Open Access

Yasmina Duinkerken

• This study aimed to investigate preferred habitat and climate attributes of the forest pest antagonist Calosoma sycophanta and Calosoma inquisitor. in terms of activity over the last 187 years, activity during the year, location, tree species, the impact of summer temperature and winter precipitation, legal protection status and the relevance of various caterpillar prey species. 55 observations of Calosoma syophanta and 34 of Calosoma inquisitor reported in Bavaria via citizen science or gathered from historic reports for the years 1836 to 2023 were analysed in terms of time, tree species, type of location, mean summer temperature, mean winter precipitation data obtained from the DWD and overlaps in terms of time and location with the occurrence of the potential prey species which are moth caterpillar species that benefit from the changing climate. The results show both species to prefer forest habitats dominated by Oak but also do not avoid mixed forests and habitats outside of the forest species and no benefit was concluded for a higher tree species diversity or legal protection status. Calosoma sycophanta (significantly) and Calosoma inquisitor appear to benefit from higher. Rising temperatures appear to have a positive effect, while a slightly negative is concluded due to less precipitation in the winter. Lymantria dispar and Thaumetopoea processionea appear to be the current preferred prey species of Calosoma sycophanta. The study’s findings indicate a positive prognosis in particular for Calosoma sycophanta in the context of the changing climate, habitat and food source, but further research including the gathering of more observations and field work is needed to gather more conclusive insights.