The American burying beetle, (Nicrophorus americanus) is a necessary part of our ecosystem. These insects, who are part of the beetle family Silphidae, are responsible for recycling decomposing components back into the environment. These beetles are commonly called the burying or sexton beetles. There are 570 species of this family found around the globe. The burying beetle has been on the decline for many years now. It was included in the Invertebrate Red Book in 1983 and placed on the federal endangered species lists in August 1989.
The American burying beetle is said to be the largest carrion-consuming insect on the North American continent. This beetle may grow to a length of 11/2 inches. It is shiny black and distinctively marked with two bright orange bands on each wing cover. It is also orange on the shield-like area just behind its head, and between the eyes.
The adult beetles are nocturnal for some very specific reasons. They have a highly developed "sense" of smell in which they use to locate a carcass. It is imperative that a pair of male/female beetles locate the carcass within a short time after death. This ensures that there is not competition from other carrion -feeding insects. Once a carcass has been located, the beetles drag it to an area that is suitable for burial. The carcass that can be handled by a pair can be a large as a mouse. The beetles prepare a hole by digging under the carcass. After burial is complete, the animal is "inoculated" with secretions that preserve the carrion and delay decomposition.
Eggs that range in number from 10 to 30 are then laid in a chamber that has been prepared just above the carcass. These beetles are much different than other insects, because both parents tend to the larvae during growth and development. If the brood is to large to manage, both parents will consume larvae until the brood reaches a size appropriate to the nourishment. After a week, the larvae have consumed the carrion, leaving nothing but the bones. At this point, the adults leave. Burying beetles live only one season.
In doing research for this page, I was amazed to find out just how difficult it was to find information on endangered insect species. The majority of the information I encountered was on endangered mammals. It also became quite clear to me that the majority of the funding for endangered species is going to these mammals that are so highly publicized. With a serious lack of funding, and the desecration of our rain-forests we are destroying species that we do not know exist. Without knowledge of their existence, we cannot possibly know what effect we are having on these ecosystems. It is time for these creatures to be thrust into the public eye. With education comes knowledge. With knowledge comes respect. It is time for humans to start respecting these creatures that do duties we could never even consider.