Carrion beetle - Nicrophorus sayi
Photo by: NPS / Erik Oberg
USA: Wyoming, Park County
Yellowstone NP, WASH N1
UTM: 546491E 4968120N Ele. 2260m
Pitfall Trap 25 July - 11 August 2018
E. Oberg YELL_WASH
N1_3.E.20182507
Clean Up Crew
It may seem odd to you to meet your partner in a graveyard, but to this carrion beetle, that’s exactly how they want to meet their significant other! This beetle and others like it are part of the cleanup crews in the Yellowstone which helps keep the environment clean and well balanced by eating the bodies of dead and decaying organisms. Using their sensitive chemoreceptors, located on the ends of their antennae, these tiny grave robbers embark on long journeys to locate carcasses, and upon arrival,, enter a breeding battleground. Fierce competition for resources causes the insects to overturn the soil and bury carrion for later use. This process is often done with the help of a newfound mate, with pairs bonding over the burial and shared feeding on the decaying animal. After feasting on their newfound bounty, the pair will lay their eggs on the carrion. Gruesome to some to some, these brightly colored insects are vital to the health of the Yellowstone Ecosystem, epitomizing natural recycling. Original public domain image from Flickr