Our insect of the week for December 29, 2025 is Necrophila americana [COLEOPTRA: Staphylinidae]. This species and relatives have recently been moved from the separate family Silphidae to the rove beetle family. This species was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy.

Adults arrive at a carcass shortly after the first flies arrive (just after the animal has died) and lay eggs. Larvae feed on on the decaying carcass as well (and often consume other larvae such as maggots). The larva burrows into the soil, and forms a pupa. Adults overwinter in central Illinois. This species is important in forensic entomological studies because they prefer large carcasses. Yes, we can always talk about my work with a medical examiner if you want to go down that path.

This specimen was collected by Mark DuBois in Marshall Co., Illinois.