Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Nicrophorus Fabricius, 1775
Explanation of Names
Genus name is presumably from Greek necro death, plus phor- bearing.
Common name: A sexton is "a church officer or employee who takes care of the church property and performs related minor duties (as ringing the bell for services and
digging graves)" (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Wiktionary--
sexton). This clearly refers to the carrion-burying habits of the beetle.
Numbers
Nearctica.com lists 16 species for North America
Identification
Large, dark beetles with orange patterns on the elytra. Attracted to carrion.
Range
represented throughout North America, but most species have less extensive ranges
Habitat
Variety of habitats where carrion is present
Life Cycle
Remarkable parental care of larvae. Adults bury a small (usually) carcass, lay eggs in it, and stay with it, feeding the young on regurgitated carrion. (Yumm!)
Print References
Anderson, R.S. and Peck, S.B., 1985. The insects and arachnids of Canada and Alaska, part 13. The carrion beetles of Canada and Alaska. Coleoptera: Silphidae and Agyrtidae. Research Branch, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Publication 1778. 121 pp.
Hanley, G. A. and D. Cuthrell, 2007. The carrion beetles of North Dakota, Including descriptions and identification keys for the entire North American silphid fauna. Cyril Moore Science Center Science Monograph #4. Minot State University. 52 pp.
Internet References
Carrion Beetles of Nebraska--with photos, description, and distribution of 11 species of
Nicrophorus
Insects of Northeastern Iowa--photos of 5 species of
Nicrophorus plus other Silphidae genera
North Carolina State University Entomology Collection--lists seven species from that state:
americanus (18),
carolinus (7),
marginatus (22),
orbicollis (40),
pustulatus (27),
tomentosus (171).
N. americanus is endangered, and may not be found in the state any longer.
Checklist of California Silphidae; listing 5 species of Nicrophorus (formerly at http://www.sbnature.org/collections/invert/entom/silphidae.pdf)
Checklist of Silphidae of Canada and Alaska; PDF doc listing names, synonyms, and distributions of 14 species of
Nicrophorus
