Nicrophorus americanus
Olivier, 1790
American Burying Beetle
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
Critically endangeredIUCN
HighThreat Impact
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.113123
Element CodeIICOL42010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryInvertebrate Animal
IUCNCritically endangered
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderColeoptera
FamilySilphidae
GenusNicrophorus
Other Common Names
American burying beetle (EN) Nécrophore d'Amérique (FR)
Concept Reference
Arnett, Jr., Ross H., ed. 1983. Checklist of the Beetles of North and Central America and the West Indies. Flora and Fauna Publications, Gainesville, Florida. 24 P. (Pertains to all subsequent fasicle updates as well).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-12-02
Change Date2019-12-06
Edition Date2025-12-02
Edition AuthorsAlmquist, D.T. (2019); rev. T. Cornelisse (2025)
Threat ImpactHigh
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
This species exhibited a dramatic range collapse historically, having been reduced to less than 10% of its original range along the western and eastern peripheries of its former range. Populations appear relatively stable in the short-term, in part due to captive breeding and management, although some populations may be declining due to ongoing threats.
Range Extent Comments
This species was historically widespread in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada, but it currently is known from the western edge of its former range in Nebraska and southern South Dakota, Oklahoma and Arkansas, and on Block Island, Rhode Island; this species has also been experimentally reintroduced in southwestern Missouri and on Nantucket, Massachusetts but those populations are not self-sustaining (Szalanski et al. 2000; Leasure and Hoback 2017; USFWS 2019; RARECAT 2025).
Occurrences Comments
This species is known from at least approximately 46 occurrences using a 1 km separation distance and records form 1994-2025 and not counting the experimental and reintroduced populations in Missouri and Massachusetts (Leasure and Hoback 2017; USFWS 2019; RARECAT 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
This species is threatened by habitat loss and degradation of its forest and prairie habitat due to agriculture and development, pesticides, especially neonicotinoids, and artificial light at night (USFWS 2019; Cavallaro et al. 2025). In addition, as it requires relatively larger sized carcasses, it is threatened by competition from mesopredators like domesticated, feral cats (USFWS 2019). This species is also increasingly threatened by increasing temperatures and changes to soil moisture due to climate change (USFWS 2019; Hoback et al. 2024).
Ecology & Habitat
Description
A large shiny black beetle with 2 bright orange marks on each elytra. The best diagnostic character is the large orange mark on the beetle's pronotum, which is unique to this species. The frons also bears an orange marking, and there is a second orange facial mark below this. The shape of the latter mark varies with sex: rectangular in males, triangular in females. Antennae have enlarged orange clubs at tips (Raithel, 1991). Best sources for identification: Andrea Kozol, Chris Raithel.
Diagnostic Characteristics
Large orange spot on pronotum distinguishes this species from all others in the genus.
Habitat
This species is found in grassland, old field shrubland, and hardwood forests and requires moist, well drained soils; they are also found in sandhills with moist loamy sand soils (Raithel 1991; Creighton et al. 1992; USFWS 2019).
Reproduction
Adults exhibit parental care by feeding carrion to larvae until they are capable of feeding themselves; specifically, adults bury vertebrate carcasses that weigh between 80-200 grams, remove fur or feathers from the carcass, roll it into a ball, and cover it with anal and oral secretions to stop growth of mold and bacteria before laying eggs (USFWS 2019).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousOld fieldSand/dune
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN3
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | SH | Yes |
| Oklahoma | S1 | Yes |
| Massachusetts | S1 | Yes |
| South Carolina | SH | Yes |
| New Jersey | S1 | Yes |
| Kansas | S1 | Yes |
| Louisiana | SH | Yes |
| Maryland | SX | Yes |
| Michigan | SH | Yes |
| Wisconsin | SX | Yes |
| Illinois | SH | Yes |
| Connecticut | SX | Yes |
| Rhode Island | S1 | Yes |
| South Dakota | S2 | Yes |
| Delaware | SX | Yes |
| Florida | SU | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | SH | Yes |
| Nebraska | S3 | Yes |
| Tennessee | SH | Yes |
| Virginia | SH | Yes |
| Indiana | SX | Yes |
| Ohio | SX | Yes |
| New York | SH | Yes |
| Arkansas | S1 | Yes |
| Kentucky | SX | Yes |
| North Carolina | SH | Yes |
| Texas | S1 | Yes |
| Minnesota | SX | Yes |
| Maine | SX | Yes |
| Mississippi | SX | Yes |
| Missouri | SH | Yes |
| Georgia | SX | Yes |
CanadaNH
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec | SH | Yes |
| Ontario | SH | Yes |
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - Residential & commercial development | Restricted (11-30%) | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 1.1 - Housing & urban areas | Restricted (11-30%) | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 2 - Agriculture & aquaculture | Restricted (11-30%) | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Restricted (11-30%) | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Large (31-70%) | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Large (31-70%) | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 8.1.2 - Named species | Large (31-70%) | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 9 - Pollution | Large (31-70%) | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 9.3 - Agricultural & forestry effluents | Large (31-70%) | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 9.3.3 - Herbicides and pesticides | Large (31-70%) | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 9.6 - Excess energy | Restricted (11-30%) | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 9.6.1 - Light pollution | Restricted (11-30%) | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 11 - Climate change & severe weather | Large (31-70%) | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 11.1 - Habitat shifting & alteration | Large (31-70%) | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
Roadless Areas (4)
Arkansas (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Devils Canyon | Ozark-St. Francis National Forest | 1,877 |
Idaho (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek | Caribou-Targhee National Forest | 118,582 |
Oklahoma (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Beech Creek | Ouachita National Forest | 8,303 |
South Dakota (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Creek | Buffalo Gap National Grassland | 24,666 |
References (37)
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