ColeopteraColeoptera Index Amarygmus sp Anoplognathus sp Aphanestes gymnopleura Buprestidae Carphurus Cerambycidae Coleoptera (Beetles) Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles) Curculionidae Dung Beetle Eretes australis Helea scaphiformis Hydrophilus Ladybirds (Beetles) Lepidiota Lucanidae Lycidae Neospades sp Omorgus Paropsine Beetle Paropsisterna sp Phorticosomus sp Protaetia fusca Pterohelaeus sp Rhipiceridae Scarabaeidae Xylophilostenus octophyllus

A widespread genus, Omorgus is in the family Trogidae, found across Australia from temperate coastal, tropical rainforest and arid desert region.

The genus is found worldwide, with three subgenera, Omorgus (Afromorgus), Omorgus (Haroldomorgus) and Omorgus (Omorgus), with 140 species currently recognised.5,6

The Omorgus beetles, also commonly known as the Carcass Beetle, vary in size between 9-20 mm long.

Carcass Beetles (genus Omorgus) Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Carcass Beetles (genus Omorgus), Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Carcass Beetles (genus Omorgus) Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Carcass Beetles (genus Omorgus), Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Carcass Beetles (genus Omorgus), Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Carcass Beetles (genus Omorgus), Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Coleoptera
  • Suborder: Polyphaga
  • Superfamily: Scarabaeoidea
  • Family: Trogidae
  • Genus: Omorgus
  • Subgenus:
    • Afromorgus Scholtz, 1986
    • Haroldomorgus Scholtz, 1986
    • Omorgus Erichson, 1847

Footnote & References

  1. Photographs, Omorgus © Deb Taylor
  2. Omorgus Erichson, 1847, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/6e3edacc-cb12-4018-9f1d-3a268c6658ae
  3. Carcass Beetles (Genus Omorgus), debtaylor142, iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/136076586
  4. Trogidae, Carcass Beetles, CSIRO, https://www.ento.csiro.au/education/insects/coleoptera_families/trogidae.html
  5. Phylogeny and systematics of the Trogidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea), author Clarke Scholtz, January 2008, University of Pretoria, ResearchGate, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229470176_Phylogeny_and_systematics_of_the_Trogidae_Coleoptera_Scarabaeoidea
  6. Omorgus, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omorgus

ColeopteraColeoptera Index Amarygmus sp Anoplognathus sp Aphanestes gymnopleura Buprestidae Carphurus Cerambycidae Coleoptera (Beetles) Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles) Curculionidae Dung Beetle Eretes australis Helea scaphiformis Hydrophilus Ladybirds (Beetles) Lepidiota Lucanidae Lycidae Neospades sp Omorgus Paropsine Beetle Paropsisterna sp Phorticosomus sp Protaetia fusca Pterohelaeus sp Rhipiceridae Scarabaeidae Xylophilostenus octophyllus

InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera (True Bugs) Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub