Oiceoptoma noveboracense

Not to be confused with Nicrophorus marginatus, the margined burying beetle.

Oiceoptoma noveboracense
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Silphidae
Genus: Oiceoptoma
Species:
O. noveboracense
Binomial name
Oiceoptoma noveboracense
(Forster, 1771)[1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Silpha marginalis Fabricius, 1777
  • Silpha noveboracensis J.R. Forster, 1771
Margined Carrion Beetle (Oiceoptoma noveboracense)
Margined Carrion Beetle (Oiceoptoma noveboracense)

Oiceoptoma noveboracense is a member of the family Silphidae, or carrion beetles, which feed on decaying organic matter such as dead animals. Its common name is the margined carrion beetle, from the orange-red margins on the pronotum, which are helpful when identifying this species. The larva is typically light brown to red and also has vertical ridges on its thorax like the adult. This diurnal beetle can be found mainly in the spring into the fall, and it has a strong preference towards a deciduous forest habitat. The primary forensic importance of this beetle is its ability to use the succession of insect fauna to provide confirmation of postmortem intervals.[3]

  1. ^ Peter J. DeVries (1 Aug 2007). "Silphidae of Wisconsin (carrion and burying beetles of Wisconsin)". University of Wisconsin.
  2. ^ "Oiceoptoma noveboracense (J.R.Forster, 1771)". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  3. ^ Byrd, Jason and Castner, James. Forensic Entomology: The Utility of Arthropods in Legal Investigations. Florida: CRC Press, 2001.