Stock Photo - Sexton Beetle, Common Burying Beetle, Nicrophorus vespillo, Nicrophorus defodiens, Necrophorus vespillo on grass Burying beetle Carrion beetle Silphidae Synonyms: Necrophorus conversator Walker, 1866, Necrophorus plagiatus Motschulsky, 1870, Necrophorus pollinctor LeConte, 1854, Necrophorus vespilloides var lateralis Portevin, 1903 Nicrophorus is preferred form Burying beetles Beetle has about twelve or fifteen common synonyms in use with variant spellings Beetle is abnormal as both parents tend for young and young are cared by parents If there are too many young for food available, young are culled so that young are healthy offspring Beetle may live as solitary pair or as communal insect depending on amount of food available and size of animal carcass Unknown IUCN status Species is infested with gamasid mites