The American Carrion Beetle is a large, easily identified beetle with a broad, flat yellow pronotum marked with a black central spot and black elytra. It is one of the most common carrion beetles in eastern North America and arrives at carcasses quickly after death. Unusually, the larvae also consume the fly maggots that share the carcass.
Best time to see a American Carrion Beetle
The best time to see a American Carrion Beetle is May–July, when about 72% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 17,008 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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