Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Species Nicrophorus orbicollis - Roundneck Sexton Beetle

Nicrophorus - Nicrophorus orbicollis Nicrophorus species? - Nicrophorus orbicollis - Nicrophorus orbicollis Nicrophorus orbicollis - Roundneck Sexton Beetle? - Nicrophorus orbicollis Roundneck Sexton Beetle (Nicrophorus orbicollis)  - Nicrophorus orbicollis perhaps Nicrophorus orbicollis? - Nicrophorus orbicollis Nicrophorus orbicollis Nicrophorus orbicollis Red-spottedd beatle - Nicrophorus orbicollis
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Polyphaga
No Taxon (Series Staphyliniformia)
Superfamily Staphylinoidea
Family Silphidae (Carrion Beetles)
Genus Nicrophorus (Sexton Beetles)
Species orbicollis (Roundneck Sexton Beetle)
Explanation of Names
Nicrophorus orbicollis Say 1825
Size
15-23 mm(1)
Identification
The orange clubbed antennae along with the more circular posterior spots make this one fairly easy to ID (G.A. Hanley, 8/9/2008). Long elytral setae are characteristic, and usually diagnostic, for this species, but they are sometimes worn away.(1)
Range
e NA (NB-SK to FL-TX) - Map (1)(2), TX records mostly e. of the Brazos R.
Habitat
eastern deciduous forests, also grasslands; on all kinds of carrion, occasionally on dung, rotting fruit; adults observed to eat maggots(1)(3)
Season
Feb-Oct(1)
Life Cycle
Overwinters as adults; comes to lights(1)
Works Cited
1.The Carrion Beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae) of Nebraska
Brett Ratcliffe. 1996. University of Nebraska State Museum.
2.Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
3.A Manual of Common Beetles of Eastern North America
Dillon, Elizabeth S., and Dillon, Lawrence. 1961. Row, Peterson, and Company.