Carrion-beetle
Guides
Acritus discus
clown beetle
Acritus discus is a small clown beetle in the family Histeridae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1853. It belongs to the subfamily Abraeinae, a group of diminutive histerids often associated with decaying organic matter. The species is recorded from multiple localities in eastern North America, including Georgia, Indiana, and New York.
Aeletes politus
clown beetle
Aeletes politus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by J.L. LeConte in 1853. The species is found across North America, with records from Canada and the eastern United States. As a member of Histeridae, it belongs to a family of beetles commonly associated with decomposing organic matter and carrion.
Agyrtes longulus
Agyrtes longulus is a species of primitive carrion beetle in the family Agyrtidae. It belongs to a relict group of beetles considered among the most basal lineages of Staphylinoidea. The species has been documented in the Pacific Northwest and western Canada.
Aleochara speculicollis
Shiny Minute Rove Beetle
Aleochara speculicollis is a small rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Bernhauer in 1901. The species is characterized by a notably shiny, reflective pronotum that contributes to its common name. It occurs across a broad transcontinental range from Canada through the United States to Mexico. Like other members of the genus Aleochara, it is presumed to be associated with decaying organic matter and carrion habitats.
Anisotoma basalis
Anisotoma basalis is a species of small carrion beetle in the family Leiodidae. It is native to eastern North America, with records spanning from Canada to the southern United States. The species was first described by J.L. LeConte in 1853 under the basionym Leiodes basalis. Like other members of the genus Anisotoma, it is associated with decomposing organic matter.
Anisotoma expolita
Anisotoma expolita is a species of small carrion beetle in the family Leiodidae, described by W. J. Brown in 1937. It belongs to the tribe Anisotomini, a group commonly associated with decaying organic matter and fungal habitats. The species is recorded from several states in the eastern and central United States.
Apteroloma caraboides
Apteroloma caraboides is a species of primitive carrion beetle in the family Agyrtidae, described by Fall in 1907. It belongs to a small group of beetles considered basal to the staphyliniform lineage. The species is restricted to western North America and is rarely encountered in field collections.
Catops alsiosus
Catops alsiosus is a small carrion beetle in the family Leiodidae. It has a Holarctic distribution spanning Europe, northern Asia, and North America. The species is one of approximately 60 described species in the genus Catops, which are generally associated with decomposing organic matter.
Catops americanus
Catops americanus is a species of small carrion beetle in the family Leiodidae. It is native to North America with records across the eastern and central United States and southeastern Canada. The species was described by Hatch in 1928. Like other members of the genus Catops, it is associated with carrion and decaying organic matter.
Catops davidsoni
Catops davidsoni is a species of small carrion beetle in the family Leiodidae, described by Salgado in 1999. It belongs to the genus Catops, which comprises beetles commonly associated with decaying organic matter and vertebrate remains. The species is known from scattered localities in eastern North America, with records from Canada (Ontario, Quebec) and the eastern United States.
Catops geomysi
Catops geomysi is a small carrion beetle in the family Leiodidae, described by Peck & Skelley in 2001. It belongs to the genus Catops, a group of beetles associated with decaying organic matter and small mammal burrows. The species is known from scattered records across the south-central and southeastern United States.
Catops simplex
Catops simplex is a species of small carrion beetle in the family Leiodidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1825. It belongs to the subfamily Cholevinae, a group commonly known as small carrion beetles. The species has been recorded across much of North America, with distribution records from Canada and the United States.
Colenis ora
Colenis ora is a species of small carrion beetle in the family Leiodidae, first described by Peck in 1998. It belongs to the subfamily Leiodinae and tribe Pseudoliodini. The species has been recorded from multiple states across the southeastern and eastern United States.
Creophilus
hairy rove beetle
Creophilus is a genus of large rove beetles (Staphylinidae) containing some of the largest species in the family, reaching up to 30 mm in length. The genus includes approximately 12 described species distributed globally, with C. maxillosus being the most widely studied due to its forensic significance. Species in this genus are strongly associated with carrion habitats where they function as predators of fly larvae. The genus was revised in 2011, with two new species described and several synonymizations.
Creophilus maxillosus
hairy rove beetle
Creophilus maxillosus, commonly known as the hairy rove beetle, is a large predatory rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. Adults measure 12–18 mm and are characterized by shiny black coloration with distinctive golden setae on the head, pronotum, and posterior abdominal segments. The species is strongly associated with carrion and decomposition environments, where it functions as both a scavenger and active predator of fly larvae. It has forensic significance for estimating post-mortem intervals, though its widespread distribution and transient nature limit its utility as a geographic indicator. The beetle possesses chemical defense glands that secrete irritant compounds when threatened.
Dermestes
skin beetles, hide beetles, larder beetles
Dermestes is a globally distributed genus of beetles in the family Dermestidae, comprising approximately 92 species. These beetles are specialized scavengers of dead and dried animal material, with larvae feeding on carrion, dried meat and fish, bone, hair, skin, and feathers. The genus has significant economic and forensic importance: larvae are destructive pests of museum specimens and stored products, yet are also deliberately employed to clean flesh from skeletons in taxidermy and forensic contexts. Some species assist in estimating postmortem intervals in criminal investigations.
Dermestes frischii
Fringed Larder Beetle
Dermestes frischii is a hide beetle in the family Dermestidae, 6–9.5 mm long, black to dark brown with yellowish-white hairs on the pronotum sides. It is a significant pest of stored animal products including dried meat, fish, cheese, fur, and leather, and also damages wood, cork, and plaster when seeking pupation sites. The species is widely used in forensic entomology to estimate post-mortem intervals, particularly for corpses in hot, dry conditions where it colonizes remains during advanced decay stages. Males are distinguished from females by a tuft of black-brown hairs on the fourth abdominal sternite.
Dermestes maculatus
hide beetle, skin beetle, flesh-eating beetle
Dermestes maculatus is a cosmopolitan hide beetle with worldwide distribution on all continents except Antarctica. Adults are 5.5–10 mm, black with distinctive white hair bands on the pronotum. The species is a specialized decomposer of dry animal tissues, with physiological adaptations enabling survival on desiccated carrion where competitors fail. It holds significant forensic value for estimating postmortem intervals and is widely used by museums and universities for skeleton preparation. Larvae are densely setose with paired urogomphi on the terminal segment.
Dermestes peruvianus
Peruvian larder beetle
Dermestes peruvianus is a larder beetle in the family Dermestidae, found in North America, Europe, and South America. It closely resembles Dermestes haemorrhoidalis but can be distinguished by specific morphological traits including pale yellow, short, fine, recumbent pubescence on the elytra that does not extend beyond the lateral margins. It has been collected from carrion in forensic studies and is known from Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil.
Dermestes pulcher
Dermestes pulcher is a species of hide beetle in the family Dermestidae, first described by LeConte in 1854. Like other members of the genus Dermestes, this species is associated with carrion and decomposing animal matter. The species has been recorded in North America from Canada (Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Québec), though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Dermestes sardous
Dermestes sardous is a species of hide beetle in the family Dermestidae, a group of scavengers important as stored product pests, ecosystem recyclers, and forensic tools. Like other members of the genus Dermestes, this species is associated with carrion and dried animal remains. The species is known from North America, including the conterminous United States. As part of the subfamily Dermestinae, it shares the general characteristics of the genus: elongated body form, clubbed antennae, and association with decomposing animal matter.
Dermestes undulatus
carpet beetle, hide beetle
Dermestes undulatus is a hide beetle in the family Dermestidae. It has forensic importance due to its colonization of dried remains. Development is temperature-dependent, with faster development at higher temperatures. The species occurs in both North America and Europe, and is considered scarce in the United Kingdom where it was recently rediscovered in Wales.
Epierus decipiens
clown beetle
Epierus decipiens is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1851. It belongs to a genus of small histerid beetles commonly associated with decaying organic matter and carrion. The species occurs across a broad geographic range from the southwestern United States through Central America.
Heterosilpha ramosa
Garden Carrion Beetle
Heterosilpha ramosa, commonly known as the Garden Carrion Beetle, is a species of carrion beetle in the family Silphidae. Despite its common name, this species exhibits unusual dietary habits for a carrion beetle, functioning primarily as a generalist feeder rather than a strict carrion specialist. It is widely distributed across western and central North America, from Canada through Mexico, and occupies diverse habitats including shortgrass prairie and coniferous forest. The species has been documented as active from March through October, with adults overwintering.
Hylis californicus
Hylis californicus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae. Members of this family are typically small, compact beetles associated with decaying organic matter and carrion. The species epithet 'californicus' indicates a type locality or primary distribution in California. Hylis species are morphologically characterized by shortened elytra that expose several abdominal tergites, a trait common to the family but with genus-specific modifications in antennal structure and body proportions.
Isoplastus
Isoplastus is a genus of small carrion beetles in the family Leiodidae, first described by Horn in 1880. The genus belongs to the tribe Leiodini within the subfamily Leiodinae. Members of this genus are part of the diverse rove beetle assemblage (Staphyliniformia), though they are not rove beetles proper. Very few species have been described, and the genus remains poorly known biologically.
Lionothus ulkei
A small carrion beetle in the family Leiodidae, described by W.J. Brown in 1937. The species is known from scattered records across the eastern and south-central United States. Like other members of its family, it is associated with decomposing organic matter.
Margarinotus obscurus
clown beetle
Margarinotus obscurus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae. It has a broad geographic distribution spanning multiple continents, with native records across Europe, Northern Asia, Southern Asia, and Africa, and introduced populations in North America. The species was first described by Kugelann in 1792. Like other members of Histeridae, it is associated with decaying organic matter and carrion habitats.
Necrobia
Ham Beetles
Necrobia is a genus of checkered beetles in the family Cleridae, commonly known as ham beetles. Unlike most clerids, which are predatory, Necrobia species are carrion-feeders and significant pests of stored animal products. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution and includes species frequently encountered on dried meat, fish, and museum specimens.
Necrobia ruficollis
ham beetle, red-shouldered ham beetle, red-necked bacon beetle
Necrobia ruficollis is a small, metallic beetle in the family Cleridae with cosmopolitan distribution. It is primarily associated with decomposing animal matter, including dried and smoked meats, animal skins, and cheese. The species is forensically significant, appearing on cadavers during advanced decay and skeletonization stages, and serves as an important indicator for postmortem interval estimation in cases involving longer time frames.
Necrobia violacea
blacklegged ham beetle, blue ham beetle, cosmopolitan blue bone beetle, Violet Checkered Beetle
Necrobia violacea is a small clerid beetle, 4–5 mm in length, with uniformly metallic blue-green to green coloration including its legs. The species occurs in the Palearctic region and has been introduced to North America. Adults are long-lived and associated with dried animal products, including cured meats, dried fish, aged cheeses, oilseeds, and desiccated carcasses. Larvae are predatory, feeding on other insect larvae found on carrion rather than consuming the carrion directly. The species has limited forensic relevance due to its preference for corpses in advanced decomposition stages.
Necrodes
Necrodes is a genus of carrion beetles in the family Silphidae (or Staphylinidae in some classifications), with at least four described species. These beetles are dominant decomposers of large vertebrate carrion in terrestrial habitats, where they compete with blow flies through mixed competition involving both exploitative and interference effects. They exhibit high dispersal ability, with individuals documented traveling over 30 km, and form massive larval aggregations that generate heat through thermogenesis. The genus has significant forensic importance, particularly N. littoralis, which is used as a bio-indicator for estimating post-mortem intervals.
Necrodes surinamensis
Red-lined Carrion Beetle
Necrodes surinamensis, commonly known as the red-lined carrion beetle, is a species of carrion beetle in the family Staphylinidae (subfamily Silphinae). It is found throughout North America, with documented records across Canada and the United States. The species is associated with carrion and plays a role in decomposition processes.
Necrophila
carrion beetles
Necrophila is a genus of carrion beetles in the family Silphidae, comprising approximately 20 species distributed primarily across Asia and India, with a single North American species, N. americana. The genus name derives from Greek roots meaning 'attracted to corpses,' reflecting their ecological association with decomposing animal matter. These beetles are significant forensic indicators and play important roles in carrion decomposition and nutrient cycling.
Necrophila americana
American Carrion Beetle
Necrophila americana is a North American carrion beetle in the family Silphidae. Adults and larvae feed on decomposing animal flesh and also prey on fly larvae that compete for the same resources. Unlike burying beetles in the genus Nicrophorus, this species does not bury carcasses. Adults have been observed at sap flows on oak trees and in fermenting bait traps. The species has been documented in forensic entomology contexts due to its predictable association with decomposing remains.
Necrophilus
Necrophilus is a genus of primitive carrion beetles in the family Agyrtidae, established by Latreille in 1829. The genus contains at least three described species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. These beetles are associated with decaying organic matter and represent one of the more basal lineages within the staphylinoid beetles. They are often referred to as flat brown scavenger beetles or small scavenger beetles in common usage.
Necrophilus hydrophiloides
flat brown scavenger beetle
Necrophilus hydrophiloides is a species of primitive carrion beetle in the family Agyrtidae, commonly known as the flat brown scavenger beetle. It belongs to a relict lineage of beetles that represent an early-diverging branch of the staphylinoid beetles. The species is found in western North America, where it inhabits moist forest habitats and is associated with carrion and decaying organic matter.
Nemadus hornii
Nemadus hornii is a small carrion beetle in the family Leiodidae. It is known from North America, with records across Canada and the eastern and central United States. As a member of the carrion beetle guild, it likely contributes to decomposition processes, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Nicrophorus americanus
American burying beetle, giant carrion beetle
Nicrophorus americanus is a federally threatened burying beetle endemic to North America and the largest member of its genus. Adults are nocturnal, strong fliers capable of traveling up to one kilometer per night while searching for carrion. The species exhibits elaborate biparental care, with both sexes cooperating to locate, bury, and prepare vertebrate carcasses for their offspring. Once abundant across 35 U.S. states and parts of Canada, it now occupies less than 10% of its historic range due to habitat loss, carrion scarcity, and other factors.
Nicrophorus defodiens
Boreal Burying Beetle
Nicrophorus defodiens is a burying beetle species first described by Mannerheim in 1846. It is one of at least two burying beetle species known to breed in the forest canopy. The species exhibits communal breeding behavior, where multiple male-female associations share parental care duties on larger vertebrate carcasses. It produces approximately twice as many eggs as the related N. orbicollis, with clutch sizes averaging around 24 eggs.
Nicrophorus guttula
Yellow-bellied Burying Beetle
Nicrophorus guttula is a burying beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Russian entomologist Victor Motschulsky in 1845. The species is commonly known as the Yellow-bellied Burying Beetle and is found across western North America from Alaska to Mexico. It exhibits elaborate parental care behaviors, including burying small carcasses and cooperatively feeding larvae. Research at the Bodega Marine Reserve has examined how carcass moisture and competition affect its reproductive success.
Nicrophorus hebes
Boreal Burying Beetle
Nicrophorus hebes is a resurrected valid species of burying beetle, previously synonymized under N. vespilloides. Molecular, ecological, and morphological evidence demonstrates that North American populations (excluding Alaska, Yukon, and Northwest Territories) represent a distinct species from the Old World N. vespilloides. The species exhibits reproductive isolation, with most hybrid larvae failing to survive beyond four days. Nicrophorus hebes is rare and tightly associated with wetland habitats, warranting conservation concern.
Nicrophorus hybridus
hybrid burying beetle
Nicrophorus hybridus is a burying beetle species in the family Silphidae, described by Melville Hatch and John W. Angell in 1925. The species occurs across western and central North America, from Canada through the western United States. Like other members of the genus Nicrophorus, it specializes on small vertebrate carcasses for reproduction and exhibits parental care behaviors. The specific epithet 'hybridus' refers to its intermediate morphological characteristics between related species.
Nicrophorus investigator
Banded Sexton Beetle, Banded Burying Beetle
Nicrophorus investigator is a burying beetle first described by Johan Wilhelm Zetterstedt in 1824. It is an obligate carrion breeder that buries small vertebrate carcasses for rearing offspring, exhibiting biparental care. Population dynamics are tightly linked to small mammal abundance, with preferred carcass sizes of 16–48 grams. The species has also been documented breeding on Pacific salmon carcasses in coastal British Columbia, where it may exhibit communal breeding on this rich, reliable resource. It serves as a host for phoretic mites that discriminate among individual male beetles.
Nicrophorus marginatus
margined sexton beetle, margined burying beetle, red and black burying beetle
Nicrophorus marginatus is a burying beetle in the family Silphidae, described by Fabricius in 1801. Adults are medium-sized beetles, 12–28 mm in length, with distinctive shiny black bodies and red-orange elytral bands. The species exhibits extreme physiological sensitivity to desiccation, losing 1–5% body mass per hour in low humidity conditions, yet maintains diurnal activity patterns and extends into arid habitats through behavioral thermoregulation. Like other Nicrophorus species, it engages in complex biparental care, burying small vertebrate carcasses and provisioning larvae with regurgitated, pre-digested food.
Nicrophorus mexicanus
Mexican burying beetle
Nicrophorus mexicanus is a burying beetle in the family Silphidae, described by Matthews in 1888. The species is distributed across the southwestern United States and Central America, including Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. As a member of the genus Nicrophorus, it exhibits the characteristic behavior of burying small vertebrate carcasses to serve as food for developing larvae.
burying-beetlecarrion-beetleSilphidaeNicrophorinaeMatthews-1888scavengervertebrate-carcassparental-caresouthwestern-United-StatesCentral-AmericaMexicoGuatemalaEl-SalvadorHondurasArizonaCaliforniaColoradoKansasNew-MexicoNevadaTexasUtahIowadecompositioncarrionNicrophorusbeetleColeopterainsectarthropodNicrophorus nigrita
Black Burying Beetle
Nicrophorus nigrita, the black burying beetle, is a species of carrion beetle described by Mannerheim in 1843. It is distinguished from other Nearctic burying beetles by its uniformly black elytra lacking the typical orange or red markings found in congeners. Adults range from 12–28 mm in length and possess distinctive red-orange antennal clubs. The species occurs along the western coast of North America.
Nicrophorus pustulatus
Pustulated Carrion Beetle, Blistered Burying Beetle
Nicrophorus pustulatus is a North American burying beetle distinguished by its unique ecology among congeners. Unlike typical carrion beetles that bury small vertebrate carcasses underground, this species is a canopy specialist that has undergone a remarkable host shift to exploit snake eggs as a primary breeding resource. It is the only described Nicrophorus species demonstrated to function as a true parasitoid of vertebrates, attacking live reptile eggs. Adults are medium-sized (14.0–22.2 mm), predominantly black with distinctive orange elytral spots, and lack the long dorsal setae characteristic of related species. The species exhibits flexible social mating systems and facultative parental care.
Nicrophorus tomentosus
Gold-necked carrion beetle, Tomentose burying beetle
Nicrophorus tomentosus is a burying beetle (family Silphidae) distinguished by a dense patch of golden-yellow setae on the pronotum. Unlike most congeners, it does not completely bury carcasses; instead, it excavates shallow pits beneath small vertebrate remains and covers them with leaf litter. Adults exhibit biparental care, feeding larvae regurgitated carrion. The species is active from May through October, peaking in July and August, and overwinters as prepupae—a trait unique among sympatric Nicrophorus species. Behavioral dominance in competitive interactions is determined primarily by body size rather than species identity.
Nicrophorus vespilloides
Lesser Vespillo Burying Beetle
Nicrophorus vespilloides is a burying beetle in the family Silphidae, characterized by its distinctive orange-yellow elytral bands and black antennae. The species exhibits facultative biparental care, with both parents cooperating to locate, bury, and prepare small vertebrate carcasses as food resources for their larvae. This species serves as a prominent model organism for studying social immunity, parental care, and the evolution of complex social behaviors in insects. It has a Holarctic distribution spanning northern Eurasia and North America, with documented associations with phoretic mites and nematodes that influence its fitness and reproduction.
Nitidula bipunctata
two-spotted sap beetle, two-dots sap beetle
Nitidula bipunctata, commonly known as the two-spotted sap beetle, is a sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae. It has a holarctic distribution, occurring across Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. The species is associated with carrion and decomposing organic matter, though its specific ecological relationships remain incompletely documented.
Nitidula flavomaculata
Yellow-spotted Nitidula, Yellow-spotted Sap Beetle
Nitidula flavomaculata is a sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae. Native to the Mediterranean Region, it has become naturalized in North America. The species is strongly associated with later stages of decay in mammalian corpses, making it valuable for forensic investigations. Its presence on carrion distinguishes it from many other sap beetles that feed primarily on plant exudates, pollen, or fungi.
Nitidula nigra
Nitidula nigra is a small sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae, first described by Schaeffer in 1911. The species is recorded from western and central Canada, including Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with decomposing organic matter and carrion habitats.
Nitidula ziczac
Nitidula ziczac is a species of sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae. It is a small beetle, measuring 3–5 millimeters in length, and is known to associate with carrion. The species is found in North America, primarily from the Great Plains westward, and also occurs in Central America.
Oiceoptoma
Oiceoptoma is a genus of carrion beetles in the family Silphidae, comprising approximately ten described species distributed across the Holarctic region. These beetles are necrophagous, specializing in the consumption of vertebrate carcasses. The genus includes species of forensic importance due to their predictable habitat associations and seasonal activity patterns. Oiceoptoma noveboracense, the margined carrion beetle, is among the most studied species and serves as a model for understanding carrion beetle ecology in North America.
Oiceoptoma inaequale
Ridged Carrion Beetle
Oiceoptoma inaequale, commonly known as the ridged carrion beetle, is a North American species of carrion beetle in the family Silphidae. It is one of several Oiceoptoma species that specialize in consuming decaying animal matter. The species has been documented breeding on snake carcasses and participates in carcass-based food webs alongside blow flies and other necrophagous insects. Like related species, it likely contributes to nutrient cycling through the decomposition of vertebrate remains.
Oiceoptoma noveboracense
Margined Carrion Beetle
A medium-sized carrion beetle in the family Silphidae, distinguished by orange-red margins on the pronotum. Adults are diurnal and active primarily from spring through fall in deciduous forest habitats. The species produces one generation per year, with larvae and adults feeding on carrion and preying on fly larvae. It has forensic importance for estimating postmortem intervals based on succession patterns.
Omorgus asper
Rough Hide Beetle
Omorgus asper is a hide beetle in the family Trogidae, first described by LeConte in 1854. The species occurs in the southern United States and Mexico, where it inhabits arid and semi-arid environments. Like other Trogidae, it is associated with carrion and animal remains, playing a role in decomposition processes.
Omorgus howelli
Howell's hide beetle
Omorgus howelli is a hide beetle in the family Trogidae, native to the southern United States. First described in 1957, it was historically classified under the genus Trox but was reassigned to Omorgus in 2006 based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. The species occurs in Florida and Texas, with additional records from Mexico and Peru. Like other Trogidae, it is associated with decomposing animal remains.
Omorgus inflatus
Omorgus inflatus is a species of hide beetle in the family Trogidae, described by Loomis in 1922. Members of this genus are commonly known as skin beetles and are associated with decomposing animal matter. The species has been recorded from the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Omorgus punctatus
Omorgus punctatus is a species of hide beetle in the family Trogidae, distributed across the southwestern and central United States and northern Mexico. The species is associated with carrion and dry animal remains, typical of the family. Adults are characterized by their punctured elytra, which contributes to the species epithet 'punctatus'.
Omorgus rubricans
Omorgus rubricans is a species of hide beetle in the family Trogidae, first described by Robinson in 1946. The species belongs to a genus known for its association with carrion and dung, playing important roles in decomposition. It is found in parts of Mexico and the southern United States.
Onthophilus lecontei
Leconte's clown beetle
Onthophilus lecontei is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae. It is known from North America, with records from California and other parts of the United States. The species was described by Horn in 1870. As a member of Onthophilus, it belongs to a genus associated with dung and carrion habitats.
Oxelytrum
carrion beetles
Oxelytrum is a genus of carrion beetles in the family Silphidae, containing approximately 10 described species distributed primarily in South America. Members are characterized by three distinct ridges on each elytron, a hairless pronotal disk, and 3-segmented antennal clubs. Most species are nocturnal and associated with decomposing animal remains. The genus has forensic significance due to predictable colonization patterns on carcasses.
Oxelytrum discicolle
Oxelytrum discicolle is a carrion beetle distributed throughout the Neotropical region from Mexico to Argentina. It is one of the most commonly collected silphid beetles in forensic entomology studies in South America. The species exhibits strictly nocturnal activity patterns and shows strong preference for carcasses in advanced stages of decomposition. Adults are attracted to decomposing vertebrate remains where they feed and likely reproduce.
Philonthus asper
Philonthus asper is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Horn in 1884. It belongs to the large genus Philonthus, which comprises numerous predatory species commonly found in decaying organic matter, carrion, and fungal habitats. The species is documented from eastern North America, with records spanning Canada and the eastern United States. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to be a predator of small invertebrates in microhabitats rich in decomposing material.
Philonthus debilis
Philonthus debilis is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. As a member of the genus Philonthus, it belongs to a diverse group of predatory beetles commonly associated with carrion, dung, and other decomposing organic matter. The species has been recorded across a broad geographic range spanning the Palearctic region and has been introduced to North America. Like other Philonthus species, it likely plays a role in carrion succession as a predator on fly larvae and other small insects.
Philonthus schwarzi
Philonthus schwarzi is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Horn in 1884. The species is part of the large genus Philonthus, which contains numerous predatory rove beetles commonly associated with decaying organic matter and carrion habitats. It occurs across northern and eastern North America, with records from both the United States and Canada.
Phosphuga atrata
Black snail beetle
Phosphuga atrata is a European carrion beetle in the family Silphidae, commonly known as the black snail beetle. Adults are notable predators of live snails, using an elongated neck to reach into shells and spray digestive fluid to subdue prey. The species also feeds on insects, earthworms, and carrion. Larvae are similarly predatory on snails and pupate in soil. Coloration changes with age: young beetles are brownish, while mature adults become black.
Platycholeus leptinoides
Platycholeus leptinoides is a small carrion beetle in the family Leiodidae, described by Crotch in 1874. It is native to western North America, with records from California, Nevada, and Oregon. The species is termitophilous, indicating an association with termite colonies.
Platylomalus aequalis
clown beetle
Platylomalus aequalis is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, originally described by Thomas Say in 1825 as Hister aequalis. This small beetle is widely distributed across North America, ranging from eastern Canada to the Rocky Mountains and south to Florida. As a member of the histerid beetles, it is associated with decomposing organic matter and carrion habitats.
Prionochaeta
small carrion beetles
Prionochaeta is a monotypic genus of small carrion beetles in the family Leiodidae. The sole described species, P. opaca, is found in North America and feeds on decaying animal matter. These beetles are part of the subfamily Cholevinae and contribute to decomposition and nutrient cycling in carrion habitats.
Prionochaeta opaca
Small Carrion Beetle
Prionochaeta opaca is a small carrion beetle in the family Leiodidae. It is one of two species in the genus Prionochaeta and is widely distributed across North America. The species is associated with carrion and decaying organic matter, though detailed biological studies remain limited.
Psiloscelis
Psiloscelis is a genus of clown beetles in the family Histeridae, established by Marseul in 1854. The genus contains approximately eight described species distributed in North America. Species in this genus are characterized by their association with carrion and decaying organic matter. The genus is taxonomically stable with no synonymy reported.
Ptomaphagus brevior
Ptomaphagus brevior is a small carrion beetle in the family Leiodidae, described by Jeannel in 1949. It belongs to a genus of beetles associated with decaying organic matter. The species has been documented across eastern and central North America, with records extending from Ontario and Quebec in Canada south to Texas.
Ptomaphagus californicus
Ptomaphagus californicus is a species of small carrion beetle in the family Leiodidae, described by J.L. LeConte in 1853. The species is known from California and broader North America. As a member of the carrion beetle family, it is associated with decomposing organic matter, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited in published sources.
Ptomaphagus cavernicola
small carrion beetle
Ptomaphagus cavernicola is a small carrion beetle in the family Leiodidae, first described by Schwarz in 1898. The species is found in Central America and North America, with distribution records from the United States (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, South Carolina, Texas) and Mexico. It belongs to the subgenus Adelops within Ptomaphagus.
Ptomaphagus fumosus
Ptomaphagus fumosus is a small carrion beetle in the family Leiodidae, described by Peck in 1979. It is one of many North American species in the genus Ptomaphagus, a group associated with decomposing organic matter. The species has been documented in the southeastern United States.
Ptomaphagus merritti
Ptomaphagus merritti is a small carrion beetle described by Tishechkin in 2007. The species belongs to the family Leiodidae, a group commonly associated with decomposing organic matter. It is known from a restricted distribution in the southeastern United States.
Ptomaphagus nevadicus
Ptomaphagus nevadicus is a small carrion beetle in the family Leiodidae, first described by Horn in 1880. It is a member of the subfamily Cholevinae, a group commonly associated with decomposing organic matter. The species has a broad distribution across western and central North America, extending into Mexico.
Ptomaphagus ulkei
Ptomaphagus ulkei is a small carrion beetle in the family Leiodidae, described by Horn in 1885. It is distributed across eastern North America, with records from Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, Virginia, and Washington D.C. As a member of the subfamily Cholevinae, it is associated with carrion and decomposing organic matter.
Saprinus fimbriatus
Saprinus fimbriatus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, subfamily Saprininae. It is native to western North America, with records from the western United States, southwestern Canada, and Mexico. As with other histerid beetles, it is likely associated with carrion and decomposing animal matter, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited. The species was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1851.
Saprinus lubricus
Saprinus lubricus is a species of clown beetle (family Histeridae) in the subfamily Saprininae. It was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1851. The species is distributed across North America from Canada to Central America, with records extending south to Argentina and Chile. Like other hister beetles, it is likely associated with carrion and decomposing organic matter, though specific ecological details for this species are limited.
Saprinus lugens
clown beetle
Saprinus lugens is a small clown beetle in the family Histeridae, measuring 5–8 mm. The species has a broad geographic distribution spanning Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), Central America, and North America. It has been introduced to parts of Europe including France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. The beetle is predatory and commonly associated with carrion, where it feeds on other small insects.
Saprinus oregonensis
clown beetle
Saprinus oregonensis is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, first described by LeConte in 1844. The species is distributed across western North America, with records from Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan), the United States (California, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington), and Mexico. As a member of the Saprininae subfamily, it belongs to a group of predatory beetles commonly associated with carrion, dung, and other decomposing organic matter.
Saprinus scabriceps
Saprinus scabriceps is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, described by Casey in 1916. Like other members of the genus Saprinus, it is likely associated with carrion and decomposing organic matter. The species has been recorded from the western United States, specifically Nevada and Oregon. As with most histerids, it is presumed to be predatory on other insects, particularly fly larvae, in its habitat.
Saprinus subnitescens
clown beetle
Saprinus subnitescens is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae. It has been recorded from Africa, Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. The species was described by Bickhardt in 1909. As a member of the genus Saprinus, it belongs to a group of small, predatory beetles commonly associated with carrion and dung habitats.
Saprinus vitiosus
Saprinus vitiosus 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 of small, predatory beetles commonly associated with carrion and dung. The species has been recorded from the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other hister beetles, it is likely predatory on other insects in decaying organic matter.
Sciodrepoides latinotum
Sciodrepoides latinotum is a small carrion beetle in the family Leiodidae, described by Peck & Cook in 2002. It belongs to the subfamily Cholevinae, a group commonly associated with decomposing organic matter and subterranean habitats. The species is known from the eastern and central United States, with records spanning from the Mid-Atlantic to the Great Plains and Gulf Coast.
Sciodrepoides terminans
Sciodrepoides terminans is a small carrion beetle in the family Leiodidae, first described by J.L. LeConte in 1850. The species occurs across much of North America, with documented records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the subfamily Cholevinae, it belongs to a group commonly associated with decomposing organic matter.
Silpha tristis
Silpha tristis is a carrion beetle species first described by Illiger in 1798. It belongs to the family Silphidae, a group associated with decomposition and carrion feeding. The species has a broad distribution across the Palearctic region and has been introduced to North America.
Thanatophilus coloradensis
Thanatophilus coloradensis is a species of carrion beetle in the family Silphidae. It is found in western North America, with records from Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Alaska, and British Columbia. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with decomposing animal remains. The species was described by Wickham in 1902.
Thanatophilus lapponicus
Northern Carrion Beetle, Silky Carrion Beetle
Thanatophilus lapponicus, the Northern Carrion Beetle, is a holarctic species in the family Silphidae. It is one of the most widespread carrion beetles in the northern hemisphere, occurring across boreal and temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. The species is associated with decomposing animal remains, particularly in cooler climates where its densely hairy body may provide thermal insulation. Adults are active from early spring through autumn and are frequently encountered in forensic entomology contexts.
Thanatophilus sagax
Carrion Beetle
Thanatophilus sagax is a carrion beetle in the family Silphidae. It inhabits northern regions of North America, with records from Alaska through western Canada and into the northwestern United States. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with decomposing animal remains. The species was described by Mannerheim in 1853.
Thanatophilus trituberculatus
Cold-shore Carrion Beetle
Thanatophilus trituberculatus is a carrion beetle in the family Silphidae. The species occurs across northern regions of both North America and Eurasia. It is associated with cold environments, as indicated by its common name "Cold-shore Carrion Beetle" and its distribution in subarctic and boreal zones. Like other members of its genus, it likely feeds on decomposing animal matter.
Thanatophilus truncatus
Northern Carrion Beetle, Silky Carrion Beetle
Thanatophilus truncatus is a carrion beetle in the family Silphidae, found across Central and North America. As a member of the genus Thanatophilus, it is associated with decomposing animal matter and plays a role in nutrient cycling. The species was first described by Thomas Say in 1823 and is documented from the southwestern United States through Mexico.
Trox
hide beetles
Trox is a genus of hide beetles in the family Trogidae, subfamily Troginae. The genus currently contains approximately 70 species divided among three subgenera: Trox (Trox), Trox (Niditrox), and Trox (Granulitrox). These beetles are specialized scavengers that colonize animal remains in advanced stages of decomposition, feeding on dried skin, hair, feathers, and connective tissue. They are among the last insects to visit carcasses, appearing after most other carrion fauna have departed. The genus has undergone significant taxonomic revision, with former subgenera Phoberus and Glyptotrox elevated to full genera and numerous species synonymized.
Trox capillaris
Hide beetle
Trox capillaris is a species of hide beetle in the family Trogidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1824. As a member of this family, it is associated with the late stages of vertebrate decomposition, feeding on dried skin, hair, feathers, and connective tissue. The species occurs in the Nearctic region, primarily in the central and eastern United States and southern Canada.
Trox frontera
Trox frontera is a hide beetle in the family Trogidae, first described by Vaurie in 1955. It is currently treated as a synonym of Glyptotrox frontera. Members of this genus are cryptic beetles that specialize in consuming dried animal remains, including skin, hair, feathers, and connective tissue. They are among the final colonizers of carcasses, arriving after most other insects have departed.
Trox hamatus
Hide beetle
Trox hamatus is a hide beetle in the family Trogidae, currently classified under the genus Glyptotrox. It is a Nearctic species found primarily in the eastern and central United States and southern Canada. Like other trogids, it feeds on dried animal remains, including skin, hair, feathers, and connective tissue. The species was described by Robinson in 1940 and is now treated as a synonym of Glyptotrox hamatus in modern classifications.
Trox laticollis
hide beetle
Trox laticollis is a species of hide beetle in the family Trogidae. It is found in North America. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with decomposing animal remains, particularly dried skin, hair, and connective tissue in the later stages of carcass decomposition.
Trox plicatus
Trox plicatus is a species of hide beetle in the family Trogidae, described by Robinson in 1940. The species belongs to a genus specialized in consuming dried animal remains during the final stages of decomposition. Like other trogids, it is adapted to cryptic existence among carrion debris. It has been documented from the southwestern United States and central Mexico.
Trox robinsoni
Trox robinsoni is a hide beetle in the family Trogidae, described by Vaurie in 1955. Members of this genus are specialized decomposers that colonize carcasses in advanced stages of decay, feeding on dried skin, hair, feathers, and other keratinous materials when little else remains. The species occurs in the north-central United States and central Canada.
Trox spinulosus
Hide beetle
Trox spinulosus is a hide beetle in the family Trogidae, a group of scarab beetles that specialize in consuming dried animal remains. The species was described by Robinson in 1940 and is currently treated as a synonym of Glyptotrox spinulosus in some taxonomic databases. Like other trogids, it is associated with the final stages of carcass decomposition, feeding on desiccated skin, hair, feathers, and connective tissue. These beetles are cryptic in appearance and behavior, often caked in debris and feigning death when disturbed.
Trox striatus
Hide beetle
Trox striatus is a hide beetle in the family Trogidae, occurring in the Nearctic region of eastern North America. Like other members of its genus, it specializes in consuming dried animal remains during the final stages of decomposition. The species has been recorded from scattered localities across the northeastern and midwestern United States and adjacent Canada.
Trox terrestris
Hide beetle, Hide and tallow beetle
Trox terrestris is a hide beetle in the family Trogidae, closely allied to scarab beetles. The species has been reclassified under Glyptotrox terrestris in some taxonomic treatments. These beetles specialize in consuming dried animal remains, including skin, hair, feathers, and connective tissue during the final stages of carcass decomposition. They are known for their cryptic appearance and thanatosis behavior.
Trox tuberculatus
hide beetle
Trox tuberculatus is a hide beetle in the family Trogidae, a group of scarabaeoid beetles specialized in feeding on dried animal remains. The species occurs in the Nearctic region, with records from multiple U.S. states. Like other Trogidae, it is associated with the late stages of carcass decomposition, consuming dried skin, hair, feathers, and connective tissue. The beetle exhibits characteristic defensive behaviors including thanatosis (death-feigning) and debris-covering that render it cryptic and difficult to detect.
Trox unistriatus
Trox unistriatus is a hide beetle in the family Trogidae, a group closely related to scarab beetles. Like other members of its genus, this species specializes in consuming dried animal remains, including skin, hair, feathers, and connective tissue. It is found across much of North America, with records from Canada and the United States. The species exhibits typical trogid behavior: freezing in a rigid posture when disturbed and accumulating debris on its body for camouflage.
Zeadolopus
Zeadolopus is a genus of small carrion beetles in the family Leiodidae, endemic to New Zealand. The genus was established by Thomas Broun in 1903 and comprises several species of round fungus beetles. Members of this genus are part of the tribe Leiodini within the subfamily Leiodinae. The genus is poorly studied, with limited published information on species-level diversity and natural history.