carrion beetle

carrion beetle
any of the beetles of the family Silphidae that feed on and deposit their eggs in carrion.
[1810-20]

* * *

▪ insect
      any of a group of beetles (insect order Coleoptera), most of which feed on the bodies of dead and decaying animals, thus playing a major role as decomposers. A few live in beehives as scavengers, and some eyeless ones live in caves and feed on bat droppings. Carrion beetles range in size from minute to 35 mm (1.4 inches), averaging around 12 mm (0.5 inch). Many have bright orange, yellow, or red markings on a dark background, while others are completely black. The flat, flexible body and wings allow these insects to crawl under dead animals. The long, flat larvae that emerge from eggs deposited in carrion have a triangular point at each tapering end. After they emerge from the eggs, the larvae feed for the first few days on a brown liquid regurgitated by the parents.

      Because some carrion beetles dig the ground out from under a small carcass, such as that of a mouse or small bird, and bury it, they are also known as burying beetles.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Carrion beetle — Carrion Car ri*on, a. Of or pertaining to dead and putrefying carcasses; feeding on carrion. [1913 Webster] A prey for carrion kites. Shak. [1913 Webster] {Carrion beetle} (Zo[ o]l.), any beetle that feeds habitually on dead animals; also called… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • carrion beetle — Necrophore Nec ro*phore, n. [Gr. nekro s a dead body + fe rein to bear.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of beetles of the genus {Necrophorus} and allied genera; called also {burying beetle}, {carrion beetle}, {sexton beetle}. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • carrion beetle — noun : any of numerous beetles of the genera Necrophorus and Silpha (family Silphidae) that feed chiefly on dead animals though a few (as S. bituberosa) attack economic plants see spinach carrion beetle …   Useful english dictionary

  • carrion beetle — noun a beetle that feeds on decaying animal and plant matter. [Family Silphidae: many species.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • American carrion beetle — Not to be confused with the endangered American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) in the same family. American Carrion Beetle Scientific classification Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • American Carrion Beetle — Taxobox name = Necrophilia americana status = status system = image width = 200px regnum = Animalia phylum = Arthropoda classis = Insecta ordo = Coleoptera familia = Silphidae subfamilia = tribus = genus = Necrophilia species = N. americana… …   Wikipedia

  • spinach carrion beetle — noun : a black carrion beetle (Silpha bituberosa) with a nocturnal black and white larva that feeds on spinach and other crop plants in the western United States …   Useful english dictionary

  • Carrion — Car ri*on, a. Of or pertaining to dead and putrefying carcasses; feeding on carrion. [1913 Webster] A prey for carrion kites. Shak. [1913 Webster] {Carrion beetle} (Zo[ o]l.), any beetle that feeds habitually on dead animals; also called {sexton… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Carrion buzzard — Carrion Car ri*on, a. Of or pertaining to dead and putrefying carcasses; feeding on carrion. [1913 Webster] A prey for carrion kites. Shak. [1913 Webster] {Carrion beetle} (Zo[ o]l.), any beetle that feeds habitually on dead animals; also called… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Carrion crow — Carrion Car ri*on, a. Of or pertaining to dead and putrefying carcasses; feeding on carrion. [1913 Webster] A prey for carrion kites. Shak. [1913 Webster] {Carrion beetle} (Zo[ o]l.), any beetle that feeds habitually on dead animals; also called… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”