Black Burying Beetle vs Bluebottle Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Black Burying Beetle Bluebottle Fly
Scientific Name Nicrophorus humator Calliphora vicina
Order Coleoptera Diptera
Family Silphidae Calliphoridae
Size 18-26mm 10-12 mm
Habitat Hedgerows Farmland
Diet Carrion Feeders Carrion Feeders
Regions Europe Europe, North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Black Burying Beetle

A large all-black burying beetle with orange-tipped antennae. It buries animal carcasses for its larvae.

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Did You Know?

One of the largest burying beetles in Europe and can inter a mouse-sized carcass in just a few hours.

Bluebottle Fly

A common metallic blue blowfly found in urban areas worldwide. Breeds in dead pigeons, rodents and meat. An important species in forensic entomology for estimating time of death.

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Did You Know?

One of the most important forensic indicator species, helping police estimate time of death from larval development stage.