Oiceoptoma thoracicum - Larva

Scene photographed on a the remains of a dead deer.
The larva on top is Oiceoptoma thoracicum, the larvae below it are Necrodes littoralis

comments (6)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Oh wow!

So my understanding is that the adults bury meaty food for their offspring, right? Is this such a "snack"? Posted 8 months ago
1. Pudding4brains
  
  Lion
  
  No, no ... that is all about the Nicrophorinae (mostly the "Burying beetles" of genus 9Nicrophorus ). Those beetles are a tad bigger/stronger and these dig in carcasses of small animals such as mice, moles, birds etc. then lay their eggs in it and cover the hole. Their larva are thick, more or less indiscript white grubs. I'll dig up an image of such a larva one of these days.
  
  The Silphinae (that Oiceoptoma belongs too), at least the ones that live of carcasses (some others eat snails, caterpillars or even plants), use the larger dead animals and just lay their eggs on/in them and their larvae will roam about freely on the carcass and help dispose of it. Carcasses of deer or similar sized animals go through various phases of decomposition that all have their particular guests, but often you will find them teeming with life, such as maggots, larvae of various beetles, adult beetles all sorts etc. There is a "new" consciousness developing that it is a good idea to not "clean up" carcasses of game or road kill etc. but rather move these to a place where the general public is less likely to be disturbed by it and then leave them be in support of the biodiversity in organisms that are specialized in parts of the decomposition process. I've been on some inventory sessions to see what's going on with such carcasses and it's truly amazing to see the abundance of life on them. Posted 8 months ago, modified 8 months ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    Fantastic answer, indeed am mixing up carrion beetles with burying beetles.
    
    Good development to let a carcass just be, I think it applies to a lot in the natural world, it doesn't always need our "management". Posted 8 months ago
  2. 1. Pudding4brains
      
      Lion
      
      Here's the Nicrophorus larvae:
      
      Posted 8 months ago
    2. 1. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Excellent, how did you even find the mole? Posted 8 months ago
      2. Pudding4brains
        
        Lion
        
        Ah ... ehrmmm ... in our area people tend to "eliminate" moles in various ways when these seem to have a negative impact on their tightly kept lawns *rolleyes*. We obtained some of these "intruders" that had not been careful enough and kept one in the garden to see what happens. The first one was almost immediately "stolen" from us by some cat or some such, so the next one was kept under an old bird cage with stones on top. Open enough for the Carrion beetles and what have you, but safe from larger "disposers of the dead". Posted 8 months ago, modified 8 months ago