Calleida viridipennis

The C. viridipennis beetle has a distribution that ranges from northern to southern America. The beetle has been observed to reside in southwestern New York to eastern Mexico, including southwestern Iowa. C. viridipennis has also been seen in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. Research studies interested in investigating the predation of C. viridipennis have focused on the beetle populations found in Louisiana and Florida. Possible sightings of the beetle have been noted in Utah, Arizona, and California. It has also been found inhabiting Saint Martin, an island in the Caribbean.

The life cycle of a beetle consists of 4 different stages: egg, larval, pupal and adult. Carabid eggs are distributed among foliage and host webs. C. viridipennis is a spring beetle, thus larvae occur from late-March to early- or mid-October. Overwintering occurs in the adult state underneath tree bark. Conversely, autumn breeders lay eggs in the fall and overwinter in the larval stage. Adults survive approximately one year.

Eggs. The length of the egg ranges between 1.0 and 1.3 mm. It is white to gray, and is oval shaped. The egg is enclosed in a purse that has been observed to be made of bark, silk, leaves, and grass. They are suspended from the leaves by a silk stalk.

Larvae. The average length of the beetle larva is 7.99 to 14.11 mm long, and is characterized by its metallic black to green tergites. The head is trapezoidal and differs in color as it is yellow to reddish-brown. The antennae is composed of 4 segments. The mandibles are longer than the antennae. The widest part of the beetle are the thoracic segments. The beetle typically bears 4 blunt teeth.

Pupa. The length measured from the crest of the head to the apex of the abdomen is recorded to be 6.6 to 7.7 mm.