# American Carrion Beetle (*Necrophila americana*) The American Carrion Beetle is a small, black beetle that helps clean up nature by eating dead animals. They are important for keeping the environment healthy and tidy! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 33 - **Habitat:** Forests ![American Carrion Beetle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/American_carrion_beetle.JPG&width=800) Photo: Michael Patnaude, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:American_carrion_beetle.JPG) ## Appearance The American Carrion Beetle is an oval-shaped insect, primarily black with distinctive yellow-orange markings on its wing covers (elytra). These bold, irregular patches are typically found on the shoulders and near the tip, making it easily distinguishable from other dark beetles. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Staphylinidae - **Genus:** Necrophila ## Interesting facts - A single pair can bury a small mouse in just one night to protect their special food source! - Mom and Dad American Carrion Beetles work together to raise their young, a rare trait among insects! - These beetles are nature's expert "undertakers," quickly cleaning up dead animals to keep ecosystems tidy! - They sometimes look like bumblebees to scare predators away, even though they don't sting! ## Special abilities - **Super Sniffer:** American Carrion Beetles can find dead animals from over a mile away because of their amazing antennae, which helps them locate food fast. - **Burying Power:** American Carrion Beetles can bury small animal carcasses because of their strong legs, which helps them hide food from bigger scavengers. - **Caring Parents:** American Carrion Beetles have parents that feed and protect their larvae, which is rare for beetles and helps their young survive. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 25-45 mm - **Size:** 12-22 mm - **Lifespan:** 90-365 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These beetles are nature's clean-up crew, eating dead animals and sometimes fly larvae found on carrion. - **Primary Foods:** Dead mice, Dead birds, Dead squirrels, Fly maggots, Dead small mammals - **Foraging Method:** Scavenging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [House mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-mouse) (*Mus musculus*) — Feeds on dead mouse carcasses found in its habitat. - **Eats:** Common bluebottle (*Calliphora vicina*) — Eats the larvae of this fly found competing on carrion. - **Eaten by:** Striped skunk (*Mephitis mephitis*) — Skunks occasionally prey on adult beetles and their larvae. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Scavenger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/scavenger): Scavengers consume dead organic matter, helping to decompose carcasses and other waste in the ecosystem. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Don't touch beetles you find outside; it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify American Carrion Beetle? Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is American Carrion Beetle's wingspan? 25-45 mm ### How big is American Carrion Beetle? 12-22 mm ### How long does American Carrion Beetle live? 90-365 days ### What does American Carrion Beetle eat? These beetles are nature's clean-up crew, eating dead animals and sometimes fly larvae found on carrion. ### Where is American Carrion Beetle usually found? Forests ### How does American Carrion Beetle hunt? Scavenging ### How many legs does American Carrion Beetle have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Abbott Farm Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/abbott-farm-historic-district) — New Jersey, US · Historic District - [Burke Lake Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/burke-lake-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Canton Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/canton-center-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Crapo Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/crapo-park) — Iowa, US · Botanical Garden - [Downtown Ossining Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/downtown-ossining-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Folly Lick Stream Valley Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/folly-lick-stream-valley-park) — Virginia, US · Park [View all places to see American Carrion Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/american-carrion-beetle) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [American Carrion Beetle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-carrion-beetle)