#silphidae

[jenfoundabug]

I thought this feisty little critter was an isopod until I got a closer look. This is a carrion beetle larva, and, as their name suggests, adults and larvae of this insect eat dead animals, maggots that live in carrion, and/or other types of decaying organic matter. I have no idea where this one came from, since there were no dead animals nearby or compost. Perhaps an insectivorous bird dropped it, or maybe this particular species likes chicken manure (there was a chicken tractor nearby vroom vroom). Putting this next part below the cut because it's a little gross. Proceed with caution:

This carrion beetle child seemed somewhat hungry, as it was nibbling at some dead skin around my finger nail. It tickled a bit and reminded me of the shrimp they sometimes have at aquariums that will nibble at your fingers. Yes that's a thing.

unidentified Silphidae larva Northeastern Pennsylvania, US

[magpine]

making some posters for wheatpasting

can a poster convince you to love a beetle? hope so. ID in alt text

[platycryptus]

the tomentose burying beetle (Nicrophorus tomentosus) looks a little different from other burying beetles- its thorax is covered with gold fuzz. It’s not really clear why it looks like this when the beetle is at rest, but when it takes flight its shiny black and orange elytra flip upside down to reveal the same golden color as the thorax. The result is that it looks and buzzes like a stinging bumblebee in flight (pardon my friend making this observation in the background)

It might not look that much like a bee in these brief clips I was able to capture, but it gets me for at least a few seconds every time I’ve seen one flying. I vividly recall watching a bumblebee instantly transform into a beetle upon hitting the ground as a kid and being deeply confused

(Massachusetts, 7/6/21)

(also if you see this post and you’re not already familiar with burying beetles in general I suggest looking them up, they’re really cool)

[reanimateobjects]

[coolbugs]

Bug of the Day

#TW snakes sneks deadthings

Ok, this is a little gross, so if you dislike gross or have a fear of snakes do not expand the post.

I found a dead garter snake in my back yard last week, and it had been there long enough to have all of these cool beetles devouring it, including this cool Margined Carrion Beetle (Oiceoptoma noveboracense). The beetle had died for whatever reason, I hope it maybe laid eggs in the snake carcass so its offspring can carry on.

[cnestus]

lords of the dingleboppers

[musiclovingmoth]

the sequel to longcat!

[pogomcl]

Sexton Beetle, Nicrophorus vespillo Canon 400D EF 100 2.8 f/4.5 1/80 iso: 400 radotin, czech Republic May 15, 2010

[fantabulisticity]

PLEASE LOOK AT THIS RARE BEETLE I FOUND THE OTHER DAY

I HAVE ONLY SEEN TWO OTHER OF THESE IN MY LIFE, AND BOTH OF THEM WERE DEAD. THIS IS THE FIRST LIVE ONE I HAVE EVER SEEN. AND IT WAS JUST CHILLIN' UNDER A TOWEL ON THE FLOOR AT WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I picked it up, it sprayed me with a smelly fluid, a different kind than from other beetles around here (I'm familiar with carabids' benzoquinone concoction and darkling beetles' spray, and this was WAY different. More similar-smelling to earwig stink -- almost savory, maybe umami? Like. A stale or slightly rotting mammal or fishy body fluid). Glad I was wearing gloves at the time bc some of those defense chemicals can soak into the skin and stink & burn for days (yes, I did learn this the hard way multiple times, and no, I will NOT stop picking up bugs I cannot identify).

I looked it up, and it's some kind of carrion/burying beetle, though I cannot identify it more than that. If anyone can tell me which one it is, please let me know! I don't think I live in the usual range of the Threatened one, though -- I think these bugs just aren't above ground much, so I haven't seen 'em.

Also, please read the wiki for these bugs -- they use progressive provisioning, which is "a term used in entomology to refer to a form of parental behavior in which an adult (most commonly a hymenopteran such as a bee or wasp) feeds its larvae directly after they have hatched, feeding each larva repeatedly until it has completed development. The food is typically in the form of masticated or immobilized prey items (in predatory wasps), or regurgitated nectar mixed with pollen (in bees); only rarely are other sorts of food resources used (such as glandular secretions, or carrion). ...

"...One of the only well-known examples of progressive provisioning outside of the Hymenoptera are the burying beetles, which care for their larvae and supply them with a mass of carrion, which the adults chew and regurgitate to the developing larvae."

I LOVE THESE BEETLES SO MUCH, AND I WISH I HAD SPENT MORE TIME WITH THIS LOVELY FRIEND BEFORE PUTTING IT OUTSIDE 😭😭😭😭😭

[unnaturalcuriositiesblog]

[worldofleaves]

[wormteeth2004]

silphidae ref!

[herpsandbirds]

Saw this beetle(?) just now and I've never seen it before in the area, do you know what it is?

Beetle ID - Western U.S.:

Hello yes this is a Burying Beetle in the genus Nicrophorus, family Silphidae, most likely Gold-necked or Tomentose Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus tomentosus).

Species Nicrophorus tomentosus - Tomentose Burying Beetle - BugGuide.Net

Layout 1 (mt.gov)

[reanimateobjects]

[onenicebugperday]

@noodleroni2 submitted: I dont know much other than this being some sort of burying beetle, however i thought it was very beautiful. i especially love the red-tipped antennae

I also love the antennae tips! It is indeed a burying beetle in the family Silphidae and likely the genus Nicrophorus. Can't tell you much more without a location though!

[cnestus]

tfw u die with your whole pussy out