ENY 3005 Family Identification

Coleoptera: Silphidae

Common name: carrion beetles

Identifying characteristics for the family Silphidae include:

• First abdominal sternite entire, not divided by hind coxae (suborder Polyphaga).
• Adults 3-35 mm, usually 10-35 mm.
• Elytra somewhat broader toward rear, either loosely covering abdomen or leaving 1 to 3 abdominal segments exposed.
• Antennae clubbed, either clavate or capitate, last 3 segments often hairy.
• Common species black with yellow, red, or orange markings.
• Tarsi 5-5-5.

• Largest of the beetles found on carrion; also scavengers of decaying vegetation.
• Ten genera and 46 species in North America, all in subfamily Silphinae.
• Genus Nicrophorus (pictured above) buries carrion to prevent infestation by flies.

References:

• Pages 158-159 in D. J. Borror and R. E. White. 1970. A Field Guide to the Insects. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.
• Pages 120-122 in R. E. White. 1983. A Field Guide to Beetles of North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. 368 p.
• Page 414 in D. J. Borror, C. A. Triplehorn, and N. F. Johnson. 1989. An Introduction to the Study of Insects, 6th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders College Publishing. 875 p.
• Page 465 in H. V. Daly, J. T. Doyen, and A. H. Purcell III. 1998. Introduction to Insect Biology and Diversity, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press. 680 p.
• Page 193 in R. G. Bland and H. E. Jaques. 1978. How to Know the Insects, 3rd ed. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Co. 409 p.