Silphidae

Silphidae is a subfamily of Staphlinidae beetles that are also known commonly as large carrion beetles, carrion beetles or burying beetles. There are two tribes: Silphini and Nicrophorini. Members of Nicrophorini are sometimes known as burying beetles or sexton beetles. The number of species is relatively small, at around two hundred. They are more diverse in the temperate region although a few tropical endemics are known. Both tribes feed on decaying organic matter such as dead animals. The tribes differ in which uses parental care and which types of carcasses they prefer. Silphini are considered to be of importance to forensic entomologists because when they are found on a decaying body they are used to help estimate a post-mortem interval.

==Taxonomy, evolution, and etymology== The subfamily Silphidae belongs to the order Coleoptera. They are commonly referred to as carrion beetles or burying beetles and are usually associated with carrion, fungi, and dung. In the past, members of the family Agyrtidae were included. This subfamily has two tribes, Silphini and Nicrophorini. The antenna is made up of 15 segments and is capitate (ending in an abruptly capped club) in the Nicrophorini and has a more gradual club shape in the Silphini. The tribes also differ in behavior. Members of the tribe Silphini show little to no care for their young and breed on large carrion. Nicrophorini breed on small animal carrion and will bury themselves and their food to rear their offspring in a bi-parental manner. There are approximately 183 species in this subfamily, which are found worldwide although they are more common in temperate regions. Nicrophorus americanus, known as the American burying beetle, is an endangered species.