American Carrion Beetle Necrophila americana (Linnaeus 1758)    Synonyms: Crusader Carrion Beetle, Silpha americana.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Coleoptera   >   Family Silphidae   >   Genus Necrophila   

Where to find:

These distinctive beetles feed on fungi and carrion. Look for this species on animal carcasses, where it feeds and lays its eggs. Adults feed on both the carrion and the fly larvae also present there. Carrion beetles are among the first to arrive at the scene of death.

There are 459 records in the project database.

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American Carrion Beetle in Harford Co., Maryland (4/29/2017). (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Judy Gallagher. (MBP list)

An American Carrion Beetle in Montgomery Co., Maryland (5/25/2020). Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

An American Carrion Beetle in Frederick Co., Maryland (5/10/2019). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

An American Carrion Beetle in Washington Co., Maryland (6/1/2019). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

An American Carrion Beetle in Baltimore Co., Maryland (7/14/2017). Photo by Richard Crook. (MBP list)

Unusual variant of American Carrion Beetle with strongly patterned pronotum in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/4/2023). (c) Jim Moore (Maryland), some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

American Carrion Beetles feeding with a Tomentose Burying Beetle in Howard Co., Maryland (9/17/2015). Photo by John Harris. (MBP list)

American Carrion Beetles and a Tomentose Burying Beetle in Howard Co., Maryland (9/17/2015). Photo by John Harris. (MBP list)

An American Carrion Beetle in Laurel, Maryland (5/13/2012). Photo by Stephen Davies. (MBP list)

American Carrion Beetle in Baltimore Co., Maryland (7/3/2020). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

American Carrion Beetle in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/27/2020). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

An American Carrion Beetle (yellow in pronotum) and Margined Carrion Beetles (pink in pronotum) in Talbot Co., Maryland (5/3/2016). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

An American Carrion Beetle in Charles Co., Maryland (8/17/2020). Determined by Clay Nichols/BugGuide. Photo by Julie Simpson. (MBP list)

American Carrion Beetle in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/27/2020). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

American Carrion Beetle in Caroline Co., Maryland (9/6/2020). (c) Jim Moore (Maryland), some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

American Carrion Beetle in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/16/2018). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

American Carrion Beetles at Patapsco Valley State Park, Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/14/2010). Photo by Don Haskins. (MBP list)

American Carrion Beetles on Pawpaw fruit in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/29/2012). Photo by Fritz Flohr Reynolds. (MBP list)

American Carrion Beetles in Howard Co., Maryland (5/28/2015). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

An American Carrion Beetle in Howard Co., Maryland (9/27/2019). Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

An American Carrion Beetle in Baltimore City, Maryland (7/5/2010). Photo by Thomas Wilson. (MBP list)

An American Carrion Beetle in Worcester Co., Maryland (5/3/2014). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

American Carrion Beetles mating in Howard Co., Maryland (5/28/2015). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

An American Carrion Beetle found by students at Jemicy School in Baltimore Co., Maryland (7/29/2014). Photo by Emily Stanley. (MBP list)

American Carrion Beetles with Margined Carrion Beetles and Ridged Carrion Beetles in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (5/29/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

American Carrion Beetles in Howard Co., Maryland (6/25/2010). Photo by Bill Harms. (MBP list)

American Carrion Beetle in Baltimore Co., Maryland (7/13/2021). (c) Allegra Marcell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by moonchild_161 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

An American Carrion Beetle in Allegany Co., Maryland (5/23/2015). Photo by Kimberly Booth. (MBP list)

American Carrion Beetle in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/21/2016). Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC. (MBP list)

American Carrion Beetles in Harford Co., Maryland (10/20/2017). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

An American Carrion Beetle larva in Baltimore Co., Maryland (6/12/2019). Photo by Pauline Horn. (MBP list)

An American Carrion Beetle larva in Washington Co., Maryland (6/1/2019). Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

American Carrion Beetles feeding on the remains of a Netted Stinkhorn in Howard Co., Maryland (10/22/2017). Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

American Carrion Beetles in Prince George's Co., Maryland (5/17/2020). Photo by Vera Wiest. (MBP list)

American Carrion Beetles in Montgomery Co., Maryland (10/5/2017). Photo by Katherine Richards. (MBP list)

American Carrion Beetles feeding upon a dead shrew in Harford Co., Maryland (10/20/2017). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

American Carrion Beetle in Kent Co., Maryland (5/18/2016). Photo by Dan Small. (MBP list)


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