Carrion beetle

Description:

One of the many carrion beetles that can be found in the North American forests. It is easily identified by the orange-red pattern found on the rim of the pronotum. Their antennae are blunt and fat on the ends and are very sensitive to the smell of carrion. The adults average 13-15 cm in length.

Habitat:

Typically found in deciduous forests, but can also be found in grasslands or fields.

Notes:

I found this one on a deer carcass along with several other invertebrates. This one caught my eye easily thanks to its bright orange pattern. There was a pair of these guys that seemed to be mating. Although found on carrion the adults do not typically feed on it. They usually feed on the maggots that are attracted to the carrion. Forensic scientists use this beetle to determine the PMI (post-mortem interval) of dead bodies.