[NatureNS] Re Orange Beetle

From: "Elizabeth Doull" <edoull@ns.sympatico.ca>
To: <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
References: <20080903115904.RCRL1673.simmts5-srv.bellnexxia.net@simip10.srvr.bell.ca> <3C0406D5-2DE3-4254-91BF-1D6039DDBB45@ns.sympatico.ca>
Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2008 09:29:17 -0300
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Do they do the same thing to homo sapiens and large animals like moose, =
deer??   Thanks.  Liz

----- Original Message -----=20
From: Christopher Majka=20
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2008 9:14 AM
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Re Orange Beetle


Hi Lesley,


These are so-called burying beetles or sexton beetles in the genus =
Nicrophorus. There are seven species in Nova Scotia. Several of these =
beetles (sometimes of 2-3 different species) will cooperatively "bury" =
small dead animals (hence the name) like mice, bats, frogs, songbirds, =
etc. Then they lay eggs on the carrion on which the larvae will feed. =
They reason for this behaviour is that their chief competition for this =
food source are flies, and the more quickly they can get the dead animal =
underground, the fewer the eggs that flies are able to lay on them. The =
sexton beetles are also accompanied by phoretic mites that are =
specialized predators of fly eggs. Below are some links to further =
information about these fascinating beetles.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burying_beetle
http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/silphid.htm
http://www.earthlife.net/insects/nicrophorus.html


All the best!


Chris


On 3-Sep-08, at 8:59 AM, Lesley Butters wrote:


  Yesterday morning, as I was clearing debris from around my property in =
Albany New, I observed a dead little brown bat on the ground. A few =
seconds later orange/black beetles emerged from all angles of the dead =
animal.It was really creepy to watch the beetles devouring the bat, =
though fascinating at the same time. An hour latter there was no sign of =
beetles or bat. I have never seen this type of beetle before. Where do =
they hang out between feasts?

  Also, on my property, I observed a very beautiful patch of Magenta =
Coral Fungi and many other incredible, beautiful mushrooms. The forest =
is alive, one positive behind our dark,damp and dreary summer.

  Lesley Butters
  Halifax




Christopher Majka - Atlantic Canada Coleoptera
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Environment/NHR/atlantic_coleoptera.html
c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca






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<BODY=20
style=3D"WORD-WRAP: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
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bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial>Do they do the same thing to homo sapiens and =
large=20
animals like moose, deer??&nbsp;&nbsp; Thanks.&nbsp; Liz</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----=20
<DIV style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A=20
title=3Dc.majka@ns.sympatico.ca =
href=3D"mailto:c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca">Christopher=20
Majka</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=3Dnaturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20
href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</A> =
</DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, September 03, 2008 9:14 AM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Re: [NatureNS] Re Orange Beetle</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Hi Lesley,
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>These are so-called burying beetles or sexton beetles in the genus=20
<I>Nicrophorus</I>. There are seven species in Nova Scotia. Several of =
these=20
beetles (sometimes of 2-3 different species) will cooperatively "bury" =
small=20
dead animals (hence the name) like mice, bats, frogs, songbirds, etc. =
Then they=20
lay eggs on the carrion on which the larvae will feed. They reason for =
this=20
behaviour is that their chief competition for this food source are =
flies, and=20
the more quickly they can get the dead animal underground, the fewer the =
eggs=20
that flies are able to lay on them. The sexton beetles are also =
accompanied by=20
phoretic mites that are specialized predators of fly eggs. Below are =
some links=20
to further information about these fascinating beetles.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><A=20
href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burying_beetle">http://en.wikipedia.=
org/wiki/Burying_beetle</A></DIV>
<DIV><A=20
href=3D"http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/silphid.htm">http://www.kend=
all-bioresearch.co.uk/silphid.htm</A></DIV>
<DIV><A=20
href=3D"http://www.earthlife.net/insects/nicrophorus.html">http://www.ear=
thlife.net/insects/nicrophorus.html</A></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>All the best!</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Chris</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>On 3-Sep-08, at 8:59 AM, Lesley Butters wrote:</DIV><BR=20
class=3DApple-interchange-newline>
<BLOCKQUOTE type=3D"cite">
  <DIV>Yesterday morning, as I was clearing debris from around my =
property in=20
  Albany New, I observed a dead little brown bat on the ground. A few =
seconds=20
  later orange/black beetles emerged from all angles of the dead =
animal.It was=20
  really creepy to watch the beetles devouring the bat, though =
fascinating at=20
  the same time. An hour latter there was no sign of beetles or bat. I =
have=20
  never seen this type of beetle before. Where do they hang out between=20
  feasts?<BR><BR>Also, on my property, I observed a very beautiful patch =
of=20
  Magenta Coral Fungi and many other incredible, beautiful mushrooms. =
The forest=20
  is alive, one positive behind our dark,damp and dreary =
summer.<BR><BR>Lesley=20
  Butters<BR>Halifax<BR><BR></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR>
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