|
Species Necrophila americana - American Carrion Beetle
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)
Genus Necrophila
Species americana (American Carrion Beetle)
Other Common Names Crusader Carrion Beetle (Jaeger, 1859 (1)) Synonyms and other taxonomic changes Necrophila americana ( Linnaeus, 1758). Taxonomic notes:
described in 1758 by Linnaeus as Silpha americana
Identification Distinctive: large, with mostly yellow pronotum. Oiceoptoma noveboracense is similar, but smaller (14 mm), and has more of a cross-shaped dark mark on pronotum that goes all the way to the base (2).
In flight, with its yellow pronotum and black body, this species rather resembles a bumblebee (Bombus) or Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa). (Personal observation, P. Coin, Durham, North Carolina, 5/5/04.) Ratcliffe, p. 33, states the beetle mimics a cuckoo-bee, Psithyrus ashtoni. Range North America east of Rockies (3)Habitat Prefers "marshy and forested areas". (4)Season Spring-early fall. March-September (Nebraska), reported April-July (North Carolina) Food Adults consume fly larvae (maggots) at carrion, as well as some carrion. Life Cycle Diurnal, not found at lights (but see comments here). Found on carrion and decaying fungi. Larvae eat carrion, larvae of flies and other carrion beetles. Eggs are laid singly on or near carrion. They prefer larger carrion, Milne (5) states "rat-sized or larger". Larvae hatch in a few days, feed in or under carcass, and pupate in a nearby soil cell. Larvae may prefer dried skin, bits of flesh after maggots have departed. Adults overwinter. (5) (4)Print References Arnett, p. 130, fig. 322 (6)
Dillon, p. 177, Plate XXIX (2)
Jaeger, 1859. Life of North American Insects (1).
Marshall, photos 303.1-2, adult and larva (8)
Milne, p. 550, figure 174 (5)
Papp, pp. 71-72, figure 224 (3)
Ratcliffe, pp. 32-34, fig. 57 (4)
White, p. 120, plate 2. (9)Internet References Insects of Cedar Creek genus Silpha (out-of-date taxonomy)
Insects of Quebec has a page with good photos of specimens.
Animal Diversity Web--click on Pictures tab to see photos.
Systema Naturae, 10th ed., v.1, p.360 Linnaeus' original description of the species (in Latin)
Works Cited | 6. | How to Know the Beetles
By Ross H. Arnett, N. M. Downie, H. E. Jaques | |
Contributed by Cotinis on 6 September, 2004 - 9:53am Additional contributions by Tony-2, Chuck EntzLast updated 25 December, 2011 - 2:53pm |
|
|
|
