Checkered beetles

The arrival of blowflies, and subsequently their larvae, is followed quickly by the arrival of the flesh flies (Diptera Sarcophagidae), other carrion flies (Diptera Muscidae), and predaceous beetle species such as rove beetles (Coleoptera Staphylinidae), carrion beetles (Silphidae), clown beetles (Histeridae), skin beetles (Dermestidae), and checkered beetles (Cleridae). A variety of other fly families may be found in association with the body, and hide beetles (Trogidae) and larvae of some of the aforementioned beetle groups may feed on carrion itself, often on remains of hair, skin, and clothing in late decomposition (Smith 1986). 

This hypothesis is unvalidated at present, because these case studies employed different methods, are not replicated across genera, variability in natural enemies numbers is complex, and we caimot adequately separate cause and effect. Also, ratios of predators to prey are highly plastic within systems,and predation and competition are not independent owing to dilution effects. We also lack information on its applicability to other systems. Predaceous checkered beetles cause greater proportionate mortality to mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins during endemic than eruptive conditions, which is consistent with our model, but not validating without information on the pre-attack chemistry of killed trees. Likewise, predation of southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis... 

George McManus, Fun for All A Collection of Jokes, Anecdotes, and Epigrams. .. A Lighthearted Reflection of These First Years of the Atomic Era. .. (Cleveland World Publishing, 1948), 107. Robert Osborn, War Is No Damn Good (New York Doubleday, 1946). Robert Mankoff, ed., The Complete Cartoons of the "New Yorker" (New York Black Dog and Leventhal, 2004), passim. Mort Walker, Beetle Bailey The First Years, 1950-1952 (New York Checker, 2008), 147. 

Walker, Mort. Beetle Bailey The First Years, 1950-1952. New York Checker, 2008. 

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