# Carolina Burying Beetle (*nicrophorus carolina*) The Carolina Burying Beetle is a little bug that helps clean up the environment by burying dead animals! It's like a superhero for nature, turning waste into food for their babies. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** They live in forests, fields, and gardens, often near decaying animals. - **Also known as:** Nicrophorus Beetle ![Carolina Burying Beetle](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/39075543/large.jpg) Photo: Wes Copas, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/39075543) ## Appearance The Carolina Burying Beetle has a striking black body adorned with two prominent, irregular orange bands across its wing covers (elytra). Its antennae feature bright orange clubs, and its head is mostly black. This coloration makes it easily distinguishable from other dark beetles. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Staphylinidae - **Genus:** Nicrophorus ## Interesting facts - Mama and papa beetles work together to care for their hungry grubs! - Sometimes they will fight other beetles for the perfect burial site! - These beetles are known as the "undertakers" of the insect world! - They actually hum or squeak by rubbing body parts to communicate! ## Special abilities - **Super Scent:** Carolina Burying Beetle has an incredible sense of smell that helps them locate dead animals from afar. - **Burial Teamwork:** Carolina Burying Beetle can work with a partner to quickly bury carcasses, providing a safe nursery and food source. - **Carcass Preparation:** Carolina Burying Beetle can remove fur or feathers and coat carrion with secretions that help preserve it for their larvae. - **Parental Care:** Carolina Burying Beetle has unique parental care, staying with their young to feed and protect them until they are grown. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 40-70 mm - **Size:** 20-35 mm - **Lifespan:** 60-180 days - **Flight Speed:** 18 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These beetles eat dead animals, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - **Age differences:** Larvae are fed pre-digested carrion by their parents. - **Primary Foods:** small mammal carcasses, bird carcasses, reptile carcasses, amphibian carcasses - **Foraging Method:** Scavenging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [White-footed Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-footed-mouse) (*Peromyscus leucopus*) — Feeds on their deceased carcasses. - **Eaten by:** Virginia Opossum (*Didelphis virginiana*) — A generalist predator of insects. - **Depends on:** Blue Bottle Fly (*Calliphora vicina*) — Also relies on carrion as a food source. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Carolina Burying Beetle? Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Carolina Burying Beetle's wingspan? 40-70 mm ### How big is Carolina Burying Beetle? 20-35 mm ### How long does Carolina Burying Beetle live? 60-180 days ### How fast can Carolina Burying Beetle fly? 18 km/h ### What does Carolina Burying Beetle eat? These beetles eat dead animals, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. ### Where is Carolina Burying Beetle usually found? They live in forests, fields, and gardens, often near decaying animals. ### How does Carolina Burying Beetle hunt? Scavenging ## Where to spot - [Silver Springs](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/silver-springs) — Florida, US · Zoo - [Cherry Tree Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cherry-tree-park) — Florida, US · Park ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Carolina Burying Beetle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/carolina-burying-beetle)