Burying Beetle

Name: Burying Beetle

Scientific name: Nicrophorus spp

Category: Minibeasts

Nature Stars: 40

What are nature stars?

About: A group of large, chunky, flattened beetles, often black or black and red, that bury dead and decaying animals. The female lays her eggs on the bodies, with the larvae eating the rotting corpses. Up to 2cm long.

How to identify: There are several species of Burying Beetle in Britain which can be difficult to tell apart.

Where: Widespread

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 50
• Agility: 60
• Rarity: 40
• Cute factor: 30
• Traveller: 40

Fantastic fact: Also known as Sexton Beetles. The Sexton was a church official whose duty was to look after the graveyard...

Photograph credit: J. C. Lucier