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Nicrophorus interruptus Stephens, 1820

Nicrophorus interruptus
  • Location: Cambridge, England; on bamboo stake for tomato.

  • Date: 8 July 2001

  • Size: About 15mm long (excluding antennae)

  • Family: Silphidae

The Silphidae, Burying or Sexton beetles, bury carcasses of birds or small mammals by digging away the ground beneath them. They are then used as food for the larvae.

The identification has been validated Max Barclay of the Natural History Museum, who notes that the species seems to be increasing. It is / was classed as Notable/Nb, meaning it occurs in less than 100 10-km squares.

Megalinus glabratus (Gravenhorst, 1802)

Megalinus glabratus
  • Location: Cambridge, England; on raspberry cane.

  • Date: 15 October 2000

  • Size: About 12mm long (excluding antennae)

  • Family: Staphylinidae

  • Synonym: Xantholinus glabratus

Alan Hadley suggested the identification, and gives a picture of another specimen. The large size (most related species are less than 8mm), the all black body (apart from elytra) and the lines of 9 or so punctures on the thorax are indicative features.

Tachyporus hypnorum (Fabricius, 1775)

Tachyporus hypnorum
  • Location: Cambridge, England; on edge on compost heap.

  • Date: 17 Mar 20002

  • Size: About 6-7mm long

  • Family: Staphylinidae

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