Ham beetles - Family Cleridae
Ham Beetle Necrobia ruficollis. Photo: G. Gowing
Clerids are elongate beetles that often have a metallic sheen or are coloured red or yellow. Both the larvae and the adults are predatory, feeding on other insects. The Ham beetle, Necrobia ruficolis is found worldwide and is common in the later stages of decomposition of a carcass.
The larvae feed on dried fat and pupate inside the empty pupal cases of flies, after sealing the opening with silk.
Copyright © Australian Museum 2003
