Necrobia rufipes
In 3 days ~10%
Necrobia rufipes, the red-legged ham beetle, is a species of predatory beetle, in the family Cleridae, with a cosmopolitan distribution, first described by Charles De Geer in 1775. The adult beetles are 3.5–7.0 millimetres (0.1–0.3 in) long, convex, straight sided, and the surface has indentations called punctures.
They are shiny metallic green or greenish blue. The legs and antennae are red (dark clubs). They feed on the meat-infesting larvae of Calliphora or blow flies, Dermestidae and Piophilidae. The adults are surface feeders; the larvae bore into dry or smoked meats and do most damage. The red-legged ham beetle also attacks bones, hides, copra, dried egg, cheese, guano, bone meal, dried figs, and palm nut kernels. Although refrigeration has reduced the impact of the beetle on meats, they are a significant destructive pest of dried and salt fish including herring. It was well documented as a threat to agriculture by 1925.
Necrobia rufipes has been recorded in Egyptian mummies and were once known as Necrobia mumiarum (Rev. F.W. Hope, 1834). Two related species are Necrobia violacea which has all-dark legs and antennae, and Necrobia ruficollis, which has light-coloured bases of the elytra (shoulders). Although similar, neither are as destructive as N. rufipes. This species should not be confused with its cousin, Korynetes caeruleus, another steely-blue beetle in the family Cleridae. Both species have a significance in forensic entomology but for different reasons. Wikipedia →
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Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Red-Legged Ham Beetle sighting in San Diego on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 632nd most-seen of the 693 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Red-Legged Ham Beetle in San Diego on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Among the best
Of the 4 cities where we can rate Red-Legged Ham Beetle sightings, San Diego ranks 4th at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Barcelona (Spain, under 5%), Phoenix (United States, under 5%) and Austin (United States, under 5%).
Same order: Coleoptera
The closest relatives of the Red-Legged Ham Beetle that you can see in San Diego (order Coleoptera, Beetles) are Figeater Beetle (about 20%), Asian Lady Beetle (about 10%) and Spotless Lady Beetle (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Red-Legged Ham Beetle is recorded against all the insects logged in San Diego (5 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
