American Burying Beetle

Natural Habitat

Historically diverse habitats, including grasslands, deciduous forests, and scrublands, but now primarily found in undisturbed forests and prairie remnants, often near sandy or loose soil suitable for burying carcasses.

Diet & Feeding

Strictly carnivorous, feeding on carrion (dead animals), particularly small vertebrates like birds and rodents. Both adults and larvae feed on the decomposing flesh.

Behavior Patterns

These beetles exhibit remarkable parental care. A pair will locate a small vertebrate carcass, bury it in the ground, strip it of fur/feathers, and shape it into a brood ball. The female lays eggs nearby, and both parents care for the larvae, regurgitating predigested food to them until they are ready to pupate. They are nocturnal and are attracted to light.

Risks & Benefits

The American Burying Beetle is an endangered species, primarily due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Its primary benefit is its crucial role as a scavenger, rapidly recycling nutrients from dead animals back into the ecosystem, which helps in natural decomposition and prevents the spread of diseases. There are no known risks to humans.

Identified on: 9/4/2025