Tomentose burying beetle

Description

Tomentose burying beetle is a large, easily recognized beetle. It occurs in the United States and southern Canada east of the Rocky Mountains. Adults are active from June through October. They are found in a wide variety of habitats, including forests, shrubby areas, and open grasslands, apparently showing no preference for any of them.

The adult is 7⁄16″ to ¾″ (11.2 to 19.0 mm) in length. The body is moderately robust, elongate, somewhat flattened, and mostly black. In flight, it strongly resembles a bumble bee. At rest, it does not.

The head and mouth parts are projected forward. The antennae have 11 segments, but the second segment is very small, making it appear that there are only 10 segments. They are abruptly widened (clubbed) at the tip. They are entirely black, including the club. The club is covered with velvety hairs (setae).

The hardened plate covering the thorax (pronotum) is wider than the head, almost square, and entirely black with no orange markings. It is sharply flattened at the edges with broad margins at the sides and a wide margin at the base. It is densely covered with long yellow setae. On the underside, the large rearmost plate on the thorax (metasternum) is also densely covered with long yellow setae. The plate between the wing bases (scutellum) is visible, moderate-sized, and entirely black.

The hardened wing covers (elytra) are truncate, appearing cut off at the tip and exposing 2 or 3 body segments. The lateral margins are folded under. The surface is smooth, not grooved or ridged. On each elytron there are two orange, horizontal bands. The front band is broad. It extends from the lateral margin to the inner margin (suture). The edges are sharply “toothed, as if tattered.” Together, the front bands on both elytra make a continuous band. The suture is narrow, raised, and entirely black. The rear band is narrower and usually also reaches the suture. It is roundly lobed, not sharply toothed. Occasionally the front and rear bands are connected along the lateral margins.

The legs are black. The fourth segment (tibia) on each hind leg is straight, not curved. The end part of each leg (tarsus), corresponding to the foot, has 5 segments. The last segment has two claws at the tip. The claws are simple, not split, and are the same size.

Size

Total length: 7⁄16″ to ¾″ (11.2 to 19.0 mm)

Similar Species

Habitat

Forests, shrubby areas, and open grasslands

Ecology

Season

June to October (CCESR)

Behavior

Unlike other burying beetles, tomentose burying beetle does not bury its prey. Instead, it makes a shallow pit, deposits the carcass, and covers it with litter.

Life Cycle

Third instar larvae overwinter in the soil near the carcass. They pupate the following spring and adults emerge in June.

Larva Food/Hosts

Adult Food