Carrion beetles in the genus Nicrophorus bury small vertebrate carcasses. Usually, the male and female work cooperatively to accomplish this task. |
Burial Ritual
Length: 17 sec |
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Here a female carrion beetle has "discovered" a mouse on a board. She moves the mouse to an area where she can bury it. |
Movement
Length: 31 sec |
If a male finds a carcass and no females are around, he tries to attract a mate by standing on his head and releasing pheromone. |
Headstand
Length: 10 sec |
Taxi! Carrion beetles carry mites (termed phorecy) which are symbiotic. The mites use the beetles to move from carrion source to carrion source. Once delivered, they help the beetles by eating fly eggs. |
Mite
Length: 16 sec |
Sometimes, the mites can get out of control!!! This is a laboratory situation which probably led to the incredible number of mites. |
Mites
Length: 16 sec |
Carrion beetle-ese. Carrion beetle adults produce sound by stridulating (rubbing body parts together). In this videoclip, a male tries to convince a female to go on a date. Turn up your speakers to hear them "talk". |
Stridulation
Length 22 sec |
Larval action. This is what it is all about for the adults. Here, a brood chamber has been dug out and you can watch the very large larvae crawling about. |
Larvae
Length 25 sec |