Family overview
Medium to large, often with orange/red markings on elytra. Strong olfactory ability — detect carrion from miles away.
Bury small vertebrate corpses, deposit eggs, feed young on the carcass — rare example of biparental care in insects.
At a glance
Family facts.
Distribution
Worldwide
Habitat
Terrestrial
Approx. species
200
Notable members
American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus, endangered)