Insects Active at night

Black Burying Beetle

Nicrophorus humator

iNaturalist Wikipedia

The ultimate recycler of the insect world, the Black Burying Beetle is a fascinating 'undertaker' that exhibits rare parental devotion and incredible engineering skills.

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Quick Identification

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Size

20–35 mm (0.8–1.4 inches) in length

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Colors

Uniformly glossy black body with distinctive orange-red tips on the antennae

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Key Features

Solid black elytra without orange bands
Antennae tipped with bright orange-red clubs
Large, robust body with strong, spiny legs for digging
Often carries small, harmless mites on its thorax

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active at night

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Peak hours 10 PM - 3 AM

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Season April-September

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Diet Adults feed on carrion and the larvae of competing flies; their own larvae feed on prepared vertebrate carcasses.

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Habitat Deciduous woodlands, suburban gardens, hedgerows, and grasslands with loose soil.

Behavior

Known as 'Nature’s Undertakers,' Black Burying Beetles perform a vital ecological service by disposing of small animal carcasses. They possess an incredibly sensitive sense of smell, using their orange-tipped antennae to detect the scent of decay from over a mile away. Once a suitable carcass—such as a mouse or small bird—is found, a male and female pair will work together to excavate the soil beneath it, effectively 'burying' the prize to protect it from competitors like flies and crows.

Unlike most insects, these beetles exhibit complex parental care. After burying the carcass and stripping it of fur or feathers, the female lays eggs nearby. Once the larvae hatch, the parents remain with them, feeding them regurgitated liquid food until they are old enough to feed themselves. This social behavior is highly unusual in the beetle world and ensures a high survival rate for their offspring.

While they may seem gruesome to some, they are entirely harmless to humans. They are strictly nocturnal and are frequently attracted to artificial light sources at night. In the garden, they are a sign of a healthy, functioning ecosystem where nutrient recycling is actively taking place.

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Camera Tips

To capture the Black Burying Beetle on camera, you must focus on ground-level macro photography. Because these beetles are strictly nocturnal, your camera setup needs a reliable infrared flash or a motion-activated light source. Position your camera as low as possible—literally on the ground—tilted slightly upward to capture the beetle's impressive, bulky silhouette against the leaf litter.

The most effective way to attract this species is by providing a 'bait station.' A small piece of raw meat or a chicken wing placed in a shallow depression in the soil will act as a magnet for their powerful sense of smell. To keep the beetle in the frame for longer, consider tethering the bait or placing it under a heavy wire mesh; this prevents the beetle from immediately dragging the food underground and out of your camera's line of sight.

Use a 'Macro' or 'Close-up' lens setting if your camera supports it. If you are using a trail camera, ensure it has a short minimum focal distance, or the beetle will appear as a blurry black blob. Setting the camera to record short 10-second video clips is often more rewarding than still photos, as it allows you to see their frantic digging motions and the way they use their heads like bulldozers.

Late spring and early summer are the best times for sightings, especially on warm, humid nights after rain. Look for areas with soft, loamy soil where the beetles find it easiest to dig. If your camera has a time-lapse mode, try setting it to trigger every 60 seconds over a carcass; you may be lucky enough to document the incredible sight of a whole animal carcass slowly sinking into the earth as the beetles work beneath it.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Black Burying Beetle.

Common Sexton Beetle

Features bright orange-red bands across its black wing cases, whereas the Black Burying Beetle is solid black.

Orange-tipped Burying Beetle

Smaller in size with prominent orange markings on the elytra and different hair patterns on the thorax.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Black Burying Beetles are strictly nocturnal. They are most active during the darkest hours of the night, typically between 10 PM and 3 AM, when they fly in search of fresh carrion.

The best way to attract them is to leave a small amount of raw meat or a natural carcass in a quiet, wooded corner of the garden. They are also frequently attracted to bright garden lights or porch lights at night.

Adults are scavengers that eat carrion and the larvae of flies (maggots) that compete for the same food source. Their larvae feed exclusively on the carcass that the parents have buried and prepared for them.

Yes, they are very common in suburban environments, particularly in gardens with healthy soil, compost heaps, and plenty of bird or small mammal activity.

The Black Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus humator) is unique because it is almost entirely black. While other 'Sexton' beetles have bright orange or red bands on their wing cases, this species only has orange on the tips of its antennae.

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