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

Oiceoptoma inaequale & noveboracensis compared - Oiceoptoma

smooth black carrion beetle - Thanatophilus truncatus

Nicrophorus nigrita ?? - Nicrophorus nigrita

Nicrophorus nigrita Beetle with mites - 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, all of which are imaged here in Bugguide.

Family SILPHIDAE

Genus Aclypea

Aclypea bituberosa

Aclypea opaca

Genus Heterosilpha

Heterosilpha aenescens

Heterosilpha ramosa

Genus Necrodes

Necrodes surinamensis

Genus Necrophila

Necrophila americana

Genus Nicrophorus

Nicrophorus americanus

Nicrophorus carolinus

Nicrophorus defodiens

Nicrophorus guttula

Nicrophorus hybridus

Nicrophorus investigator

Nicrophorus marginatus

Nicrophorus mexicanus

Nicrophorus nigrita

Nicrophorus obscurus

Nicrophorus orbicollis

Nicrophorus pustulatus

Nicrophorus sayi

Nicrophorus tomentosus

Nicrophorus vespilloides

Genus Oiceoptoma

Oiceoptoma inaequale

Oiceoptoma noveboracense

Oiceoptoma rugulosum

Genus Oxelytrum

Oxelytrum discicolle

Genus Thanatophilus

Thanatophilus coloradensis

Thanatophilus lapponicus

Thanatophilus sagax

Thanatophilus trituberculatus

Thanatophilus truncatus

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

Catalog of higher taxa, genera and subgenera of Staphyliniformia

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, Jeff Gruber
Last updated 13 December, 2008 - 10:58am

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2009 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.