Red-legged Ham Beetle

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Necrobia rufipes: /nɛˈkroʊbiə ˈruːfɪˌpɛz/

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Summary

Necrobia rufipes, the red-legged ham beetle, is a predatory beetle notable for its metallic sheen and economic importance as a pest in dried food supplies. It has been established since the 18th century and is recognized for its destructive potential, especially in museum collections and food stores containing animal products.

Physical Characteristics

Adult: 3.5-7.0 mm long; shiny metallic bluish-green or blackish head, thorax, elytra; dark blue underside of abdomen; legs bright reddish-brown or orange; antennae mainly reddish-brown with dark brown or black club at tip; sides of thorax and elytra with stiff bristle-like hairs. Larva: creamy-gray body with mottled violet-gray markings; brown hardened plates on head, first thoracic segment, and last abdominal segment; strongly curved urogomphi.

Identification Tips

Adult beetles are convex, straight-sided with a shiny metallic appearance. They have distinctive red legs and antennae with dark clubs.

Habitat

Found indoors year-round; outside during summer in northern regions; commonly found in environments with dried fish, animal skins, museum specimens.

Distribution

Native to the Palearctic; now cosmopolitan, with records primarily from the Nearctic, particularly the Southwestern US.

Diet

Predaceous on meat-infesting larvae of Calliphora (blow flies), Dermestidae, and Piophilidae. Feeds on dried/salt fish, cheese, bacon, dried egg yolk, bones, copra, and guano.

Life Cycle

Eggs are laid on food material; larvae pass through three or four instars; final instar spins a cocoon to pupate. Life-cycle takes 6 weeks or longer depending on conditions.

Reproduction

Females lay eggs on food sources such as dried fish and skins.

Ecosystem Role

Major pest of animal-origin materials and copra; plays a role in forensic entomology due to its association with carrion and museum specimens.

Economic Impact

Considered a significant pest in agriculture, particularly of copra and dried/salt fish, leading to damage of stored food products.

Cultural Significance

Specimens have been found in Egyptian mummies; historically referenced as Necrobia mumiarum.

Collecting Methods

• Trapping with baited traps using dried animal materials
• Hand collection from infested food sources

Preservation Methods

• Desiccation
• Freezing to eliminate pests
• Chemical preservation

Similar Taxa

• Necrobia violacea
• Necrobia ruficollis
• Korynetes caeruleus

Misconceptions

Often confused with other similar beetles, particularly those that do not cause as much damage; should not be confused with its harsh relatives as they serve different ecological roles.

Tags

• Necrobia rufipes
• red-legged ham beetle
• Cleridae
• pest species
• forensic entomology