Necrobia violacea (Linnaeus, 1758)

Majka, Christopher G., 2006, The checkered beetles (Coleoptera: Cleridae) of the Maritime Provinces of Canada, Zootaxa 1385, pp. 31-46 : 43

Necrobia violacea (Linnaeus, 1758)

NEW BRUNSWICK: Albert Co.: Caledonia Mt., 1965-71, C.G. Majka, CGMC; Saint John Co.: Saint John, vii.1900-07, W. McIntosh, NBM; Yo rk C o.: Charter's Settlement, 6.v.2000, R.P. Webster, on dead fish, RPWC; NOVA SCOTIA: Antigonish Co.: Pomquet, 9.v.1997, J.N. Sampson, K.C. Leuscher, & D.O. Keefe, on dead cow, (3), STFX; Cape Breton Co.: Boisdale, 31.viii.1995, J.M. Francis, CBU; Colchester Co.: Londonderry, 26.ix.1988, J. Gilhen, on skull of Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmerman) , (9), NSMC; Halifax Co.: Armdale, 9.v.1945, D.C. Ferguson, NSMC; Kings Co.: (locality not recorded), 22.vi.1948, K.D. Archibald, NSMC; Kentville, 7.v.1961 & 1.vii.1961, D.H. Webster, on decaying Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus), (3), DHWC; Kentville, 12.vii.1961, D.H. Webster, on cow bone, DHWC; Wolfville, 3.iv.1976, K. Strong, on horse skull, (2), ACNS.

Newly recorded in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia ( Figure 8 ). Associated with carrion, they are saprophagous and predaceous ( Opitz 2002). Found on the skins and bones of dead animals and dried fish; a predator of dermestid larvae ( Knull 1951). This Palearctic species has now become cosmopolitan in distribution. In Canada, it was reported from British Columbia as early as 1875-76 and from Ontario in 1880-82 ( Harrington 1890). In the Maritime Provinces known from 1900-1907 (above).

Figures

FIGURE 8. Distribution of Necrobia violacea and N. rufipes in the Maritime Provinces.