Coleoptera (beetles)

Question 1

Silphidae (carrion beetles)

Answer 1

large beetles with black and orange elytra, arrive when body is fresh, bloat or early decay

Question 2

Staphylinidae (rove beetles)

Answer 2

diverse, confused with dermaptera, feed on maggots, around from bloat to advanced decay

Question 3

Histeridae (hister/clown beetles)

Answer 3

small shiny black beetles, geniculate antennae, squared off butt, feed on maggots, bloat to advanced decay

Question 4

Trogidae (Bone beetles)

Answer 4

brown, medium sized, look for bumpy ridges, late decomp, feeds on bone and skin

Question 5

Dermestidae (skin beetles)

Answer 5

small, calico pattern on elytra, ventral surface has white part on thoracic area, later stages to feed on skin and hair

Question 6

Cleridae (checkered beetles)

Answer 6

smaller, blue metallic color, legs reddish orange, covered in stout black hairs, predate on fly larvae or carrion

Question 7

Nitidulidae (sap beetles)

Answer 7

small, dorsoventrally flattened, clubbed antennae, show up later in decomp

Question 8

Carabidae (Ground beetles)

Answer 8

cursorial legs, antennae filiform, longer body, striated elytra, feed on maggots, seen from bloat to advanced decay

Question 9

Scarabidae (scarab beetles)

Answer 9

variable in appearance, lamellate antennae, usually metallic

Question 10

Silphidae- Nicrophorinae

Answer 10

Burying beetle, feed on small carrion and bury them, parental care

Question 11

Silphidae- Silphinae

Answer 11

Carrion beetle, larger carcasses