Cosmopolitan Blue Bone Beetle

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Necrobia violacea: /nɛˈkroʊbiə vaɪəˈleɪʃiə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Summary

Necrobia violacea, or the Cosmopolitan Blue Bone Beetle, is a small predaceous beetle known for its iridescent coloring and association with decomposing materials. It plays a role in pest control within certain ecosystems but can also invade stored food products. Its presence is especially noted in forensic studies related to decomposition.

Physical Characteristics

Small, measuring 4-5 mm in length; slightly curved shape; uniformly metallic shiny green or blue; long protruding hair; triangular head with bulging eyes; eleven-segmented, black clubbed antennae; coarse punctured pronotum; semicircular elytra with elongated dots; legs with blue to black hairs and serrated claws at the end.

Identification Tips

Distinguished by its blue legs compared to Necrobia rufipes; truncate spindle-shaped jaw palpi; unique antennae shape with a large club; visible coarse punctured pronotum; specific helical and overall shape of elytra.

Habitat

Found in forest and woodland environments; associated with stored dried meat products, dry bones, rawhide, and insect-infested carcasses.

Distribution

Cosmopolitan, occurs over much of the US, adjacent Canada, and native to the Palaearctic.

Diet

Larvae feed on dermestid larvae and other insect larvae; adults feed on carrion, stored dried foods, aged cheeses, and dried fish.

Life Cycle

Eggs are laid on surfaces; larvae burrow into materials, pupate in cocoons; development period assumed to be 25-35 days.

Reproduction

Adults lay eggs on surfaces where larvae can burrow into infested materials.

Ecosystem Role

Predaceous beetle contributing to decomposition by preying on other insect larvae found in carrion.

Economic Impact

Potential pest of stored food products; important in forensic entomology as part of the decomposition process.

Cultural Significance

Known for its association with corpses and forensic studies; plays a role in research related to decomposition.

Collecting Methods

• Hand collection from infested products
• Light traps

Preservation Methods

• Ethanol or isopropanol for specimens
• Drying specimens for collection

Evolution

Part of the Cleridae family, with notable diversity in the Necrobia genus, showcasing adaptation to carrion and decomposing materials.

Similar Taxa

• Necrobia rufipes
• Necrobia ruficollis
• Dermestes species

Misconceptions

Often confused with other beetles in the same genus or subfamily due to similar appearance; sometimes incorrectly identified as scavengers rather than predators.

Tags

• beetle
• predatory
• decomposition
• forensic entomology
• pest