Here's a subject, when you look at the science, is pretty darned cool. There are two major genera of "burying beetles". Necrophilia and Nicrophorus. They are the "night crew" that generally does the clean-up on dead things. These beetles smell a dead carcass. Usually a male and female show up on the carcass, and claim it as their own, fighting off other beetles. They put a chemical on "their" carcass which keeps flies at a minimum. They dig the ground out under the carcass and sink it into the ground. On a deer mouse carcass, this takes about 2 days to completely bury it. They lay one or two eggs in the carcass, and the hatched larvae have a ready-made place to eat. The adults keep other beetles away, defending the carcass against other beetles. The pupae eventually morph to adults and emerge a week or so later if all goes right. Really an elegant system. I'm sure most trappers have seen these beetles on many occasions.

I see them a lot when checking mole sets.

Yep see them when doing summer nuisance work occasionally.
Sometimes see more than a pair under a carcass the size of a beaver.

Almost missed this one, Jack.

I've been at the exhibit of the Wall that Heals, the Vietnam traveling replica of the Wall in DC. The past two days. They set up right in my backyard, with the big mountains right there as backdrop, for a remarkable and wonderful visit. They are still there, open all night too, with the Wall lit up , like a bar of solid gold , until Sunday afternoon. I made good friends of the ones who travel and run the show, the driver of the mint condition semi truck, and they in turn have some plans for me too ....

Anyway...I've seen very few of these buggies....I did see a show long ago, I think they were an African type. They squeaked loudly when upset, lol....two of them got in a tiff , one on each side, pushing the ball of dung towards each other in opposing force. Squeaking like chew toys all the time...that was funny .

I am easily entertained ....

What? No art from you, Sharon? I figured you'd have a Carrion Beetle portrait, maybe doing the Idaho Two-step with a Rubber Boa or a Lazuli Bunting!

Jack

LOL I wish I did , Jack ! Maybe even a cartoon of them battling it out ... Or a Rubber Boa , as you said, confronting them saying " y'all ain't burying this stink in my backyaad ! "

Ya finally got me, sir Jack...I ain't got nuttin ...

Those are pretty cool beetles, but we dont have them here in the deep south.

Only one or two eggs? How many larvae hatch from one egg?