American carrion beetle
(Necrophila americana)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
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Description |
The pronotum is yellow with a single squarish black spot near the center. The spot is usually well separated from the margin at the base of the pronotum. In the northern states and Canada the elytra have a yellow tip. |
Size |
½″ to ¾″ long |
Similar Species |
Margined carrion beetle (Oiceoptoma noveboracense) is smaller. The pronotum is orange. The black spot on the pronotum is cross-shaped and touches the margin at the base of the pronotum. Ridged carrion beetle (Oiceoptoma inaequale) pronotum is entirely black. |
Habitat |
Moist woods |
Biology |
Season |
March to September |
Behavior |
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Life Cycle |
The female lays eggs directly on or in a blown carcas of an animal rat sized or larger. Adults overwinter in the ground. |
Larva Food |
Animal carrion, fly maggots, and beetle larvae |
Adult Food |
Fly larvae and carrion |
Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 7/24/2025 | ||
Occurrence |
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Common |
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Taxonomy |
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Order |
Coleoptera (beetles) |
Suborder |
Polyphaga (water, rove, scarab, long-horned, leaf, and snout beetles) |
Infraorder |
Staphyliniformia |
Superfamily |
Staphylinoidea (rove, ant-like stone, and carrion beetles) |
Family |
Silphidae (burying and carrion beetles) |
Subfamily |
Silphinae |
Genus |
Necrophila |
American carrion beetle was formerly classified Silpha americana. This and all other North American silphid beetles, formerly in the genus Silpha, have been transferred to the subfamilies Nicrophorinae and Silphinae. |
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Subordinate Taxa |
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Synonyms |
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Oiceoptoma affine Oiceoptoma canadense Oiceoptoma terminatum Silpha americana Silpha peltata |
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Common Names |
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American carrion beetle crusader carrion beetle |
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Glossary
Elytra
The hardened or leathery forewings of beetles used to protect the fragile hindwings, which are used for flying. Singular: elytron.
Pronotum
The exoskeletal plate on the upper side of the first segment of the thorax of an insect.
Visitor Photos |
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Jeanine |
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Babette Kis |
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Necrophila americana - American Carrion Beetle Necrophila americana - American Carrion Beetle, Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI, photo taken May 25, 2019. |
Jacqueline Jorgensen |
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Maggie Lindberg |
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It was crawling on our back yard patio. |
Luciearl |
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Bill Reynolds |
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Here we have the American Carrion Beetle. I spotting it flying and shot a stream of water at it from the garden hose, knocking it to the ground. One of the shots is of the beetle resetting it's wings, I'm guessing, for it didn't take off while I took a few images. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
American Carrion Beetle (Necrophila americana) |
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Silpha americana (American Carrion Beetle) |
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Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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Carrion Beetle (Silphidae: Necrophila americana) on Tree Trunk |
About
Published on Jun 13, 2012 Photographed at the Turtle River State Park, North Dakota (12 June 2012). |
Immature Necrophila Americana |
About
Published on Jul 9, 2013 Silphidae |
American carrion beetles' aggregation on tree, 6/3/11, MD |
About
Published on Feb 24, 2013 American carrion beetles' aggregation on tree, 7/10/11, MD Necrophila americana DSCN4241.MOV |
American Carrion Beetle (Silphidae: Necrophila americana) |
About
Uploaded on Jul 20, 2010 Photographed at the Turtle River State Park, North Dakota (20 July 2010). |
American Carrion Beetle (Silphidae: Necrophila americana) on Burdock Blossom |
About
Uploaded on Jul 31, 2010 Photographed at Turtle River State Park, North Dakota (30 July 2010). |
Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this insect. |
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Jeanine |
Location: Rogers, Mn |
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| Jacqueline Jorgensen 6/11/2021 |
Location: Stark Lake, Aitkin, MN |
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| Maggie Lindberg 7/29/2020 |
Location: 8835 42nd St., Lake Elmo, MN It was crawling on our back yard patio. |
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| Babette Kis 5/25/2019 |
Location: Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI Necrophila americana - American Carrion Beetle, Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI, photo taken May 25, 2019. |
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| Luciearl 1/4/2018 |
Location: Lake Shore, MN |
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| Bill Reynolds 8/4/2017 |
Location: Pennington Co MN Here we have the American Carrion Beetle. I spotting it flying and shot a stream of water at it from the garden hose, knocking it to the ground. One of the shots is of the beetle resetting it's wings, I'm guessing, for it didn't take off while I took a few images. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Created: 9/5/2015 Last Updated: © MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved. |