The American Carrion Beetle (Necrophila americana) is found throughout the United States except for areas west of the Rocky Mountains.
It lays its eggs on dead animals and mushrooms. The larvae eat the decaying flesh or fungus. When the carcass or mushroom is consumed, the larvae fall to the ground where they pupate into adults.
As a means of increasing the survival of their young, adult Carrion Beetles eat the larvae of other competing carrion species.
Adults overwinter in the ground.
