does anyone know the identity of a black and reddish-orange beetle about 0.25 to 0.5 inches long, resident in new hampshire, that moves an intact mouse and buries it? i trapped a mouse and put it out on a rock for the crows to take away. when i saw it missing from the rock and investigated, lo and behold two of these beetles were gradually moving it about 18 inches and burying it.
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mouse-moving beetle
franeli
Sep 20, 2003 12:14 PM
Replies (3)
lizardman
Sep 21, 2003 03:09 AM
Your descriptions sounds like the American Burying Beetle. If the picture of the beetle in the link is incorrect, then it may be either a Rove or Carrion beetle.
Link
franeli
Sep 21, 2003 04:22 AM
lizardman was right. i'll have to try to find it again after daybreak to confirm, but it sure looked like the endangered burying beetle. if so, i'll be notifying the nature conservancy. thanks lizardman.
bugdan
Oct 31, 2003 08:08 PM
they may be some type of carrion beetle
but if they were only 1/4 to 1/2 in. long
they werent "burying beetles'
....chill out
