La biologie et l’écologie des Silphidae ont été synthétisées afin de mieux comprendre leur éventuelle valeur en tant qu’indicateur postmortem. La classification taxonomique et la distribution géographique des Silphidae sont décrites dans cette synthèse ainsi que leurs caractéristiques morphologiques et anatomiques, et ce pour les deux sous-familles de Silphidae.
#CARRION BEETLE PLUS#
Cependant, certaines espèces de Silphidae présentent les mêmes caractéristiques que certains Diptères que l’on utilise pour calculer un intervalle postmortem (IPM) et pourraient donc servir à calculer un IPM minimum plus étendu. Peu d’études s’intéressent aux Silphidae dans un contexte forensique. Cette synthèse bibliographique fait le point sur les Silphidae du Paléarctique Ouest et leur utilisation potentielle en entomologie forensique comme bioindicateurs postmortem. of MichiganĬarrion beetle larva by Linda Taylor at Ĭarrion beetle with mites courtesy of beneficialbugs.Les grands coléoptères nécrophages (Coleoptera, Silphidae) en Europe occidentale : synthèse bibliographique. Individual beetle by Michael K Oliver at Pretty impressive work for a group we often look down upon with disdain I’d say. Because of nutrient recycling, it has been postulated that the mass of all the organisms that have ever lived upon Earth exceeds the mass of the earth itself.
![carrion beetle carrion beetle](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2EZf_8kw3Cg/WzpYrxfQ41I/AAAAAAAAG74/nI2wRqAZlXcPQaSeIvuAijcROXOL1_y5gCLcBGAs/s1600/pustulated%2Bcarrion%2Bbeetle.jpg)
In fact, this continual recycling of the materials that make up the bodies of animals, plants, and other organisms leads to an interesting paradox. Functioning as nutrient recyclers is the vital role of scavengers and decomposers. Otherwise they would remain locked up and unavailable in the bodies of dead organisms. This means that, for new life to be possible, these elements must be continuously recycled. All the elements that comprise the bodies of living things were captured during the Earth’s initial formation. We do not receive new supplies of these (and other) elements from outside the planet. The major elements needed to build the bodies of living things are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. Pardon my facetiousness, for the role of scavenger and decomposer organisms really is critically important. How inconvenient when driving or walking to have to continuously make detours around dead Apatosaurus, giant ground sloths, and mastodons! Without them, we would have quite a mess on our hands as the bodies of dead organisms would simply remain lying in place. Just think of a world without scavengers or decomposers (bacteria, fungi).
![carrion beetle carrion beetle](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rw4_c4c6nXQ/UVrD0insB7I/AAAAAAAAGiw/ifn07RGLYtE/s1600/Margined+Carrion+Beetle+Oiceoptoma+noveboracense+-+3.jpg)
It is thought that the mites provide benefit to the carrion beetle by eating bacteria or fungi that may have gotten onto the insect while it was feeding.Īlthough we may find the habits of animals such as the American carrion beetle disquieting or even repulsive, they are valuable members of the ecological community. Others will wait and attach to new carrion beetles emerging from the pupae. Many will climb back up and catch a ride to the next carcass. Once a carcass is reached, the mites climb down from the beetle and begin feeding on the eggs and larvae of flies that have previously reached the dead host animal. In this case, there are small mites that hitch a ride on the beetle. Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship in which the associated species benefit one another. The American carrion beetle is also a fascinating example of mutualism. They eventually move into the ground to pupate. The larvae will, like the adults, eat the immature of other scavenging insects.
![carrion beetle carrion beetle](http://www.inhf.org/webres/file/blog/Carrion-Beetle-and-Mites.jpeg)
In a few days, larvae emerge from the eggs and begin to feed upon the host carcass. It will also work to eliminate competition from other scavenger insects (such as flies or other beetles) by eating their larvae. When the American carrion beetle arrives at a carcass, it begins to lay eggs. Saprophytic beetles such as the American carrion beetle, the American burying beetle, and dermestid beetle are able to locate dead animals at great distance by using odor receptors on their antenna. The genus name refers to this habit as it is derived from the Greek words nekros (corpse) and philia (affection). As the name suggests, this insect is commonly found feeding and reproducing on the bodies of dead animals. Goose Pond FWA is within the geographic range of A group of American carrion beetles at work.
![carrion beetle carrion beetle](https://www.biolib.cz/IMG/GAL/BIG/350529.jpg)
The wings are somewhat short for a beetle, thus leaving the tip of the abdomen exposed. It has a yellowish thorax with a dark center. This particular beetle is 0.5 to 0.75 inches in size. Necrophila americana (shown above) is a good example. A recent encounter with the carcass of a white-tailed deer (dead of unknown cause), has left me to ponder the world of the scavenging insects.