Preserving Dead Animals

Burying Beetle

Burying beetles will bury dead animals and rear their offspring on the carcass. Dead animals, buried or above ground are food for microbes that can produce toxins harmful to the beetles. How does a burying beetle protect its food supply?

Burying beetles coat the dead animal with protein-containing secretions from their digestive system that prevent microbial growth. A study* of genes in the burying beetle, Nicrophorus vespilloides, show found that the expression of a gene…

Source: Living With Insects Blog