Sexton Beetles

Nicrophorus

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Staphylinoidea
Family: Silphidae
Genus: Nicrophorus

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Nicrophorus: //ˌnɪˈkrɒfərəs//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Nicrophorus hebes - Norfolk County, Ontario 2013-04-23 by Ryan Hodnett. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Nicrophorus P1220601a by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

F6-18 Nicrophorus defodiens Mannerheim, 1846 (2) by NHM Beetles and Bugs. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

F6-19 Nicrophorus guttula Motschulsky, 1845a by NHM Beetles and Bugs. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Nicrophorus investigator with mites by gailhampshire. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Nicrophorus americanus - Sankt-Peterburg by Andrey Butko
. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Summary

Burying beetles of the genus Nicrophorus are notable for their unique behavior of burying small vertebrate carrion as a food source for their larvae, along with exceptional parental care exhibited by both male and female beetles.

Physical Characteristics

Most burying beetles are black with red markings on the elytra (forewings).

Identification Tips

Important features for identification include the hind tibia, antennal club, and the epipleuron (the rolled over lateral edge of the elytra that can be seen from aside).

Habitat

Variety of habitats where carrion is present; some attracted to rotting fruit.

Distribution

Widespread throughout North America and Eurasia; most diverse in eastern Asia.

Diet

Small vertebrate carrion (e.g., mice, birds).

Life Cycle

Lifecycle includes egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages. Parents provide care for larvae by regurgitating food and protecting them from competitors.

Reproduction

After finding a carcass, beetles may fight with one another, then lay eggs in the soil around the buried carcass. Larvae feed on the decaying flesh, with parents also feeding them through regurgitation.

Predators

Dozens of competitors, including bluebottles and ants, may threaten the larvae during their development.

Conservation Status

As of 2020, the American burying beetle (N. americanus) is classified as threatened.

Ecosystem Role

Aids in nutrient recycling by burying dead animals, contributing to the ecosystem's nutrient cycling.

Evolution

The genus name Nicrophorus was unjustifiably emended to Necrophorus in older texts, but this is not valid under the ICZN.

Misconceptions

Some may confuse Nicrophorus with other carrion beetles, but their unique parental care and burying behavior set them apart.