Necrobia violacea (Linnaeus, 1758)

NEW BRUNSWICK: Albert Co.: Caledonia Mt., 1965-71, C.G. Majka, CGMC; Saint John Co.: Saint John, vii.1900-07, W. McIntosh, NBM; Yo rk C o.: Charter's Settlement, 6.v.2000, R.P. Webster, on dead fish, RPWC; NOVA SCOTIA: Antigonish Co.: Pomquet, 9.v.1997, J.N. Sampson, K.C. Leuscher, & D.O. Keefe, on dead cow, (3), STFX; Cape Breton Co.: Boisdale, 31.viii.1995, J.M. Francis, CBU; Colchester Co.: Londonderry, 26.ix.1988, J. Gilhen, on skull of Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmerman), (9), NSMC; Halifax Co.: Armdale, 9.v.1945, D.C. Ferguson, NSMC; Kings Co.: (locality not recorded), 22.vi.1948, K.D. Archibald, NSMC; Kentville, 7.v.1961 & 1.vii.1961, D.H. Webster, on decaying Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus), (3), DHWC; Kentville, 12.vii.1961, D.H. Webster, on cow bone, DHWC; Wolfville, 3.iv.1976, K. Strong, on horse skull, (2), ACNS.

Newly recorded in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia (Figure 8). Associated with carrion, they are saprophagous and predaceous (Opitz 2002). Found on the skins and bones of dead animals and dried fish; a predator of dermestid larvae (Knull 1951). This Palearctic species has now become cosmopolitan in distribution. In Canada, it was reported from British Columbia as early as 1875-76 and from Ontario in 1880-82 (Harrington 1890). In the Maritime Provinces known from 1900-1907 (above).