Historically, American burying beetles depended upon large aggregations of 100-200 gram carcasses ring-necked pheasant chicks were ideally suited. Vegetation and soil do influence the potential prey base available to the beetles, though. While soils suitable for carcass burial are essential, it is probably carrion availability that is more important. It is unlikely that vegetational structure and soil type were historically limiting, in a general sense, considering the species' wide geographic range. Open agricultural land is frequently utilized. Well-drained soils and a well developed detritus layer are characteristic of all sites. Oak-hickory and bottomland forests and grasslands predominate. Oklahoma sites are representative of the forest/pasture ecotone and open pastures in a ridge and valley area of that state. Habitats occupied on Block Island include maritime shrub thickets and grazed fields (coastal moraine grasslands). The other is a recently discovered population in eastern Oklahoma. One population is on Block Island, Rhode Island. Distribution and HabitatĪlthough this species historically ranged from southern Maine to South Dakota and south to Texas and Florida (temperate eastern North America), and was widely distributed within its range, the American burying beetle is currently known to exist in only two locations. The parents die off after reproduction or during the subsequent winter. They overwinter, probably singly, in the soil. The young, now adults, reproduce the following June or July. They emerge as adults 48-60 days later in July and August, then disperse with their parents. Development of larvae is usually completed in 6-12 days, at which time the brood disperses to pupate in the soil nearby. This level of parental care is quite rare for a non-social insect. Larvae hatch in approximately four days and are cared for and fed by the adult. One parent, usually the female, stays with the eggs. About two days after burying the carcass, the female lays her eggs in an escape tunnel leading off the brood chamber. The beetles move a carcass by lying on their backs and balancing the carcass above them, then walking their legs to move the load forward as if on a conveyor belt.Ī brood chamber is constructed adjacent to the carcass while it is being buried. Carcasses weigh up to 200 times a beetle's own weight. Carcasses are buried on the spot or rolled into a ball, carried elsewhere (up to 1 m), then buried, usually before dawn. Males and females compete amongst themselves for a carcass, with size generally determining who claims the prize. They then emit pheromones (sex attractants) to attract females. Males find carcasses at night, soon after it is dark. A positive correlation exists between carcass weight and number of larvae produced. Birds and mammals are used equally and are the preferred carrion. Carcass weight is critical to successful reproduction larger (>100 g) is better. Optimum weights are between 100 and 200 grams. pheasant chicks) are used as a food source during the breeding season. American burying beetles select carcasses larger than other burying beetles. Reproduction depends on the availability of carrion (animal carcasses). Most reproductive activity and carcass burial occur in June and July. Adults feed on a wide range of species as carrion. They are scavengers, attracted to decaying vegetation and carrion. Adults are nocturnal, active when temperatures exceed 15C (60F). Life HistoryĪmerican burying beetles are active from late April through September. They help keep beetles and carcasses clean of microbes and fly eggs. Males have a large rectangular mark, while females have a smaller triangular mark.īurying beetles often carry swarms of orange-colored mites on their body. The sexes can be distinguished by a distinctively shaped orange-red facial mark below the frons. Wings are black with two pairs of scalloped red spots and the tips on the antennae are orange. Both contrast sharply with the black body color. One colored mark covers the frons, an upper frontal head plate, and a similarly colored plate exists just behind the head. This beetle can be easily identified by its distinctive orange-red on shiny black coloration. Most adults are 1.2 inches (30 mm) in length, though they vary from 1.0-1.4 inches (25-35mm). The American burying beetle, also known as the "giant carrion beetle," is the largest member of its genus in North America.
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