Thanatophilus lapponicus
We found this Northern Carrion Beetle (with orange mites) just a few feet from a dead
Raccoon in Middle Canyon, Tooele County, Utah. The beetles often have mite
"hitchhikers" that go with them from carcass to carcass. © Carol Davis 9-6-2017
It seemed a little desperate to get to the top of this twig so it could get
airborne. It was probably being nagged by its first-class passengers.
Sometimes the mites fly "coach" on the beetle's belly. © Carol Davis 9-6-2017
A close-up of the mites. Ewwww. © Carol Davis 9-6-2017
This is the first Northern Carrion Beetle I ever saw in Utah.
According to Bugguide.net, these beetles presumably feed on
carrion and probably on maggots that are feeding on carrion. This
one was just crawling around in broken pieces of a felled tree in the
mountains around Strawberry Reservoir. © Carol Davis, 7/12/11
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