Habitat
Necrophila americana lives in a very large range of
locations. It can be found as far south as Florida and Texas and
as far north as Southern Canada. Also it has been known to be
living as far west as the Rocky Mountains and as far east as the
East Coast (Evans and Bellamy, 1996).
Studies have been conducted to
try to identify the natural habitat for the American carrion beetle
however results often conflict with one another. A study in Kansas
has concluded that American carrion beetles prefer forested or
wooded areas instead of open prairie environments. However, they
also populate the borders of prairies and a forested area
(Lingafelter, 1995).
A conflicting study done in New Jersey has concluded that the
American carrion beetle actually prefers open fields compared to
forests
(Schubeck,1983).
From the two conclusions given, one can only conclude that the
American carrion beetle tends to prefer different landscapes in
different locations. The differing results may be attributed to the
location of dead animals which is the main food source of the
American carrion beetle. The American carrion beetle must remain in
close proximity to its food source which is often small, already
dead rodents but can be almost any dead organism that is big enough
to supply the beetle’s larva with a sufficient food source.
Often found almost in all places
that the American carrion beetle lives are mites that live in a
commensal relationship with the beetle
(For further information see Interactions)
(Gibbs and Stanton, 2001).
Also
Necrophila americana seems
to share its habitat with another beetle called
Oiceoptoma noveboracense
which also seems to differ based on the location of the beetle but
seems to prefer the same landscape as the American carrion beetle
(Lingafelter, 1995).