Calosoma (Chrysostigma) simplex LeConte, 1878
Calosoma simplex LeConte, 1878: 61 (described from California); holotype ♂ by monotypy in Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Ma. (https://mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/)
Calosoma (Carabosoma) simplex Breuning, 1928: 113
Callitropa (Acamegonia) semilaevis simplex Lapouge, 1931: 389
Chrysostigma simplex Jeannel, 1940: 169
Calosoma (Chrysostigma) simplex Gidaspow, 1959: 271
Callisthenes (Chrysostigma) simplex Erwin, 2007: 81
Length 20-22 mm. C. simplex and C. affine, have the pronotum, narrower behind and the sculpture of elytra is almost smooth, the striae being indicated by superficial punctures only. C. simplex is distinguished by the less transverse pronotum, by its diminutive size, and by the absence of visible foveae on the primary intervals.
Breuning (1928a: 113) and Gidaspow (1959: 271) quote captures of C. simplex in various localities of California only. Burgess and Collins (1917: 93) cite it also from Arizona, Colorado, Texas, and from Mexico, to which Erwin (2007: 81) erroneously adds New Mexico but Bousquet (2012: 243) deems all these data incorrect and thinks that C. simplex is confined to California.
On the other hand, C. simplex, imported from the United States in Hawaii, as possible help in controlling the infestations of Lepidoptera Noctuidae, has been consequently cited as part of the entomological fauna of the Islands (http://www2.bishopmuseum.org /HBS/checklist).
Examined specimens and literature’s data
United States. California: Madera co. Mojave desert (Breuning, 1928: 113), Merced co. (Pinoche Hill), San Benito co. (Panoche), San Bernardino co. (Victorville), Yolo co. (Davis) (Gidaspow, 1959: 272), Fresno County (SB), Los Angeles (AMNH), Los Angeles co. (www.inaturalist.org/observations/5618467), Kern co. (http://bugguide.net/), Riverside co. (UASM), Riverside co. (Palm Springs) (Gidaspow, 1959: 272), San Diego Co. (Mission Trails Regional Park), (www.inaturalist.org).
Notes: Winged. It is found from lowlands to uplands up to 2100m altitude. Adults have been found in April-May, August and October-November (Erwin, 2007:81).
![]() United States: California, Huron (Fresno County), May, 7, 07; from R. Hopping collection |