Tag Archives: American Carrion Beetle (Necrophila americana)

American Carrion Beetle

July 25, 2025

American Carrion Beetle (Necrophila americana), the clean-up crew of the insect world. They hunt for dead animals, and they and their larvae consume dead flesh. They will also eat other insects that are eating “their” dead animals.

The vast majority of these adults are 1.2 inches in length, though there are some that vary from 1 to 1.75 inches.

This image, above, is the larva of American Carrion Beetle.

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Part Of The Cleanup Crew

American Carrion Beetle (Necrophila americana). Feeds on decaying plants and animals, also on fungi and rotting fruit. Other fly and beetle larvae that are feeding at the same food source may find themselves as part of this Carrion Beetles’ (both adults and larvae) meal.

The adult is approximately 1/2 to 3/4 inch long. Keep the scientific name Necrophila americana in mind if you are going to do any research on this beetle since there are many other Carrion Beetles with many common names.

So glad these critters are around to help clean up our world.

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