Redlegged Ham Beetle, Copra Beetle Necrobia rufipes (De Geer, 1775) (Insecta: Coleoptera: Cleridae: Korynetinae)

Ian Williams and Michael Scharf

Release Date: 5/22/2024

DOI: 10.32473/edis-in1426-2024

Natural Resources

Abstract

The redlegged ham beetle (Necrobia rufipes) is a predaceous beetle that feeds on a variety of decaying organic matter, especially matter with high protein and fat content such as dead vertebrate animals, and some of plant origin, such as copra, nuts, and palm kernels. The redlegged ham beetle is of economic importance as a pest of stored products and has relevance to forensic entomology. Other common names include the ham beetle, the copra beetle or bug, and the “paper worm.”

About this Publication

This document is EENY-811, one of a series of the Entomology and Nematology Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date May 2024. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication. This document is also available on the Featured Creatures website at http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures. © 2024 UF/IFAS. This publication is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

About the Authors

Ian Williams, MS student; and Michael Scharf, SAPP endowed professor in Urban Entomology; Department of Entomology and Nematology, UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, Florida 32611.

How to Cite

Williams, I., & Scharf, M. (2024). Redlegged Ham Beetle, Copra Beetle Necrobia rufipes (De Geer, 1775) (Insecta: Coleoptera: Cleridae: Korynetinae). EDIS, 2024(3). https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-in1426-2024

Authors

Ian Williams

M.S. student, UF/IFAS Department of Entomology and Nematology, Gainesville, FL

Michael Scharf

former SAPP endowed professor in urban entomology; UF/IFAS Department of Entomology and Nematology, Gainesville, FL