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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles (Polyphaga) » Rove, Carrion and Fungus Beetles (Staphylinoidea) » Carrion Beetles (Silphidae)

Family Silphidae - Carrion Beetles

Classification · Numbers · Identification · Habitat · Life Cycle · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
What is it? - Nicrophorus tomentosus Shield bug? - Oiceoptoma noveboracense Beetle larva A Burying Beetle Garden Party - Necrophila americana Beetle from Apache-Sitgreaves NF in AZ - Nicrophorus larva? - Heterosilpha ramosa Nicrophorus mexicanus Nicrophorus nigrita ?? - Nicrophorus nigrita
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles)
Superfamily Staphylinoidea (Rove, Carrion and Fungus Beetles)
Family Silphidae (Carrion Beetles)
Numbers
30 endemic species on record for North America north of Mexico
Identification
Antennae of Silphidae are distinctive, for example:

Habitat
Found in many different habitats, usually associated with carrion (dead animals). Several species are attracted to UV and mercury vapor lights.
Life Cycle
Species in the genus Nicrophorus are unique in being one of the few insects that exhibit parental care of their young.
Print References
American Beetles, Vol. 1, Chapter 21 (1)
Internet References
Insects of Northeastern Iowa--links to photos of several genera/species
Insects of Cedar Creek
Carrion Beetles of Nebraska--home, and especially biology of carrion beetles
Works Cited
1.American Beetles, Volume I: Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga, Polyphaga: Staphyliniformia
By Arnett, R.H., Jr., and M. C. Thomas. (eds.)
Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Phillip Harpootlian, ghanley1
Last updated 29 September, 2007 - 8:59pm

Silphidae links
(Links moved to guide.)
… Cotinis, 18 July, 2004 - 7:33am

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