Necrodes littoralis

The common name Shore Sexton Beetle is often applied to this species, however unlike the sexton beetles in the genus Nicrophorus, my understanding is that Necrodes does not bury the carrion it feeds on, so arguably it is inappropriate to describe it as a sexton beetle (historically the role of sextons included grave-digging which I assume is the origin of the term in beetle names).

I think all of my records - certainly the vast majority - are of individuals attracted to moth lights.

Necrodes littoralis, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 7th September 2024

Under the species account for Black Sexton Beetle Nicrophorus humator, the NatureSpot wesbite states that there are several sexton beetles in the UK but this is the only all black species (apart from the orange tips to its antennae). If littoralis is not a sexton beetle then this is perfectly correct, however as a beetle newbie who had previously identified both "Black Sexton Beetle" and "Shore Sexton Beetle" from other books that used those vernacular names, I referred to NatureSpot to refresh my memory about how to identify them and took the statement to mean that all the large black "sexton" beetles that I was seeing with orange tips to the antennae must be Black Sexton Beetles. I only realised my error after a couple of years or so when it I started to realise that there were clear differences between the beetles that I was identifying as Black Sexton Beetles, including in the shape of their antennae, and that surely two different species were involved.

I had photographed some so was able to correct or confirm those records when I realised my mistake but I ended up having to ditch all of those records for which I had no photos or specimens. At least the difference in antennal club shape is so glaringly obvious it's easy to identify these from photos. The more prominently ridged elytra of littoralis, the outer ridges being bent around the prominent tubercles at about two thirds, seems to be another obvious difference from humator.

Necrodes littoralis, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 9th May 2016

Necrodes littoralis, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 14th August 2020

Necrodes littoralis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 4th May 2018

Necrodes littoralis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 20th July 2021

Necrodes littoralis, Thornthwaite (Cumbria, UK), 8th July 2023

Necrodes littoralis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 25th May 2019

Necrodes littoralis, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 12th June 2015

Necrodes littoralis, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 20th August 2025

Necrodes littoralis, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 22nd September 2024

Necrodes littoralis, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 30th September 2023

Necrodes littoralis, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 15th August 2017

Necrodes littoralis, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 4th September 2014

Necrodes littoralis, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 5th September 2014

Necrodes littoralis, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 16th July 2024

Necrodes littoralis, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 1st May 2025

Necrodes littoralis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 8th September 2020