Yard Critter - Ridged Carrion Beetle

Ridged Carrion Beetle

Shown here on a deer carcass that Patty had brought into the yard to attract birds.

The Ridged Carrion Beetle is the all black beetle. The one with the orange is the American Carrion Beetle, a previous YCOTW. [Update: The orange ones are Margined Carrion Beetles, American Carrion Beetles have yellow coloration.]

I was surprised how quickly the bones were picked clean. I was also surprised how many carrion beetles, of both types, were on the carcass. Where do they come from? What are they doing when there isn't a carcass about? How far do they roam to find a meal?

Despite the name the beetles don't actually feed on the carrion. Rather, they feed on the larva of flies, which do feed on the carrion. Thus the carrion beetles actually slow down the processing of the dead animal. Curious.

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