Species Necrophila americana - American Carrion Beetle

Crusader Carrion Beetle (Jaeger, 1859)

Silpha americana.

14-20 mm

Distinctive: large, with mostly yellow pronotum. Oiceoptoma noveboracensis 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 (1).

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.

North America east of Rockies (2)

Prefers "marshy and forested areas". (3)

Spring-early fall. March-September (Nebraska), reported April-July (North Carolina)

Adults consume fly larvae (maggots) at carrion, as well as some carrion.

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 (4) 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. (4) (3)

Formerly listed as Silpha americana.

Dillon, p. 177, Plate XXIX (1)

White, p. 120, plate 2. (5)

Milne, p. 550, figure 174 (4)

Papp, pp. 71-72, figure 224 (2)

Arnett, p. 130, fig. 322 (6)

Ratcliffe, pp. 32-34, fig. 57 (3)

Marshall, photos 303.1-2, adult and larva (7)

Brimley, p. 135 (8)

Insects of Cedar Creek has an informative page on genus Silpha, with illustrations of several species.

Insects of Quebec has a page with good photos of specimens.

Nebraska Carrion Beetles

Insects of Northeastern Iowa

Animal Diversity Web--click on Pictures tab to see photos.