espinal (sub granulosum, www.gbif.org), Alvarado, Fresno, Guamo, Honda, Mariquita, Melgar, Natagaima,Purificación, Saldaña, Venadillo (Forero Chavez, 2019: 58).
Curação. (Breuning, 1927: 196)
Dominica. (AMNH), (Peck, 2006b: 173)
Equador. Manabi: Manta, Puerto Lopez (www.inaturalist.org); Santa Elena: Punta Blanca (www.inaturalist.org)
Galápagos Archipelago (Equador). San Cristobal (Chatam): Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (www.inaturalist.org)
Guyana. Georgetown (AMNH), Upper Rupununi (Gidaspow, 1963: 298), Rock View Lodge near Annai village (www.idigbio.org)
Honduras. Choluteca (Erwin, 1991: 22), Francisco Morazán: San Antonio de Oriente (www.inaturalist.org/obs/33636052)
Panama: Bocas del Toro: Changuinola (www.inaturalist.org/obs/ 71337062); Chiriqui: (Breuning, 1927: 197), Dolega, David (www.inaturalist.org/obs/6452704); Coclé: El Vale de Antón (SB), Anton, Río Hato, La Sabanas (Erwin, 1991: 22), Penonomé (www.inaturalist.org/obs/43841842); Colón: Colón (www.inaturalist.org/obs/65539374), Madden Dam, Margarita; Panamá: Diablo, Altos de Maje (Erwin, 1991: 22); Veraguas: San Fransisco (sub sayi inaturalist.org).
Paraguay. dep. Alto Parana, Estancia Dimas (www.insecte.org); Asunción: Asunción (www.inaturalist.org); Boquerón: Nueva Asunción (www.pybio.org); dep. Guairà: Paso Yobay; dep. Central: Itauguá (www.inaturalist.org/); Misiones: San Juan Bautista de las Misiones (www.inaturalist.org/); Paraguari: Eco-reserva Mbatoví (www.inaturalist.org/); dep. San Pedro: Nova Germania (SB), Cororo (SB), Caaguazu (SB), Villarica, Tucuara (Gidaspow, 1963: 300).
Peru. Ica: Nazca 590 m ;(SB), Tumbez: Grau, San Pedro de los Incas (Baer, 1902: 83)
Puerto Rico. (Breuning, 1927: 194) Guayama (www.inaturalist.org)
Saint Kitts and Nevis. Saint Kitts island: Trinity Palmetto Point (www.inaturalist.org)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Saint Vincent (Peck, 2009: 10)
Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad island (Erwin, 2007: 86): Fyzabad (subfossil remains, sub curvipes, Blair, 1927: 137)
Uruguay. Canelones: Las Piedras (EM, SB), San Luis (www.inaturalist.org), Progreso (http://www.meloidae.com/); Montevideo (Gidaspow, 1963: 300); Tacuarembó (www.inaturalist.org); Treinta y Tres: Cerro Chato (www.inaturalist.org); Maldonado: Piriapolis (www.inaturalist.org)
Venezuela.. Apure: San Fernando de Apure (Jeannel,1940: 96), Araqua: Palo Negro (SB), Turmero (Gidaspow, 1963: 298), Girardot (www.inaturalist.org); Bolivar (Gidaspow, 1963: 298); Carabobo: La Vuelta (Jeannel,1940: 96), Las Trincheras (Gidaspow, 1963: 298), Bejuma (http://www.fotoreiseberichte.de/venezuela/); Falcon (Gidaspow, 1963: 298): Coro (www.inaturalist.org); Guárico: Infante, El Muerto (www.inaturalist.org); Yaracuy: José Antonio Páez (www.inaturalist.org/); Miranda: Guaicaipuro (www.inaturalist.org); isla de Margarita: El Valle del Espíritu Santo (Gidaspow, 1963: 298), Caracas (Breuning, 1927: 197), Caracas, Santa Clara (www.inaturalist.org); Monagas: Caripito (Gidaspow, 1963: 298); Zulia: Maracaibo (Breuning, 1927: 197), Cabimas (Gidaspow, 1963: 298), Lagunillas (www.inaturalist.org).
Virgin Islands of the United States. Saint Croix island (Peck, 2009: 10): North Coast (www.gbif.org/), Frederiksted (www.inaturalist.org).

Notes: Winged. It is attracted to the light at night. Adults and larvae may be caught using pitfall traps.
It lives in a variety of habitat from evergreen forests to pastures and plantations, being well-adapted to dry soils (Ariza & al., 2021).
It is predaceous on Lepidoptera larvae and pupae of Anomis spp., Spodoptera spp., Diatraea saccharalis, Plutella xylostella, Trichoplusia ni, Pseudoplusia includens, Anticarsia gemmatalis, etc. (Peck, 2009: 10). In Bolivia it has been noted as a possible auxiliary to agriculture because of predation of caterpillars injurious to cotton plantations such as Alabama argillacea and Spodoptera frugiperda (Allen, 1977: 74).
In the southern part of its areal the active individuals were observed mostly in the warm season, from October to Avril with a maximum in December - February.

Calosoma (Castrida) alternans
(Fabricius, 1775)
Perù, Ica prov., Nazca 590m., 9-11.3.1988, Czadek lg.
Calosoma (Castrida) alternans
(Fabricius, 1775)
Argentina, Misiones, Panambi, XII.57, Walz lg.
Calosoma (Castrida) alternans
(Fabricius, 1775)
Paraguay, San Pedro prov., 6km NW Nova Germania,
8-11.II.2008, Halada lg.
Calosoma (Castrida) alternans
(Fabricius, 1775)
Brazil, Bahia, Villa Victoria, Ch Pujol 1890
Calosoma (Castrida) alternans
(Fabricius, 1775)
Brésil (holotype of Calosoma laterale Dejean, 1826)
(coll. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris)

updated February 27 2024

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