Necrodes littoralis

The common name Shore Sexton Beetle is often applied to this species. However, some sources imply that this species is not one of the sexton beetles, presumably restricting that term to the genus Nicrophorus (I'm deducing this from the comment in NatureSpot under Nicrophorus humator where it claims humator is the only all-black [other than orange on the antennae] sexton beetle - as the current species is also all-black other than orange on the antennae I am presuming that the author did not consider it to be a sexton beetle).

Although I learnt to separate Nicrophorus from Necrodes even before I'd started seriously recording beetles, I forgot this soon after getting more interested in beetles and unfortunately turned to NatureSpot to remind myself what the black sexton beetles with orange antennal tips were. The statement under Nicrophorus humator led me to record both Necrodes littoralis and Nicrophorus humator as Nicrophorus humator for a year or two before noticing that based on the antennal club shape at least, there must be two different species involved, and at that point remembering what I had previously known. I had photographed some so was able to correct or confirm those records when I realised my mistake but I ended up having to withdraw a handful of records with no photos or specimen which had to be ditched. At least the difference in antennal club shape is so glaringly obvious it's easy to identify these from photos.

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

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

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

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

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

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