Editing Silphidae (section)

===Defense===

Beetles have many different weapons available to protect them against [[predator]] attacks. The members of Silphidae have many different modifications that allow them to thrive in different [[ecological niche]]s including colour warnings (from [[aposematism]] to [[Batesian mimicry]]), chemical defenses and [[parenting|parental care]]. Silphines are usually dark in color consisting of gold, black and brown. This dark coloring allows them to blend into their environment. Many nicrophorines have bright orange coloring on their [[elytra]], which may serve as a warning to other predators.<ref name="Rat">Ratcliffe, B. The Carrion Beetles (Coleoptera:Silphidae) of Nebraska. ''Bulletin of the Nebraska State Museum''. Volume 13.</ref> Some species secrete a chemical from a rectal gland that consists of [[aliphatic acid]]s and [[terpene alcohol]]s. The secretion has a strong, foul odor and may be [[topical]]ly irritating to [[cockroach]]es and [[flies]]. The species ''[[Necrodes surinamensis]]'' ejects this secretion as a spray and can rotate the end of its abdomen to spray in all directions.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Roach|first1=B.|last2=Eisner|first2=T.|last3=Meinwald|first3=J|title=The Defense Mechanisms of arthropods. 83. alpha-and beta-Necrodol, novel terpens from a carrion beetle (Necrodes surinamensis, Silphidae, Coleoptera)|journal=Journal of Organic Chemistry|date=1990|volume=55|issue=13|pages=4047–4051|doi=10.1021/jo00300a020}}</ref>