Burying-beetles
Guides
Silphidae
carrion beetles, burying beetles, large carrion beetles, sexton beetles
Silphidae is a family of beetles commonly known as carrion beetles or burying beetles, comprising approximately 183 species in two tribes: Silphini and Nicrophorini. Members feed primarily on decaying organic matter, particularly animal carcasses, with some species exhibiting specialized behaviors such as burying small carcasses and providing parental care. The family has forensic importance due to predictable colonization patterns on human remains. Silphidae are most diverse in temperate regions, with flight capability varying among species and correlated with food source type.
Uropodoidea
tortoise mites
Uropodoidea is a superfamily of tortoise mites (Mesostigmata) comprising over 2,000 described species worldwide. These mites are characterized by their phoretic associations with insects, particularly bark beetles (Scolytinae) and burying beetles (Nicrophorus), which they use for dispersal between patchy, ephemeral habitats. The superfamily exhibits diverse host relationships, with most species showing narrow host specificity, though some exhibit broader host ranges. Molecular and morphological studies have revealed that apparent host generalists are often complexes of cryptic specialist species.