Nicrophorus orbicollis

Attracted to a dead mouse placed in a soil-filled bucket. The beetles showed up less than 10 hours after placement and as with the previous mouse bait arrived at night.

A useful guide to determining burying beetle species is "An Illustrated Key to the Burying Beetles (Nicrophorus spp.) of Minnesota". https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56648ab9e4b08333d1fdda0d/t/58d584dad1758ef716690a41/1490388525912/MN-Burying-Beetles.pdf

comments (3)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Is it by scent that they find the bait, Gary?

Love the guide, such simple and visual guides we need more of. Posted 5 years ago
1. Gary B
  
  Lion
  
  Ferdy, apparently they are scent guided based on what I've read. Anytime I find visual guides I will post links. I'm going over some for North American lady bugs that I've found helpful and will post links to them with my next lady bug photos. Posted 5 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    Feel free to also add useful identification resources to this central place:
    https://www.jungledragon.com/species/guide Posted 5 years ago

The Roundneck Sexton Beetle

''Nicrophorus orbicollis'' is a nearctic burying beetle first described by Thomas Say in 1825. It is a member of the genus ''Nicrophorus'' or sexton beetles, comprising the most common beetles in the family Silphidae. This species is a decomposer feeding on carcasses of small dead animals. ''N. orbicollis'' can be used for scientific research both medically and forensically.

Info 5 0

Similar species: Beetles

Species identified by Gary B