AMERICAN BURYING BEETLE (Nicrophorus americanus)

type size: [A] [A] [A]

Description: The American burying beetle is so named because of its habit of burying its food, which consists of just about any dead animal. As a scavenger, it spends much of its time clearing carcasses off the forest floor. For this reason, it is a critical part of the North American ecosystem. Historically, this species could be found in woodland areas from New England to the Rocky Mountains. Today, it is found in only a handful of states due to declining prey species and loss of habitat.

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
USFWS Status: Endangered
Major Threats: Habitat loss and declining prey species
Habitat: Maritime shrub thickets, coastal moraine grasslands and open pasture
Location: Eastern Oklahoma and Block Island, Rhode Island
Diet: Carrion