''Nicrophorus defodiens'' is a

burying beetle Burying beetles or sexton beetles, genus ''Nicrophorus'', are the best-known members of the family Silphidae (carrion beetles). Most of these beetles are black with red markings on the Elytron, elytra (forewings). Burying beetles are true to th ...

described by

Mannerheim Baron Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim (, 4 June 1867 – 27 January 1951) was a Finnish military commander, aristocrat, and statesman. He served as the military leader of the Whites in the Finnish Civil War (1918), as Regent of Finland (1918–191 ...

in 1846. In 2012, ''N. defodiens'' was found to be one of at least two burying beetles which can breed in the forest

canopy Canopy may refer to: Plants * Canopy (biology), aboveground portion of plant community or crop (including forests) * Canopy (grape), aboveground portion of grapes Religion and ceremonies * Baldachin or canopy of state, typically placed over an a ...

Ecology

When it comes to mating, the males of ''N. defodiens'' use a pheromonal signal to attract their mate. During the mating period females often bite males. When

copulation Sexual intercourse (also coitus or copulation) is a sexual activity typically involving the insertion of the erect male penis inside the female vagina and followed by thrusting motions for sexual pleasure, reproduction, or both.Sexual inte ...

is over, the males'

pheromone A pheromone () is a secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a social response in members of the same species. Pheromones are chemicals capable of acting like hormones outside the body of the secreting individual, to affect the behavio ...

emission is resumed, but the female attempts to obstruct the male from attracting any additional females, thus imposing monogamy on the male. Unlike '' N. orbicollis'' this species produces twice as many eggs (roughly 23.9 in total).

References

* Silphidae Beetles of North America Beetles described in 1846 Taxa named by Carl Gustaf Mannerheim (naturalist) {{Silphidae-stub