Carrion-associated
Guides
Aleochara lustrica
Aleochara lustrica is a rove beetle (Staphylinidae) with a dual life history: adults are predatory on fly larvae, while larvae are ectoparasitoids of cyclorrhaphan fly pupae. The species has been documented across the Americas from Canada to southern Brazil, with recent records extending its known range. It has confirmed associations with sarcophagid flies under laboratory conditions and plays a role in regulating populations of necrophagous Diptera of medical, veterinary, and forensic importance.
Dermestes talpinus
hide and tallow dermestid
Dermestes talpinus, commonly known as the hide and tallow dermestid, is a species of carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae. It is native to North America and has been documented from dry bones and carrion in advanced stages of decomposition. The species is smaller than many congeners and can be distinguished by its distinctive scale pattern: gold or coppery scales on the pronotum and silvery scales on the elytra.
Elaphrus lapponicus lapponicus
Elaphrus lapponicus lapponicus is a subspecies of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It belongs to a genus frequently mistaken for tiger beetles due to convergent morphology. The species is part of a holarctic complex with distribution across northern regions.
Epiplatea
Epiplatea is a genus of Neotropical flies in the family Richardiidae (subfamily Epiplateinae). The genus has been documented in association with decomposing animal carcasses, including domestic pig carcasses in Amazonas State, Brazil. Records suggest potential use in forensic entomology contexts. The genus contains multiple species distributed across the Neotropical region.
Megaselia rufipes
coffin fly
Megaselia rufipes, commonly known as the coffin fly, is a phorid scuttle fly species first described by Meigen in 1804. It has been recorded as a facultative parasitoid of honey bees (Apis mellifera) and as a pest of oil palm seeds. The species has a broad distribution spanning the Palearctic and Neotropical regions, with records from Europe, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, and the Azores. Its common name derives from its documented presence in cemetery crypts, where it has been collected using carrion-baited traps.
Muscina stabulans
False Stable Fly
Muscina stabulans, commonly known as the false stable fly, is a cosmopolitan synanthropic muscid fly distributed worldwide. Adults are medium-sized flies averaging 8 mm in length, distinguished by four dark thoracic stripes, partially reddish-brown legs, and a pale spot above the thorax. The species exhibits strong synanthropic tendencies, with higher abundance in urban-suburban environments compared to rural areas. It has significant economic and public health importance as a mechanical vector of pathogens, a facultative predator of house fly larvae in poultry facilities, and a forensic indicator species for post-mortem interval estimation. Rare cases of intestinal myiasis in humans have been documented.
Omorgus fuliginosus
Omorgus fuliginosus is a hide beetle in the family Trogidae, found in North and Central America. Adults measure 13–15 mm in length. The species occurs in arid and semi-arid regions from Texas south through Mexico to Costa Rica and El Salvador. Like other Trogidae, it is associated with carrion and animal remains.
Omorgus scabrosus
Omorgus scabrosus is a species of hide beetle in the family Trogidae, found across much of North America from Canada to Mexico. The species belongs to a family specialized in feeding on dried animal remains. Its distribution spans diverse habitats including grasslands, woodlands, and desert edge environments.
Omosita
Omosita is a genus of sap beetles (family Nitidulidae) erected in 1843. The genus comprises five described species distributed across the Holarctic and introduced regions. Omosita species are notable for their association with stored products and carrion, with documented forensic significance due to their presence on human remains. Larvae have been recovered from decomposing human bone and successfully analyzed for human mitochondrial DNA.
Omosita nearctica
Northern Sap Beetle
Omosita nearctica is a small sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae, native to the Nearctic region. The species is a stored-product pest with documented associations to carrion, giving it potential significance as both a biosecurity risk and a forensic indicator. It has established populations in South Africa, representing the first African record for this species. The mature larva was described for the first time in 2021 based on specimens collected from this introduced population.
Onthophagus depressus
scarab beetle
Onthophagus depressus is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, originally described from Africa and now established in Australia and the southeastern United States as an introduced species. It belongs to a genus well-studied for sexual selection and horn polymorphism in males, though specific behavioral studies for this species are limited. The species has been recorded in carrion-associated beetle communities, suggesting broader feeding ecology than strict dung specialization.
Philonthus carbonarius
Philonthus carbonarius is a rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) native to the Palearctic region, introduced to North America. It is a predatory species associated with decaying organic matter, including carrion and fungi. The species was first documented in North America in the late 20th century and has since established populations across Canada and the United States.
Philonthus discoideus
Disk-shaped Rove Beetle
Philonthus discoideus is a predatory rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, widespread across multiple continents including native Palearctic distribution and introduced ranges in the Americas, Australasia, and Pacific islands. The species has been observed in carrion-associated habitats and exhibits typical staphylinid morphology with shortened elytra exposing most of the abdomen. Its broad distribution suggests ecological adaptability, though specific behavioral and life history details remain poorly documented in published sources.
Philonthus quadricollis
Philonthus quadricollis is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Horn in 1884. It belongs to a large genus of predatory beetles commonly associated with decaying organic matter and carrion. The species has a broad transcontinental distribution across North America, with records from Canada and much of the United States.
Protopiophila latipes
cheese skipper
Protopiophila latipes is a species of cheese skipper in the family Piophilidae. It has been observed reproducing on carrion in advanced stages of decomposition. Males of this species do not exhibit mate-guarding behavior, distinguishing it from the related P. litigata where males actively guard females.
Puliciphora
Puliciphora is a genus of scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) containing at least 110 described species. The genus occurs primarily in the Australasian and Oriental Regions, with records from Southeast Asia including Malaysia. Puliciphora species have been documented in association with decomposing animal remains, indicating potential forensic relevance. A larval parasitoid Hymenoptera has been reported from within an adult fly abdomen, representing a rare host-parasitoid interaction.
Saprinus discoidalis
clown beetle
Saprinus discoidalis is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1851. It belongs to the subfamily Saprininae, a group characterized by small, spherical, highly polished beetles. The species is known from North America with records from western Canada, the western and central United States, and Mexico.
Saprinus distinguendus
clown beetle
Saprinus distinguendus is a species of clown beetle (family Histeridae) described by Marseul in 1855. It is distributed across North America, with records from Canada and the northern United States. Like other members of the genus Saprinus, it is a predatory beetle typically associated with decomposing organic matter.
Saprinus felipae
clown beetle
Saprinus felipae is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae. It was described by Lewis in 1913. The species belongs to the subfamily Saprininae, a group of predatory beetles commonly associated with carrion and decomposing organic matter. Like other members of its genus, it is likely predatory on other small insects found in such habitats.
Sarcophaga nearctica
Sarcophaga nearctica is a species of flesh fly in the family Sarcophagidae, a group of necrophagous flies frequently encountered in forensic entomology contexts. Like other members of its genus, it is attracted to decomposing organic matter including carrion. The species was described by Parker in 1916. Flesh flies in this family are distinguished by their reproductive strategy of larviparity (depositing live larvae rather than eggs) and their characteristic thoracic pattern of black and gray stripes.
Tachinaephagus zealandicus
Tachinaephagus zealandicus is a gregarious larval-pupal endoparasitoid wasp in the family Encyrtidae. It parasitizes larvae of synanthropic Diptera, particularly muscoid flies including Musca domestica and various Calliphoridae species associated with decomposing carrion. The species has been studied extensively for its potential in forensic entomology and biological control. Under laboratory conditions at 25°C, its life cycle completes in 23–27 days, with single hosts producing 3–18 adult parasitoids.