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The American burying beetle, also commonly referred to as a carrion beetle, was once distributed throughout Ohio as well as in 34 other states, the District of Columbia, and three Canadian provinces. The last American burying beetle reported in Ohio was in 1974 near Old Man's Cave in Hocking County. The American burying beetle was listed as a state and federally endangered species in 1989.
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American Burying Beetle
Nicrophorus americanus
At-a-Glance
• Average brood size: 12 to 15
• Typical foods: carrion
• Ohio Status: Endangered
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Description
About an inch and a half long, the American burying beetle can be identified by its striking, distinctive coloring. Its body is shiny black, and on its wing covers are four scalloped, orange-red markings. Smaller relatives look similar, but most distinctively, the American burying beetle has an orange-red marking on its pronotum, the large shield-like area just behind the head. The American burying beetle has an orange facial marking and orange tips on the antennae. The beetles are strong fliers, moving as far as 1.5 miles a night.
Habitat and Habits
Current information suggests this species is a habitat generalist, or one that lives in many types of habitat, but with a slight preference for grasslands and the open understory of oak-hickory forests. However, the beetles are carrion (animals which are dead) specialists in that they need a carcass the size of a dove or chipmunk in order to raise their young. Carrion availability may be a key factor to where the species can prosper.
Reproduction and Care of the Young
Highly unusual for an insect, both the male and female burying beetles take part in raising the young. Male burying beetles often locate carcasses and then attract a mate. Beetles often fight over the carcass, with the largest male and female individuals usually winning. The victors bury the carcass, the pair mates and the female lays her eggs in an adjacent tunnel. The larvae spend about a week in the tunnel being fed by their parents then move to the adjacent carcass where they feed and then crawl into the soil to pupate (develop into adults). Mature American burying beetles emerge from the soil in 45 to 60 days after their parents initially bury the carcass. |
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