Nicrophorus humator (Gleditsch, 1767)
This is a large beetle, with a length of up to nearly 30mm. Strongly attracted to light, this beetle is common at the MV light used for moth trapping and adults often arrive covered in numerous orange mites. Nicrophorus humator is one of the Burying Beetles, sometimes known as Sexton Beetles. They feed on carrion, burying the corpses of dead birds or mice, to use as a food store for their young. Consequently, there is often a strong and unpleasant odour, which makes these beetles even more distinctive.
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Nottinghamshire (VC56) distribution of Nicrophorus humator
 
 
 
 
The records for the Nottinghamshire distribution map are currently provided by the following contributors - Trevor and Dilys Pendleton. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. Sean Tobin. Jenny Wallace. NBGRC. Steven Chick. Natural England - Birklands and Bilhaugh SSSI & Birklands West and Ollerton Corner SSSI, Nottinghamshire Saproxylic invertebrate survey, Natural England Field Unit, April-October 2018. Tom Shields. David Shaw. Clumber Park SSSI Saproxylic Invertebrate Survey - A report to Natural England by EMEC Ecology 2019. Brian Wetton.

You can contribute your own records to help us gain an accurate status of this species in Nottinghamshire. Send an Excel spreadsheet of your records via the 'contact us' link at the top of the homepage.

Updated November 2022

copyright © Trevor and Dilys Pendleton (www.eakringbirds.com) . .
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