# Silpha carinata

The Silpha carinata, also known as the black rove beetle, is a shiny black insect that loves to explore the ground. It has a long body and can often be found in leaf litter or under logs.

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Forests

![Silpha carinata](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Silpha_carinata_up.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Siga, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Silpha_carinata_up.JPG)

## Appearance

The Silpha carinata is a flattened, oval-shaped beetle, typically 12-20mm long. It is mostly dull black, but has a striking, large reddish-orange or yellow-orange plate (pronotum) behind its head, often with a darker central smudge. Its wing cases are distinctly ridged.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Coleoptera
- **Family:** Staphylinidae
- **Genus:** Silpha

## Interesting facts

- Did you know its scientific name 'carinata' means 'keeled' because of its ridged back?
- Some of its relatives can actually bury small animal bodies underground for food!
- Studying these beetles helps scientists understand how nature cleans itself up!
- This beetle is sometimes called a 'carrion beetle' because it loves to eat dead things!

## Special abilities

- **Decomposition Dynamo:** Silpha carinata can break down dead animals and plants because of its specialized digestive system, helping to recycle nutrients.
- **Odor Oiler:** Silpha carinata can release foul-smelling chemicals from its rear because of special glands, which helps them deter hungry predators.
- **Carrion Compass:** Silpha carinata has super-sensitive antennae that helps them sniff out the scent of decaying matter from far away.

## Measurements & details

- **Wingspan:** 25-40 mm
- **Size:** 12-20 mm
- **Lifespan:** 30-90 days
- **Leg Count:** 6

## Diet & Feeding

This beetle is a clean-up expert, munching on dead animals, fungi, and sometimes even other insects!

- **Age differences:** Larvae primarily consume carrion; adults may also prey on other small invertebrates.
- **Primary Foods:** Carrion (dead animals), Fly larvae (maggots), Fungi, Slugs, Snails
- **Foraging Method:** Scavenging

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** [House Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-mouse) (*Mus musculus*) — scavenges on their dead bodies
- **Hunts:** Common Green Bottle Fly (*Lucilia sericata*) — predates on their maggots on carrion
- **Eaten by:** Blackbird (*Turdus merula*) — can be prey for ground-feeding birds
- **Eaten by:** [Common Shrew](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-shrew) (*Sorex araneus*) — can be prey for small, insectivorous mammals

## 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.
- [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind.
- [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Be gentle and watch where you step to avoid hurting small insects like this beetle.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Silpha carinata?

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 Silpha carinata's wingspan?

25-40 mm

### How big is Silpha carinata?

12-20 mm

### How long does Silpha carinata live?

30-90 days

### What does Silpha carinata eat?

This beetle is a clean-up expert, munching on dead animals, fungi, and sometimes even other insects!

### Where is Silpha carinata usually found?

Forests

### How does Silpha carinata hunt?

Scavenging

### How many legs does Silpha carinata have?

6

## 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*)

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Source: [Silpha carinata: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/silpha-carinata)