carrion beetle

noun

1. any of the beetles of the family Silphidae that feed on and deposit their eggs in carrion.

carrion beetle

noun

1. See burying beetle
   any beetle of the family Silphidae that track carrion by a keen sense of smell See also burying beetle

Word History and Origins

Origin of carrion beetle¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

A carrion beetle (the ugly lover) crawled off to the sea shore, and found some fish scales that emitted light.

From Project Gutenberg