Silphidae - Thanatophilus truncatus

Looks like...

Thanatophilus truncatus?
http://bugguide.net/node/view/79775/bgimage or 2nd thought..T. trituberculatus if those are 2 bumps I see at the posterior portion of the elytra.. http://bugguide.net/node/view/90516

… Tim Loh, 18 November, 2008 - 4:47pm

Thanks

I'll check the elytra for bumps

… margarethe brummermann, 18 November, 2008 - 5:15pm

sure looks like it -- i concur

nice find! any histerids from same?

… v belov, 18 November, 2008 - 4:50pm

No just

Necrobia, Omorgus, Creophilus, and Dermestes (those larvae were covering the skin in a solid layer). We did not dig around...

… margarethe brummermann, 18 November, 2008 - 5:12pm

Oh Man!

I would have spread out my plastic sheet and dragged the remains onto it so they could be stirred *and* shaken, even beaten and whacked. Escapees are easy to spot on the plastic.

… Jim McClarin, 27 November, 2008 - 8:59am

Next time I call you!

… margarethe brummermann, 27 November, 2008 - 9:09am

It would be great

to spend some time around Tucson. Lived there for a short while 57 years ago but visited several times during my youth.

… Jim McClarin, 27 November, 2008 - 9:30am

Anytime

well - not too much going on till spring now. But we always have a place to stay and black lighting spots for bug(guide) people.

… margarethe brummermann, 27 November, 2008 - 10:58am

Thanks, Margarethe.

I hunt beetles year-round here in New Hampshire and have had excellent luck with Christmastime forays in southern New Mexico and central California. It necessarily involves turning over stones, logs, etc. and lifting bark on as many tree/bush species as you can find.

I find a lot more larvae than adults this time of year but some families overwinter as adults and hunker down in crevices, cracks, and other protected places, including under loose bark. I found some new species (for me) just today plus some synchro*idae larvae to send to Artjom in Russia.

As for visiting, I expect the economy will not permit it. I have Ecuador as a relocation goal in a couple years but will consider myself fortunate if I can get there. I may have to enjoy the depression from New Hampshire ;-)

… Jim McClarin, 27 November, 2008 - 4:18pm

histerids.

I did get maybe 3-4 hister beetles off this thing before passing out...Nah! I'm kidding (about fainting).

… Eric R. Eaton, 19 November, 2008 - 2:43pm

that's a shame...

...the substrate was at such an... advanced stage
i always liked my large carrion (ruminants/camelids) about a week old, not shaken or stirred. (a good fairly fresh camel in a semi-desert may yield up to two dozen histerid spp. alone -- speaking from experience. and you don't have to possess outstanding olfactory abilities to sense it from a good mile downwind)

… v belov, 18 November, 2008 - 5:20pm

Well, here it's real desert

I just watched a coyote dry up within a week - didn't find a single beetle!

… margarethe brummermann, 18 November, 2008 - 5:31pm

that's physics --

the larger the carcass, the longer (exponentially) it keeps moisture -- the exact reason i specified size :-] Of course a dog-size carcass must be visited more frequently and harvested within a few days

… v belov, 18 November, 2008 - 5:37pm

Yes

it is T. truncatus

… Guy A. Hanley, 18 November, 2008 - 5:11pm

Thanks!

… margarethe brummermann, 18 November, 2008 - 5:34pm